The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-26
THE MAnKLN CASE.

The trial at Chicago of Joseph G.
Mackin, William ]. Gallagher. Arthur
Gleason and Henry BIehl on the charge
of conspiring to effect the result of the
election for congressman In the Fourth
Illinois district at the presidential elec.
ton last November, was concluded Sat-
urday, and resulted IN the CONVICTION of
Mackin, Gallagher and Gleason and the
acquittal of Biehl. The facts In the case
are as follows: The Fourth congression-
al district includes the north division
OF Chicago, and the Sixth legislative
district covers part Of the same territory.
In this legislative district Henry w.
Leman, Republican, and Rudolph
Brand, Democrat, we're candidates. II
was in the returns from the Second vo-
ting precinct of the Eighteenth ward in
this district that the crooked work
was done. When the count was
completed on the night of the
election, the record showed Leman had
400 votes and Brand 274. which with
other returns from the district gave Lee
man q small majority. When the can
wasting board reached that precinct the
returns showed Leman had received only
200 votes. while Brand had 474 votes,
which gave Brand q majority in the dis
trict The returns gave evidence of hav-
Ing been tempered with, but the canvass
ing board decided that il could not go
behind the returns and accordingly Ger.
titled the result TO the state Canvassing
bosrd, which reversed the decision and
gave certificate of election to Leman,
thereby creating tie vote on the joint
ballot tor UOIted States seoator.
Haf Brand been given q seat the Dem
ocrats woGld have had a clear majority
on JOINT ballot and this was evidently
the point aimed at by tampeTing With
results in the precinct aEoye mentioned.
United States District Attorney
Tuthin filed information IN the
federal court against the de-
PENDANTS in this case charging
them with conspiracy to tamper with re-
turns Of an election at which a member
of congress had been voted for. The
bringing 10 of congressional matter was
merely to bring the case within federal
jurisdiction, there was no evidence of
change in the result for congressman.
Subsequently these defendants and
judges and clerks of election were in-
dicted by the federal grant jury. That
body on opening a sealed package OF bal
lots for the precinct Ia question discov-
cred that 200 RepU blican ballots, bearing
Leman's name, had been distracted and
replaced by 200 other Republican tick
cts, except that BraCd's name wac sub
stituted for Leman's. Subsequent in
designations developed the fact that
these ballots were printed on the
night of November 81, nearly
three weeks after the election,
and delivered to Mackin, that the
handwriting on the return which had
been tempered with. was that of Gai-
lagher's and that Gleason or Biehl, who
who were employees of the county
clerk, in whose custody the returns
were, must have been. enc OF both, in
collision with the persons who, on the
night of November 90. or Whereabouts.
made the substitution of the false ballots
for the genuine.
The jury came 10 with lis verdict at
5 30 o'clock in the evening. The greateRt
excitement prevailed in and around the
court house when the verdict was an
nounced. The at orG eys for the defense
at once moved tor a new trial. Other
indictments are pending against most of
the defendants both 10 the federal and
state courts, and Mackin is under bonds
90 various cases to- the SmOunt OF $780,
900 TO $50, COO The case has attracted
unusual interest, because in its bearings
IL tOuCuCo uPOu lllS SGudAG vi TIC y
States; because of its bOldness of fraud
IN ITS execution, and because OF senss-
tional developments at trial. The fraud
excited great indignation in Chicago,
and committee OF leading citizens was
formed comprising the prominent men
of both the Democratic and Republican
parties and large fund raised to push
the prosecution to a successful issue.
Mackin is q working politician and has
held prominent positions in the councils
In the party in this city, being secretary
OF the Democratic city, county and DIS
tTicJ committees. Gallagher is less
prominent, but he has taken an active
part in politics in a small way since his
arrival here from Philadelphia. Glea-
son is Republican and has been an &C.
tive worker also in small way.
Both Mackin and Gallagher were re-
leased on bail SOON after the verdict, the
bond in each case being $4,000. NJ. c.
Mcdonald aud a Clark street saloon
keeper named Cavanaugh are joint sure
ties for the whole amount. Gleason's
bond remains at $1,000 and he also has
been re leased.