The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-10-22
columbus Times, Oct. 2O.l
A SHAMEFUL GRIND !
Wslicis Democrats are
the First in. .DenOunc-
ing and Condemn
ing.

Outrage WuiSu was peIifclidI0u u'
on the community when the tally
sheets of Precinct A, Thirteenth
ward. were tampered with. and by
dishonest and reprehensib'e means
the rights of the people were assaii-
ed. No words from the Democra:
or Republican press are strong
enough to condemn a thing which
was conceived in dish onesty, execut-
ed by stealth and lett to stand as an
eternal disgrace to the community
at large. Condemnation cannot
reach the limit desired, or serve to
nul;ify the fact that such a thing
was done, SO all that can be SAID, is
that whoever the forger was, or
whoever his aiders and abbettors
were. it will not only throw the
black shadow of shame upon him,
but upon the city which claims him
or them as vlllainous citizen or
citizens.
The question of throwing ont or
counting The votes in Precinct A,
Fourth ward, was ably argued by
the counsel for the sides; Mr.. Pow
ell and Judg Harrison consuming
altogether about two hours IN argu-
ment, after which it was finally sub
mitted to the Board Of Canvassers
for decision, The result of q short
consultation was that Deputy Clerk
Beck was instructed to resume the
reading of the disputed ward, thus
settling the matter. To critlcise
this decision is not the province of
this article, as only the facts in the
case are given. The reading of
this ward called forth some few re-
marks between Mr.. Joyce and
Squire Martin relative to the count,
which altogether they created a di-
version had no other effect. AS
soon as this had ended and quiet
was restored, Clerk joyce took the
poll book and tally sheet of Pre-
cinct A, Thirteenth ward, from the
basket and handed it to Justice
Martin, who announced the total
vote. General surprise reigne6,
and Deputy Clerk Beck said there
was some mistake. Mr.. Joyce then
announced that poll book showed
that 760 votes had been polled,
while, the tally sheet exhibited
1,060, a difference of 300. He there
fore demanded that vote be thrown
out, but Mr.. Martin claimed they
should be counted as the tally sheet
was sworn to. The confusion now
grew greater and greater and every
body began talking at once and
asking for information on the sub
ject. The papers were examined
by the crowd and then inquiries as
to how the fraud originated began.
Clerk Joyse stated at once that
he had not suspicion of the affair
until it became evident by the ir-
regularities of the figures. He had
placed the package in the safe Sat-
urday and since then he had no
knowledge of their being on. OF that
repository. The only person who
had access to the safe, by knowing
the combination was Deputy Clerk
Beck, and as everyone knew the
of the officials 80 well,
it did not need their assurance OF
ignorance on the subject to make
everybody Immediately exonerate
them. To express the whole matter
as briefly as possible, it could be
said that everybody had an op,n-
ion, but the majority seemed to
think that the tally sheets had been
distracted some time, during the
count on SATURDAY., before which
time they were all right, as was
proved by several gentlemen who
examined them previous to adjourn
ment. The matter of finally set.
tling tn e questions, was postponed
until five O'Clock in the afternoon,
when Mr.. Joyce requested all to be
present.
The manner in which the fraud
was committed showed the evidence
that an expert had been at work.
In every instance the vote of the
Democratic candidates had been
raised 800, which would have Civ
en- them majority, that would
have elected some of their candl
dates. The vote of the Democratic
side in the ward ranged from 200
to 22O, or therebouts, and the for
ger or forgers in doing their work
had simply to change two to a
FIVE. which may not seem easy to
most persons, but yet is so, since
by three strokes, and simple ones,
the figures in this case were chang
ed. Where the Democratic vote
for a candidate, as in the case of Al
len o. Myers. was less than 2o0.
the simple change of one to a
four was al! that was needed. Some
of the fienrers showed evidence of
haste Or bungling, since the coun
terfeii Wa badly executed and the
remains Of the two were only too
evident. 1hen the tally marks diff
fered radically from the previous
ode, being made with lighter iak,
probably fluid. and the marks be
ing inclined at a different ang'e
from the preceding anG correct re
turns. AL! through the sheet the
forger had taken care to alter The
figures with 4 correctness that PROV
cd considerable time had been spent
upon ths job. A liberal estimate
of the tine employed in doing it
would be an hour, as one must con
slider that to change the votes of
seventeen caniidaies, 500 tally
marks must De made beside The
changing OF the figures which would
take time. Mathematical geniuses
can figure out the time employed
very easily. While some parts of
the figuring displayed bnngiing, yet
The general effect was such that one
could not detect it without careful
inspection. The aenally tor the Of
fense is. according to section 1901.
one to twenty years. so it would be
an extremely unpleasant occurrance
for him if the forger should he
ca ught, as it is to be hoped he will
lie.
A report is in circulation that
men had been seen around the
Court House last night, but private