The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-18
TRACKS OF THE RASCALS.
More Evidence Indicating by Whom the
Election Frauds We're Committed.
Samuel E. Perkins and Steve Matter Fail to
Respond to Repeated Calls for Their
Appearance in Court as Witnesses.

Coy, Counselman and Span. charged with con-
spiracy to commit election frauds, was resumed
yesterdaymorning There were sixty or morespec-
tators present Samuel E. Perkins and Stephen
Matter, who had attended nearly every previous
session of this court of inquiry, seemingly tax
ing great interest in the proceedings, we're not
present Subpoenas had been issued for their
attendance as witnesses, and on this, the first
occasion when they were wanted to take more
prominent part than that of spectators, they
were absent During the day their names were
called number of times, in order that they
might take the witness.stand, but they did not
materialize
The election papers Of the first precinct of
the Seventeenth ward were taken up, Capt Eli
Ritter examining the witnesses on behalf. of
the government. The first witness called was
Edward Ayres He testified that he was one of
the clerks in that precinct at the November
election. He worked upon one tally-sheet the
other clerk upon another. These sheets CORE
sponded as they progressed with their work and
at the conclusion OF their work.
Question-When the vote was counted out entire
what done with the tally. sheets and poll booksl
Answer-One of them was reserved by Mr.. James
AL. South, who took it home, the other taken by
the inspector. after being put in bag and sealed
up have never seen either of them 1.-The two sets
board, the Sd of November. at o'clock at night
Andrew Oehler was inspector
o. will ask you what difference 1.-THE witness was
shown the two ysheets if any, there is between
these tally sheets as to the votef
A.-There seems to be a difference of six votes
nere In the vote of William .bs % S h for
Q.-What change has been made in the other tally
sheet in the vote for William Irvins
A change of six votes by erasure
O.-What
tally .sheet sent to the canvassing board
A.-Nothing whatever The vote for Irwin, as it
appears upon the vote made by me, was correct
Q-You will look at tho vote ON the tally sheet sent
to the canvassing board, in the vote for Albert r.
Ayres and state what difference, if any, there is be-
tween those two sheets
A.-There is difference of six votes They have
been added to Ayress vote.
Allen Hisey, inspector of the second precinct
of the Thirteenth ward. was recalled.
Captain Ritter-At whose suggestion did you go
into the back ROOM adjoining the Circuit Court ROOM
A.-Wel, Mr. Perkins gave me a wink, and went
in to see what he wanted. / followed him In. He
simply asked to look at the sheet that had. That
was all that passed
Q.-fou stated yesterday that he returned it.
A,-Eo, it was returned to me by Stephen Matter.
That question was not asked me before 1 was in the
same room when Mr. Matter returned it to ME. l
was acquainted with him, but had not met him for
long time before. He handed it back without saying
word.
VIM H Corbaley. Room AZ Vance Block, was
the next witness. He testified that he was one
of the judges of the first precinct of the Seven
teenth ward
Odd the tallies of the two clerks agree at tho
close of the count!
A-They were reported to correspond. I did not
know what was done with the poll-book and tally
sick and | made the returns to the returning
board. The tally sheet was given me on the morning
Of the returning board meeting. They were handed
to me In the courtroom by Mr.. Coy, the chairman of
the Democratic county committee.
Q.-The Honorable Simeon Coy?
Ayes, sir.
O.-You mean one of these defendants7
Ayes. sir; that is the man. 1t was at the south
side of the Circuit Court room the counter The
canvassng board seemed TO be in session 1t was
80 o'clock in the forenoon.
Q.-Was Mr.. Coy resident and voter in that ward9
A-7No, sir he lives in the Eighteenth ward. He
does business III the ward.
Q.-He does business in all the wards, doesn't hel
Al don't know.
O.-What did he say2
Ale didn't say anything. He just handed it to
me. Didn't state how it came into his hands. /
didn't look at them l simply took them apart
them.
Q.-Did you anything of Bernhamef there on
that occasion?
Al saw him as president Of the board.
Q.-Who called for them?
Al think Bernhamer. took it up to the desk
Bernhamer looked it called the names from it,
and announced the result.
for S criminal nal judge upon that taily-shee
A.
hardly see the tally-sheet. When he announced it
somebody cried fraud"
Q-Wasnt your attention called at that time to the
mutation of the record as the vote for criminal
judgewas being annonnced-that there was change
medel
A--Thers was greet hubbub 1 didn't examine
it. saw there had been erasures there 1t kind
of blotted with something.
Al do not remember.
Captain Ritter asked the witness to look at
1hnx Gov he two fN~ orsro mi
Judge and tell the effect of the changes made.
Commissioner Van Buren, decided it to be I'M
necessary. as it had been sufficiently shown by
other witnesses
On cross-examlnstion Mr.. Corbaley, who was
the Democratic judge testified that ne was sick
On the day the Canvassing board met; that sew
eral times on that day he was at his Office, TAX
ing the papers with MIN; that once or twice he
lay down and slept few minutes. The papers
were wrapped up and he did not think had been
disturbed.
James NJ. South. Republican Judge. testified
to the count He didn't know what became OF
the duplicate tally-sheet and pollbook, but
thought they were given to Inspector Oehler
Adolph Roos, the Democratic clerk, had bad
memory, but noticed that the figures on the
tally-sheet that went to the canvassing board
had been changed. and were not in his hand
writing He knew they had been changed, but
didn't know whether more or less had been put
on. He knew they were all right when they
were last In his hands
The court then adjourned until 2 p NJ
When the court reconvened there was again
an urgent call for Samuel Il. Perkins and
Stephen Matter, but neither person was pres
emit. The marshal reported he had been unable
TO find Perkins, and had left copy of the sub
poena at his residence.
Andrew Oehler, inspector of the first precinct
of the Seventeenth ward, was the first witness
he testified that he had been at his place on She
election board all day. and was there during and
at the close of the count. He said the ballots at
the close of the count, were put into bag.
Question--What was put Inf
Answer put In that bag the tickets and the poll.
book. The tally sheet put in the baotbox not
in the bag. When everything was finished we seaIsd
up the bag put it in this balotbox with the tally
sheet. The box was locked put the bag In
1t at the close of the count.
Q.-What became of that ballot box?
A-Aftar we got th~o1,nh rad l.