The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-09-23
Especial to the Wofld.l

AUGUSTA, Me-, September l2.-Iu or
der to give some legal and tangible evi-
dence of the extensive bribery prscticed
in Mr. Blaine's own city at the election
last Monday, and to afford an explanation
of the greater part, if not all, of the ma.
jority given by the State to the Republi-
can ticket, l have taken the pains to pro-
cure few affidavits which are sent here
with. 1t is not pretended that these affi-
davits cover the ground. They give but
faint conception of the extent Of the in.
famous manner by which this city and
this State were carried by an increased
majority. They only serve to illustrate
the methods of the Republican bosses.
10 that extent they are certainly inter
esting. As already intimated the bribery
in most cases was done by employees Of
the Augusta post-office. Reference to
several of them ia made in some of the
affidavits which follow.
Here follows number of afidavits, Of
which we print one:
CONFESSION OF ONE WHO WAS BRIBED
l. freeman f. Weeks, of Augusta, county Of
Kcnnebec, and Stale of Maine, upon oath he
pose and say that am legal voter of Ward 5
in said Augusta, thai have been ai work fnr
different parties in said Augusta for about four
years and have always voted the Democratic
ticket. am thirty years Of age. Thursday or
F'idav Of last week Horace B. Cony saw me a,
Robert A. Cony's and asked me- how | was go
ing 10 vote / told him that did NOT intend 10
vote the Republican ticket hut intended 10 vote
my own principles. He told Nc that II would
vO'e the Republican ticket he would pay me IA
much az anv one WAS paid. whether il wan $40
or more | would not agree at that time to vo'r
The Republican ticket. I SAW him again on the
de-walk in Augusta in front of the posi-off1ce
building, where he is employed, Saturday last,
AMI he told me to keep away from The Demo-
cra's and he would d" we'll by mo election
day. did not promise him al that lime that |
would vote as he wanted me TO- Sunday morn
jag l was at Robert d. Cony's and Horace B.
Conv came along with a stable team and asked
me if l lid not want to take ride said yes
ana he carried me to Windsor and Kept me over
night and brought me back Monday morning
AMI left me AT Robert D. Cony's long enMigh 10
get my breakfast. Then he carried me, round the
city and then to the voting precinct. and Edward
Barrows came along and took me up TO the bal
lot-hox. and deposited Republican vote in the
box which Horace B. Cony gave me- When he
gave me the vote he s,id if carried that he
would pay me as much as they paid any one.
When came back To the carriage he took me and
carried me up across the street and gave me $40,
saying that they We're not paying but 50 for
votes, bnt he would give me $40 He said that
the Democrats were not paying anything and
told him that was not enough, as I knew they
were paying more. He would not pay me any
more. Monday morning when | returned from
Windsor wanted to go after my rubhers, as il
rained Robert told me MOI to 90 after them and
he would buy me a pair. He did not do sn, and
sfer they got my vo'e they did not know me
and would not help me to get job of work,
although they promised TO do so before voted
(Signed) FREEMAN E. WEEKS
State of Maine, County of Kennebec-Sub
scribed and sworn TO on this 10th dav of Sep
iember 1884 before me.
(Signed) THOMAS J. LYNCH,
Justice of the Peace.
We omit the names of $50 men from the First,
Second Third Fifth and Six xlh wards of Augusta
who are understood TO have sold their votes 10
the Republican bosses.