Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-28
Leman-Brand Contest.

CHICAGO, Nov. 26.-The federal grand
jury renewed its investigations as to the
alleged frauds in he Second precinct of the
Eighteenth ward OF this city this morning.
According to the face Of the returns from
which Brand, Democrat, received a plurality
over Leman, Republican, for the state
senate, of over 200 votes. The jury called
before it large number of voters, all of
whom declared they were positive that they
voted the Republican ticket with the name
of Leman printed upon them. implying that
the Republican tickets found in the box had
been placed there after closing the polls
Nearly three hundred persons have been
summoned who claim to have voted the Re-
publican ticket, while the ballots show that
Leman received less than 200 votes.
After hearing further evidence, including
that of Hon. L. B. Washburne and other
well known citizens, the jury this evening
adjourned till Monday. The local papers
will publish statement tomorrow TO the
effect that there is good authority for assert
ing the jury before adjourning found in
dictments against the three judges and two
clerks of election in the Second precinct of
the Eighteenth ward on the charge of max
ing fraudulent return TO the county clerk,
and instructed the district attorney to draw
up the papers.
A Daily News Springfield dispatch says:
The Brand-Leman case was reached by the
state board of canvassers this morning.
Members of the Cook county canvassng
board arrived early in the day and corrected
formal errors in the returns and they were
then accepted by the state board, which
proceeded to canvass the vote on congress
men in Cook county. When this was COM
pleted the attorney for Leman outlined the
character of the alleged frauds in the Eigh-
teenth ward and asked that the members of
the county canvassing board be direct
ed to give testimony as to thee
condition of the the tally sheets
and poll books canvassed by them. The
board decided to hear this testimony on the
subject as to the legal rights OF the board to
consider this testimony hereafter. The
members of the county board proceeded to
describe some apparent changes on the poll
book. The members when questioned stat
ed the friends of Lemen offered to produce
testimony to show fraud and that the returns
were fraudulent, and they decided they had
right to hear the testimony and were GEM
PEELED to accept the face of the re-
turns as voted. The attorney for Lem
en- then asked the clerk of the state
board to read affidavits showing fraud in the
disputed precinct Mr.. Oberly, chairman of
the Democratic central committee. demand
ed what right they had to hear testimony. to
which the attorney for Leman replied the |
board had distinctly reserved the right to
pass upon. legal learning of testi-
Inony, and its right TO con- |
slider it as \ canvassing board for future |
Afiidavits were then read in |
an endeavor to show fraud. One expert de- |
clared the name of Strausser, the Republic |
can judge, was not signed by the same per-
son on both poll book and tally sheet. AT
fdavits of 208 persons was also received, who |
declared they voted for Leman and the af-
idavit of the supervisors of the election,
also were read showing Leman votes. Chair
man 0berly said he would present the atfida-
VT of Strausser showing he bad signed both
poll book and tally sheet. Adjourned to
40 p. m.
When the Thirteenth district was reached,
j. A. Klupp, candidate for the Legislature,
presented an affidavit that change in the
ally sheet in his precinct had taken ninety
'otes from him. Further consideration of
both matters was postponed until Friday.