The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-10-28
WHO ARE THE FORGERS ?
Columbus Republicans Likely to Grimm.
ate Themselves.
Not Particle of Proof That the Parties
Accused Committed the TaIlysheet
Fraud--some Very Thin Testimony
The Tricksters Turn Pale.

COLUMBUS, O., OFT. % The persecu.
tiOG OF certain citizens charged with
having commit. d the fOrgeries of pre-
cinct A was resumed al $3.50 this morn.
ing with about thirty spectators pres
ent. The first witness called was
WtlliEm H Rodgers of C0shOcton, who
was Employed as night guard in the
peni i:entlsry asylum, where the fOrger-
les are said to have been committed. His
testimony was long and rambling con-
cerning the penitentiary convict, Fran
els, and the penitentiary guard Brioe,
and the insane patient Campbell.
Mr. Converse, for the defense, called
that the testimony of this witness was
being given merely for the purpose of
bOlstering up the testimony of the in
sane convict Campbell and Francis,
who are to follow. The testimony was
all hearsay; Campbell and Francis were
within be lrisdiction Of the court and
could tell their own story. Witness
always regarded Campbell as being In
sane.
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.
County Clerk John Joyce was again
put on the stand by the prosecution and
testified further about the tally sheets
and stated he thought some slight
changes had been made since the for.
geries, He had contributed to fund
raised for the purpose Of ferretlng out
the fOrgers, his first contribution being
$500 and afterwards 5000 more. He
also offered a reward OF 5000 for the
conviction Of the fOrgeTs, and appeared
before the County Commissioners and
requested them also to offer a reward,
m0uey was contributed for the purpose
Of hiring witnesses, and he did not
kuow that $1,000 had been offered a
certain party to testify, except
Here the prosecutor objected, and MT.
Converse arose and stated that he had
been Informed that fund Of several
thousand dollars had been raised and
that large part of 1t had been paid to
witnesses, Mr.. Taylor then arose and
stated that the defense proposed to show
that some Of the witnesses who were to
appear ON the stand had received large
sums Of money for testifying, and they
proposed to show the court the influence
uDder which their testimony was being
given. Continuing, he said: "There has
been largo amounts of money used,
there Is no question about that, and we
want TO know whether 1t went into the
hands of witnesses or attorneys" After
further legal discussion Of the point the
question was ruled out,
The court then adjourned until ..
IN when the prosecutor was somewhat
startled by the answer to a question
which called forth the statement that
on the Saturday night before the count
was to he made by the returning board,
four men, headed by George BeatOn, the
present executive clerk In Governor
FCrakgr's Office, were seen In the yard
back of The court house. They first ap-
psRred In the alley and slipped cautious
ly into the yard, where they were seen
moving about by Fred. Steube, the night
watchman and one of the accused.
Steube drew his revolver and drove the
men from the place. The wstchman
then procured the services Of an assist
ant, william HelnmilleT, who watched
With bim The remainder of the night,
and was paid for his services by the
county. The prosecution tried every
possible tactics TO prevent this testi
mOny being given, but we're oVerruled.
The next witness was David Jones, an
ex convict, who served a term for for
gerry aud was confined in the asylum at
the penitentiary. About the time the
fOTgeries are supposed to have been
committed he saw Francis writing on
large sheet of paper, but did not notice
any rulings on 1t, neither did he see any
writing except what Francis was doing
at the time. Witness refused to answer
the questions put to him on cross-exam-
inatiOn by Mr. Converse until ordered to
answer by the court.