The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-01
RUMORS OF a GREAT TRAt|
Valueless Certificate Of Election Sal
to Have Been Given Ripley.
The Pleasing Scheme Reported to Have Orig
mated in Fertile Democratic Brains, and
Wherein It Will Be a Failure.

W. |. Ripley, the Democratic candidate for
alderman, who was unsuccessful in trying to
secure the Office by all fair and foul means that
could feasibly be attempted, has made fnall
effort to get the place by sneaking into it Yes-f
terday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, Attorney Beck
procured from the county clerk certified
copy of the report of the commissioners in the |
contested election case. and an hour later NJ F.
Shields, the Democratic city clerk whose official /
term begins to-day, might have been seen enter
ing Mr.. Beck's law Office, accompanied BY his
deputy, Joseph T. Tanning Soon afterward w.
Ripley might have been seen joining the
party. The purpose of this meeting was to de-
unlawfully what could not at that time be done
openly, under the sanction of the law-to give
Mr.. Ripley credentials to the seat in the Board
of Aldermen to which Mr. Pritchard holds the
legal right. What passed at this meeting is
known only by therepcrt of the proceedings given
out by by Mr. Ripley himself, who told friend
at . o'clock, shortly after he was seen going
from Attorney Beck's Office, that he mad just
been sworn in, and further, that a certificate of
election had been issued to him by the Demo-
cratic city clerk. He stated in the conversation
with this friend that until day or
two ago there had been no hope of
his getting into the Office, but that the Democrats
had just discovered law under which ne could
get in. and that, in pursuance of this scheme. he
'had just been sworn in"
A Journal reporter called on Alderman Pritch-
ard last night to learn if he was aware of the
movement that had been made by the
Democrats. 81 anticipated from what
have heard from different sources some such
movement as this" said Mr.. Pritchard, ''and
took all necessary precautions against it, If Mr..
Ripley has certificate of election it has been
dated ahead, because Shields has no authority
whatever to issue it at this time He has filed
his bond as clerk but he has not taken posses
sion of the Office and cannot lawfully do so
until the LIST day of January. because the term
of the present clerk does not expire until then,
If he has issued certificate of election to Rip
ley it does not bear the seal of the Office, be-
cause that has been closely guarded by the
present city clerk for several days,
and to-day, when not in actual
Shields would have authority whatever to
issue certificate, and if he has issued any, it
will certainly be held as of no force by the
courts"
is there any law, such as Ripley speaks Of
could get into the ofice?"
That's simply talk-an excuse for the course
that is being. pursued. There is no
s sSsa. law tho 1t has been stated that
issue certificate of election to Ripley and would
call his name when the roll of the members
of the new board is called Expecting something
of this kind to be done, asked Mr.. Bynum a
could be done legally. He said: mo, the only
way Ripley can possibly get the Office
now is by quo warranto proceedings
W When q the proper time comes | suppose
Mr.. Bynum has not been consulted regarding
the course that is being pursued now. It is
wholly without any support of law"
"Will you endeavor to prevent the consuu-
nation of their scheme by any legal proceed
ings9"
II shall institute injunction proceedings to-
morrow morning at 8 o'clock, basing the
application upon the information that have
received regarding the intentions of the Demo
Gratis to try to get possession of the Office by the
Democratic city clerk calling the name of Ripley
as member of the board. 1t may be that an
attempt will be made to forestall an injunction
by holding meeting before l can get
however, would also be Illegal. The law pro-
vides that the first meeting of the new board
shall be held on the first Friday after the Ist of
January, which would be on the Sth of January.
1t makes no provision for any meeting before
that date. If Shields has issued any certificate,
it hasn't got the seal of the city clerk
it yet, and it has been dated
ahead. Doubtless the intention is to
claim thatit issued after IL o'clock tonight.
Mr. Ripley could not be sworn in as he is re-
ported to have claimed because there is no one
to swear him, unless the oath has been admins
tered by Beck, who is notary public
Shields cannot swear him in. even as city clerk.
because he hasn't the authority to do SOL
AT the time of the recount it was agreed and
conceded, by both parties to the contest, and, in
fact, SO held by Judge Ayres. that the only point
to be gained by the recount was to gather
evidence upon which to base quo warranto
proceedings By. the contestor in case
Office The absence of the citvs Official
seal from the certificate" issued to ALDERMAN
Ripley renders it of absolutely no value The
object of the action of yesterday was, undoubt- Z
edly, to anticipate any action that might be-
taken by the Republicans to enjoin Shields
from issuing certificate to Ripley after he had
assumed the duties of clerk. and it is to be pre-
sumed that the paper held by Ripley bears date
of Jan 1SS6 -