Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-06
LOT WRIGHT UNDER FIRE.
MIR. SPRINGER PUTS HIM ON THE
STAND AT CINCINNATI.


His 600 Bull Dog Revolvers and Much of
His Money Furnished by the RepubIi-
can National Committee Reckless
Methods Followed in the Selection of
His Deputies.
CINCINNATI, Jan. 5.-The Congression-
! al committee to investigate the appoint
ment of the United States Deputy Marshals
in this city at the October election, Mr..
Springer, Chairman, began their work
this morning. United States Marshal
Lot Wright was the first witnessed called.
1t was agreed by the commission that Hon
j. b. Foraker and Col. II. l.. Morey should
represent Marshal Wright. Hon. John f.
Follet, the Democratic candidate for Congress
In the First Ohio district last October, was
permitted to conduct the examination.
The witness, in obedience to the summons,
had brought with him books and papers per-
tanning to the appointment of Deputy Mar
shals. lie explained that he appointed special
ana general Deputy Marshals. The specials
were for duty at the polls and residents of the
city as far as he knew. He called attention TO
three who were not residents, and said that
they were not paid. Another class of Depu-
ties watched the Cincinnati end of the Gov
lngtOn bridge for repeaters, and still another,
composed of residents of COvingtOn, were
distributed among the voting places for the
purpose of identifying COVington repeaters if
they presented themselves to vote. These
were not paid by the government. but bv a
private fund put in his hands by an unknown
person. $40 came from Mr.. BeresfOrd, Repub-
lican candidate for Sheriff
ALL RECOMMENDATION DESTROYED.
He had only a few written recommepda-
tlons OF appolntees and had destroyed them.
1t was probable that all were Republicans.
One Democrat applied. but man who came
with him refused to indOrse him and he was
not appointed. The witness generally eX-
pected that the appOintUes should be Repub-
cans. lie made no agreement to appoint
Democrats upon condition that they would
work for the election of at least one Demo-
erat.
Mr. Follett asked: ''Do you mean to saw
that you appointed large number of men
whose characters and qualifications YOU did
not know to preserve the purity of the ballot
boX?"
The witness replied that it would be hard
to know the character of 1900 men in so short
a time, but when the men were recommended
by good citizens he did not hesitate to appoint
them. In case On-resident was appointed
a special deputy, as was the case in some in
not paid by the government. He ap-
pointed these deputies at no
body's instance except his own,
His observation and information satisfied him
of the necessity for their appointment. This
was aided by statement Mr.. FOllett made TO
him few DAYS before the election that there
were many strangers in the city. He did at
one time determine to appoint one Democrat
Tor each voting place, but subsequently
changed his mind as he wanted the men all Of
his selection.
ARMING THE TERRORIZERS.
The deputy marshals were furnished by him
dred Of these came to him by express from
New York. He had no information that
would fully justify him in saying that they
were furnished by the Republican National
Committee, but supposed that they were SO
furnished. Some one, he could not recOllect
the name, tolu him on Saturday night before
the election that they would come and they
reached his Office Monday morning before the
election. Cartridges came with them. He
regarded it as essential that men who were
to preserve the peace at the polls should
thing to Powell Clayton, of Ar
kansas. to Mr.. Clarkson, of Iowa.
Of the Republican National Committees: to
Mr.. Kerns, of st. Louis, and to MANY Republi1
cans OF Cincinnati. Many revOvers were re-
turned. There were 900 in the whole LOT re-
celVed. lie could not tell what became of the
Cthers. lie could not remember the name of
the house in Maiden Lane, n. Y, to which
the pistols were returned.
Mr.. Follett spent some time in examining
as to the number of days allowed to the
were allowed, because the men spent the
time In coming to be qualified and receive IN
str uctlons and served late into the night. and
returned the day after the election to report
etc.
HIS FIRST BILL INCORRECT.
His first bill was incorrect, because his
book deceived him as to the number of depu
ties and the time of their appointment. Some
were sworn In at noon of election day. The
only distinction he made between the general
ana special deputies was as to the rates of
pay. lie supposed that he could appoint any
citizen OF the United States a general deputy.
He appointed man named Adams of Colo
rado, a deputy marshal. He was beaten up
at the Sixth ward polls by Deputy Sherifs
from Kentucky. The witness visited wards
Eight, Nineteen and two others on election
day and found bad state of affairs. he was
shalss
His examination was suspended to intro
duce A. j. Thorpe, man Mr.. Wright re-
ferred to as Democrat, who applied to him
for appointment as deputy marshal Mr.
Ihorpe sald mat he did apply, and offered to
serve for nothing. He was introduced bv
Commissioner PrObascO, who refused to rec
ommend him. Mr.. Wright told him that if ne
would bring recommendation from George
ii. PendletOn he would appoint him. He did
not bring recommendation from Mr. Pendle-
ton. On the cross examination Mr. ThOrpe
SAID that he knew Mr. PrObascO from cOnnec-
tlOn with the United States Court where he
CIhorpe) was tried and convicted,
BASIS OF THE APPOINTMENTS.
Mr.. Wright's testimony was resumed. He
dld not know that general marshals were paid
at all. He paid none. He appointed specIaI
deputy marshals upou written application
from two citizens of the Twenty first ward.
This is in the Second Congressional District
He thought that he had authority upon such
application TO appoint for the whole city, no
matter how many Congressional. districts il
contained. The appointment of general depu-
ties was at the request OF no one in particu-
lar, except as stated in regard to the COving-
ton repeaters. Being asked if he did not
know that one of his deputies, E. J. SNYDER
was notorious bunkO man, he replied that
he did not know it; that Snyder was recon-
monded to him by Postmaster Whitfield, of
Cincinnati, as a reliable gentleman. Col.
Colin Ford delivered some of the pistols to
the deputies. He did not know that Powell
the pistols He did not hear Mr..
CLAYTON say to the deputies, 'sNOw YOU
have revOlvers, go out and use them" He in
vlted Mr.. Clayton to come to his Office on
election day because the latter had experience
in handling deputy marshals. He gave no
order to the deputies to fuse their pistols"
His Instructions were to be discreet, and not
to use them unless necessary for self-defense,
and that they would be held responsible. The
Attorney General has sent Joel w. Bowman,
an expert accountant, to attend during the
n ho inv