The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-19
TIE TRAIL OF TIE THIEVES
namuel +. Perkins Refuses to Testify in
the Election Conspiracy Case.
Inspector Schmidt Tells the Names of the
Persons Who Had His Returns While
Out of His Possession.

United States District Court room, where Com
missioner Van Buren, is conducting the election
conspiracy inquiry. Mr. Perkins did not sui
fer himself to come alone. He was accom-
panied by Oscar B. Hord. and both himself and
Mr.. Hord appeared much perturbed. In JUS
tice to Mr.. Perkins it must be said that he
looked more anxious than Mr. Hord, who ap-
peared only in the capacity of attorney
There were two or three brief whispered con-
eultations with Duncan and Smith the at
torneys for the four men under investigation,
by Mr. Hord and Mr.. Perkins, and two or three
withdrawings from the room to the corridor,
where greater amount of privacy could be OBJ
sained and more extended consultations en-
soyed. After each of these consultations
the agitation of Mr.. Perkins increased
rather than diminished, until at length
some course of action appeared
to have been decided upon, and Mr.. Perkins, IN
response to second or third summons, took the
witness seat AS he did so the hum of converse
tion among the spectators ceased. The auditors
closed in about the court and the attorneys, and
with breathless interest awaited the opening of
the investigation.
At that moment Major Calkins who had been
engaged in one or two of the talks with Mr. Per-
ains in the hail. or in an ante-room, rose and
said: with permission of the court, am
deputed by Mr. Perkins to say he declines to be
sworn to testify in this case standing on his
right as he believes it to be, that the proceed
ings are without jurisdiction and the Commits
eioner has no power to administer an oath or TO
compel him to testify. may say, further. APP
pear as his counsel with Mr. Hord ana Smith
and Duncan"
Captain Ritter-we insist that the witness be
PEELED to take the oath.
Mr.. Duncan-Iie declines.
Commissioner Van Buren--I am free to confess do
not know what stops necessary where witness
refuses to testify Understand that act with the
powers of Justice of the peacethat justice of the
peace has the right to attach witness Exactly in
Fhat way that shall be done in this court do not
Know. IL have no such power to attach witness
understand that, sitting magistrate, have the
power to order to the clerk and have the wit
ness brought before the Circuit Court in the person of
Judge Wood. If there is objection on the part Of
counsel in the case of this witness it perhaps would
be better that ask Mr. Perkins to stand aside and
proceed with other witnesses. shall decide the mat
Ter at o'clock on Monday morning.
Mr.. Perkins and his counsel, Major Calkins
and Mr. Hord, then retired. Clerk Butler then
produced the papers Of the first precinct Twenty
third ward. Lorenz Schmidt was called and
sworn. He held the position of inspector at the
first precinct of the Twenty third ward at the
November election. He was examined by Capt
Ritter He stated that he was on duty from tn
opening of the polls until the count of the votes
was completed by the election board.
Question-State whether those taly-sheets
sponded during the progress and at the close of that
count
Answer--They did and they were correctly made
out.
Q-At the close of the count what did you do with
the poll-books i'll the way of entries?
A-The entries m after
pleted. One pob book and tally-sheet put into
Che bag and sealed and pobook and tally-sheet
kept out took the bag and the duplicate poll book
and tally put the bag and contents in the box
and carried them home. After wards brought them
to my Office and put them in the vault there. The
other duplicates were in the box The next day
ried them to the canvassng room.
at what time did you finish .1e the count!
Q.-What disposition did you make of the bag and
its contentsl
A--After found-T understood could not leave
them at the canvassng room-I went down stairs and
Sled bag with the county clerk, with his deputy
Iappeared before the canvassing board.
Q.-What documents did you have in your posses
sion from your precinct!
Al had the tally-sheet and pollbook of the Re-
publican clerk. [ helped organize the canvassing
board then took the papers with and left Nobody
had possession OF the papers up to that time but
self After the organizing of the board went to my
Office went away about IL o'clock and returned
after dinner, about O'Clock. did not remain as
saw chance for some time, and took them back
again. Before supper / went there once more 1t
must have been about half-past o'clock.
Q.-When you went home the second time did you
take these documents with you9
Al did. When / returned to the canvassing
board the first man met and spoke to was John h.
Sullivan. / shook hands and congratulated him
9is successful election and spoke to him as to how
were about through with the Thirteenth Four
teenth ward lie Sullivanl stated it would be 8 or
10 o'clock before would be called l stated that
1t was disagreeable to me-because had to 60 to a
building association meetng-to keep the papers and
carry them along all the time. asked if could
yaar fhaf1rv f1cOrn QlndU He hQ H0ha
fully take care of chem, so handed them to him.
Commissioners vanBuren-What time that9
Answer-I Immediately after into the room
about $50 O'Clock. He did not more than have
chem in his hand when he introduced to a
whose name caught as George Budd. He said Budd
Was his intimate friend, and would stay there He
handed them over to Mr.. George Budd. then went
sowards the east and met Mr.. Albert Sahm. l told
am that LETT my papers with nth John John r. sullivan.
my presence. He [Sahml said. 'All right, Lorenz
will see to it"
Mr.. Schmidt. contnuing-I back about
o'clock. On the stairway | heard from somebody
thatmy precinct had just been called. and they had
taken the second precinct l came into the ROOM
George Budd immediately to and took me
into the little room next to the courtroom on the
north side. went with in corner and opening his
soat handed me the papers He made the remark
"You must state that they have never been out of
your hands In laughing way. said, That's all
right. went in. by that time the second precinct
was just done Bernhamer called my precinct. I
banded the papers to Bernhamer and he opened them
and proceeded. ala not open them after Budd
banded them to There was only second between
ais handing them to and my going to the desk
Mr. Bernhamer then proceeded in reading off the
names and Mr.. Many opened the taly-shcet. BY the
lime that done. the counting going
After few names called, looked and saw
the erasures. / do not think | could state
all the names-I have to refer you to my protest
which was carefully out in writing. Mr..
Graiths was one whose vote had been changed
candidate for Representative, Hugo and others. As
soon as saw It. addressed the chairman of the can
wasting board, and said Here seems to be
ching wrong and that could not be satisfied with
Ais going on and counting that vote unless the other
tailysheet and poll book from the bag presented
so mo, that could compare them.
Q.-What did he sayl
Ale said he had no such authority and just
went %. lie wont on in bury. and stepped back,
Disguised paying 0 more attention to what done
The first man then talked 10 was Mr. Christian VIM.
B. Christianl He stood right in front of the desk,
and be- kind Of made The mofion to the chairman TO 60