The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-11
TlGHTtNGFOR THEIR RIGHTS.
The Victims of the Election Frauds Seek
Justice Through the Laws lid.
The Citizens Committee of One Hundred To
Be Made Permanent Organization for
the Protection of the Ballot.
ASKING FOR JUSTICE.
Mr. Irwin and DR. Wagner Begin the Contest
for Their Rights.

Mr. Irwin and DIR. Wagner Begin the Contest
for Their Rights.
The claims of William Irwin and DR.. Theodore
Waguer-the first as Criminal judge.elect. and
che latter as coroner-elect-are now before the
County Commissioners This is the first step
toward securing the Offices from the effects OF
tbs late high handed fraudulent canvassing of
returns and the audacous robbery of votes.
IL the commissioners, who have Democratic
majority, decide unfavorably 10 the contestors,
appeal will be at once taken to the Circuit Court
and thence to he Supreme Court if it is sought
to delay justice in order to protect the criminals
1t was suggested yesterday that Commissioner
Bahn ought not in propriety, sit in the case as
1t is charged Lorenz Schmidt, inspector of
che First precinct of the Twenty third
ward, left his taliy-sheet and poll
book in the care of that officer while he attend
cd the meeting Of his building association. Mr..
Schmidt still refuses to give the name of the per-
son who had possession of these papers in his alb
Senee but he is of the belief they were changed
some time during the interval from the close of
the precinct election boards count to the hour
they were opened in his presence before the
board of canvassers. ut is charged Mr.. Sahm"
said Journal reporter to the Commissioner,
'that Mr.. Schmidt gave you his election papers
while he was absent for time during the can
Tassing"
eyes, understand DR.. Wagner says So" re-
piled the Commissioner, but he volunteered
denial and he expressed desire to pursue the
subject further.
Before this gentleman and his Democratic col
league, Mr. Reveal, and Captain Clinton, the
Republican commissioner. it is presumed the
contests will come. But Captain Clinton's term
OF Office expires with this session of the board,
and, as the legal days of any one session of the
County Commissioners are limited to fifteen, Il
is possible the Democratic commissionerele
Mr. Thompson, will come in before the trials be-
GIN. The present session began the first of
this month and the hearing of the contests is set
for the 21d inst, in called meeting. BY that
time tho fifteen legal days will have expired with
Captain Clinton out Of Office, if the Democrats
seek to enforce a technically that he cannot sit
in any called meeting after the regular session
Rdjourns
DIR. Wagner. in the presentation of his case
states that on the count of the inspectors and
judges of election the total number of votes
cast at the last election was % lS5. OF these he
received II, 0G3, while the vote for DR.. Morrison
the cont stee. Is, 93l James A. Serrin
ceiving POI votes. These figures were certified
to by the boards of election of the several pre-
clUctS. But on the 4tQ OF November the IN
Bpectors met to canvass the returns. They had
before them the tally sheets, poll-book and GER
tffcates which each inspector was required by
law to retain. the count was made on these
tally sheets. except to two precincts, when the
canyasserS had recourse to the duplicate tally
sheets returned with the ballots to the county
clerk. He received all the votes to
which he was entitled, except in the
first precinct OF the Twenty third ward
RETURNS The inspector and Judges OF that pre-
fin( had a6 n q IA N
R3l feg Dr. Morrison, ''but," the complaint con-
0tnueG. 'after the election at said precinct
closed snd the result thereof had been found
and cerssSied to as to said office. some person or
persons 2raudnlently and unlawfully changed
9he tally .,haet, poll book and certificate which
Che fqsuecsor had returned to said board of can
RAesers, sc Us 10 make it appear that the
4estor had received 100 votes and the contestee
278 thereby depriving him of twenty seven
votes and adding them to the vote for the
aestee.r With this fraudulent change the board
Of canvassers certified to the footings that Wag
per had l3, o36 voies and Morrison ID, 9oS, there
by giving the latter twenty-five more votes.
The paper OF Mr.. Irwin is similar, except in
9eciting further details OF frauds He claims
ahat he is entitled to Ia. 057 votes and his oppo-
Oent, Ayres, to 14.0l5. By alterations and
9orceries the footings were made to appear 49,
boz for Irwin and IA, 063 for Ayres-a ma ority for
Abe latter of IL In enumerating the theft of
4allies. Mr.. Irwin says in the second precinct of
4he Fourth ward twenty-one votes were taken
from him. changing his vote from 23l to III, and
chat of Ayres from l6l to 1872, the
stolen talles being added to his oppo
aent's vote In the second precinct
Of the Thirteenth ward he had FOG votes re-
Auced to 100. and in the first precinct Of the Sew
entaenth ward 1877 reduced to 13l, while the vote
5or Ayres was raised from IA 10 $50. The sec
Ond precinct of the Eighteenth ward tally
oheet showed change from l16 to 10 for Irwin
lnd from Isl to 1S6 for Ayres. In the first pre-
einct of the Twenty third wari his vote was re-
Guced from 136 to 100 and Ayers's raised from
R62 to 2T8 Had these changes and frauds not
be:n committed the contestor would have ma
iority OF forty-two.
Henry Spann sent a friend to Dr. Wagner yes
terday with proposition to take charge of his
case if he, the Doctor. was willing. The reply
Ahe fiery Wagner made offered no consolation to
ahe willing attorney, who, since the discovery of
the robberies. has been seeking the sympathy OF
Republican friends in denouncing the crime as
Rtrocous.