New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-09
LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATIONS.
AN ALLEGED ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY.
OFFERING A CANVASS R $50 TO SIGN ELECTION
RETURNS.

OFFERING A CANVASS X 90 III elbS iLbOiAC.'
RETURNS.
After n tedious session Of several hours yes
terday the Assembly Committee Privileges ana Elec-
lions developed sensation In oharge OF
attempted bribery by Assemblyman whose seat
IA I'm contest The was that oil
Michael j. Cofey against Thomas j. sherIdal' OF the
With Assembly District OF Kings County, whch CONSISTS
of the Twelfth Ward OF Brooklyn All the forenoon SEES
was consumed In a controversy over OH Oh par
tcuars the outcome OF when was narrowing do"n Oh
the contestants case charge that there had oeeh an
error in the count OF the woe in the Thrd Election Dis
trct of the ward Both are Democrats ana sherl-
dams majority the returns was 10. In tno thliu
district Sheridan received 2l6 ana Concy <o''
Edward Cahil "A policeman, testified That on the hlgnt
of the election carried the ballobox TO the ponce
station having first sealed IT, and delivered 1t to the
sergeant The sealing was done with label furnished
for the purpose On Examination he admitted hat
he friend OF Mr. COfey and had maze oet that he
would carry the Third District He was questioned at
some length as the help gwen hun by MS companion
officer who, lie said, had helped him to seal the ooA
by handing him the sponge with which he wet the
label The sponge he said was wet enough to wet inc
LABEL but he had not seen other policeman wet H.
lie had written dOwnn ink the time when he receVeu INC
box and 1t had changed up to the time that no
delivered IT, He had not heard the canvassers announce
the result of tho ballot the number OF votes
cast but he had heard Alderman Donovan announce
witness explained, was done before the count OF the
vote flushed
Edward Reilly captain of the police Of the Eleventh
Prec ct testified that the Assembly ballobox from The
and thot when ia came il was properly sealed with TIE
label which nc had furnished 10 The policeman Inc DoN
wed at the station at = M an 9ppnoation
was made the night BY the DO lrd OF CdnvasSeIs
for a returD Of the box. The application was III
writing aud signed by Thomas j. C9nneH, chairman vi
the Board, aud was not complied Win .. :,
Murdy Scnesinger. one Of the cauvassers' aIter nc
| hid 1rAn OIL fhn net
been cal!el by the contestant, that the bailots
after the canvass bad been returned to tue box WIS
questioned by several members Of the committed he
said To them that once during the canvass Alderman
Donovan placed his hand on the ta3le ana was "9,e
Tit"e.s oSi so roo; because wnen the tickets were
separated heaps. before the counting the CoHey
pfc was the largest He said # late ana he did not
know viii ne cOun ing whether toe ballots gwen
ann were Cofcy Sheridan tickets. Alderman Donovan
between nin and the chairman OF the Board at the
table To Mr. Eccie-ine, ON redirect exainh hr,
Sclesing rtested TIA he and the 0tuer members Oh e
Board OF Cnvas'trS ad refuse 10 ssn the 70 nc
Board 81 Elections unill co need by VIII oI nna
mus frou the supreme Conri because OF elr IouD OF
their OF the vote they had fir stated H.
lie also SAID as though te matter was OF very niue mo-
mcnt, that sheridan had aekcd him to sign
aud had offered to pay him so II he would do The
testimony seemed 90 take bon sides by surprise. the
mud OF Chairman Rice that the canvass
Of votes had been properly made. MI
wucn thnt the offer had been made 20 the witness
by sheridan in arinking place in Van Brunt-st between
cash aud so tue day but the witness declined 10
accept the money or sign the return.
Alter he had been dismissed Mr. Sheridan took Ia"
stand and denied tho story attempted bribery point
blank lie that az the time IN question he was III
Ty r. cigar store In Van Biunt--L, HcX1 door 10 the
drinking place. ami Sch singer mad sent boy
aflcr HIM The two met IN tue saloon AMI tchles
niger said tnat lie was "hari mp his rent was
q c and had money q pay u, ana that nc would
sign he return for SD Witness replied that he was
honestly elected and that scIlcsngcr ough to 90 hs
duty sign The papers He offered To bring further
proof 81 this in the hoy who had carried the mes
sage 10 him. Tie committee adjournt I'LL 10 q. m next
FRIDAY, when this win ldCd aud the Con-
nelly Lindsay ease resumed.