New-York tribune., 1885-07-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
BOURBON FRA UDS IN VIRGINIA..
TWO OF THE RAsCALs BROUGHT TO BOOK.

TWO OF THE RAsCALs BROUGHT TO BOOK.
THE HON. JOHN 8. WISE DESCRIBES ONE eUir
WHICH DrDN'r MIsCARRY.
TO the Editor Of The Trtoune
SIR: The following IL true narrative OF facts In
contested election touching the county officers OF
Norfolk County, Just decided. Lest these facts pub
lished anonymously seem exaggerated you are
authorized to publish them over my nanIe
was counsel in the case and heard all the evidence
At the general election for county officers feld May
25, 1885 in Virginia according TO the returns the
Bourbon Democracy achieved a victory IN Norioik
County and heralded these returns TO the country In
the branch district the candidates tor super
visor were j. q. Il. Croker, Democrat, and .. D
Carney Republican. According to the returns Crocker
elected by ll3 majority. will mention but two
precincts out Of the four included in the election dis
trict Tho vote a. returned from Halls Corner
precinct stood Carney 1885, Croker las; and the
vote "a returned from Gebe precinct stood Crocker
1877. Carney 80 Both of these precincts had in
November last cast overwhelming maortes for
Blaine This ele,,on, however was held under the
new Bourbon electoral law. When the returns came
in. Mr. Carney who il one of our best and thrtiest
citizens at once saw that they utterly fraudulent
and served notice OF contest upon Crocker. The trial
of the case was completed to-day The facts proved
we're follows the election was held by three Judges
appointed under the new Bourbon Electoral law; two
Judges Thomas =. Cooke, and Thomas Cu pepper. were
Democrats the third u cOlorel man and Republican
was selected by the two Democratic judges after the
opening OF the polls. Five unimpeached colored voters
sgore that in the afternoon they stranger about
the polls and one of them testified that no saw him
folling ballots together and then holding them up to
see If they would drop apart. All testified that
suspcc.ing him they took positions near the baot-bJX
and watched his movements. In lew minutes he
approached the box. had some coloquy with the Judge
Cooke, in an UNDERGONE and tlercu )on the two Demo-
;,,.I,f y 4
int ndng leave the room; that the witnesses saw
him quickly drop into the box something which they
took to be ballots: that theg all cried out there's
man stnfing the box" and thcreupon the two judges
came back one of them exclaimed "if anybody said
that man put anything into the box he was =
-----E-, and III shoot the stuing ont of
him -; and thercupon the man walled oil unmolested
and not denying the charge IL was then proved thai
when the balot-boK opened that night and the
th-reupon Thomas y. Cooke, Democratic judge, was
bndiolded and drew ont IL ballots; thai thereupon
the ballots put back in the box shaken up and
on the the ballots oyerran ID ballots. where
upon Cooke was again blindfoldcd and drew out IL
olllcts; that 1t was then shaken up third tine
counted and found TO Overrnn ballots. and Cooke
being blindfodcd drew ont that the ballots were
then strung and found to oyerrun III ballots, where
upon Cooke was again blindfolded and drew ont L |
Republican ballots. But 30i votes were cast at
Halls Corner tor Supervisor; thus 23 per cent of
the ballots In the box fraudulent The returns
gave Carney 1876. Crocker las. We had present in
court 233 men whose names were on tue osGt oook s
who were ready TO swear that they voted there Tor
Cam,y. This left III votes only for Crocker by any
possibility. -, -, ,
Having reached this point we took mp the GIebe
precinct whers the election was also conducted by
Democrats. That return gave Crockcr lSf, carney
30 We were prepared b prove by the voters present
that II votes out OF the east were cast by them
for Carney so that instead of l57 majority there for
Crockcr We had a majority OF 100 for Carney. When
we had reached this point the defence absolutely broke
down aud gave M the waving our Introduction
of testimony as to the Gebe precinct and permitting
a Judgment in favor OF Carney. Colonel lioorle u.
Parker, Democratic prosecuting attorney, Mr. IL. "
Marshall late Democratic cand late for Congress and
Mr. Crockor of the Portsmouth bar represented the
defence.
During the progress of the trial when the fact was
fully develoi ed touching the frauds ut Halls Corner
We caused the arrest OF Cooke. The Democratic Judge
on the charge Of felony for putting fraudulent ballots
IN II box lis brJile er was one 0i the Judges NJ the
(lebe prccinct We concluded not 10 press the prose
against him upon III" agreement ut the judges at
both precincts 20 rcsgn. which they have done or Will
do at once. our reason Tor dom. ~ was because "a
bourbon grand Jury would have % ndict him aud
B,.rbon petit ury try him. and would not in all prob
ability convict. Ibis IL specimen brick ot bourbon
honesty Publish 1t for the benefit OF thcr frends IN
the cause OF reform in the North. ana lct Northern
K.unblicons know that Virginia Republicans are
batting ,t fOr free ballot aud a lair count We
hay, unkennced the fraud. ouscd the Denehciarles'
purgod the pr, 0 the corrupt apponiees oil the
bourbon n, ctpral Commission and will promise that
this shall be the result in every county OF the Com
monwealth II we live 10 make the fight
A. /, due To Mr. j. o. h. Crookcr 10 say that he
dsclatmed All knowledge II the fraud. and declared
hs uayillngne-r t. hold Office obtained. l.a tnn-
ately tho occs of constable and magistrate el ON
the same ticket with hin not contested. ana.
although their certificates have thus been saturated
with fraud | have heard of no designations on their
pact In all probability yon will next hear OF these
Democratic judges receiving appointments IN inc
Navy ard Tor their public services taxing the places
of some offensive partisan Pcrhaps Mr. villas
would like to send them a confidential circular inviting
their testimony against some fOnest man To whose
nI,ce Il, will appoint them. JouN ). WISE.
Od Point Comfort. June y, 1850.