The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-23
Other Witnesses Furnish Bits of Evil
denCe Damaging to the Defendants.
Perkins Still in Jail Waiting for His AttOr-
neys to Do Something Toward Getting
Him Out of His Bad Predicament.
THE INVESTIGATION.
More Important Testimony Brought Out in
the Examination of Witnesses.


timony was very important, and supplies missing
links that tend to make the chain of evidence
stronger and stronger against the defendants
Capt. Charles j. Many, township trustee, was
the first witness called He testified that he was
inspector of the first precinct of the Sixth ward
at the November election, was present at the ses-
sion of the canvassing board and sat by Chair
man Bernhamers side and compared the poll
books with the tally sheets. There were four
one Prohibition and one Greenback or National
Queston-In how many cases did it occur the poll
book not filled out properly.
Answer do not remember; there were several.
Oh will call your attention to the pobooks in the
second precinct of the Fourth ward
A.-The tally-sh and poll book were folded to-
gether; Mr. Bernhamer took the pollbook and looked
at it. He said the polbook not filed out proper
them to the Inspector They were returned to Mr..
Counseman They were first presented in the even
ing of Thursday and returned to the board in the
morning-Friday morning sometime in the neghbor-
hood of o'clock.
Q.-When they were returned the second time to the
chairman of the canvassing board had anything further
been done than was done at the time when first pre-
sented!
Al could not say because did not see the certif
cate the first time the second.
Q-You may state whether, as the count progressed,
any bags from the clerks Office were produced!
A-The first bag produced was that of the first pre-
cinct of the Sixth ward of which Mr. Landers was in
spector. He made the statement that he had given
his sheet and pobook to another member of the
board and he had failed to return them to him. A
motion was made to send down to the clerks ONCE
and get the bag, which done. Another case was
the precinct in the Tenth ward where Chris Meyers
was Inspector. He said the documents had been out
of his hands and asked that they send to the clerks
Office and get the bags, which was done.
Q.-You may state whether he had them when the
call was made
Ale had them in in his hand.
Q-The point he made was. because they had been
out of his hands at time for fear of mistake, he
wanted the bag!
A.-Yes sir.
Q.-By whose orler were they produced?
A.-By that of the canvassing board think Mr..
Bernhamer said if there objection the bag of
this precinct of the Tenth ward would be sent for.
There objection and it sent for. The pres
dent Of the board then called from the poll book that
in the bag and no attention paid to the other
set of returns
Off there was any other in which the bag
produced from any precinct you may state it!
A.-There was no other case.
OFF any controversies to the correctness of the
returns from any precinct state what it was!
Mr.. Duncan-Haven't they produced enough wit
nesses as to what was done on that day!
Captain Ritter-This Is the best witness, because he
handled the papers.
Captain Many continung-As came up to sit by
Mr.. Bernhamers side, he said. You take the tally
sheet with the poll book The first discov-
cred in the First ward-a clerical of five votes in
the additions next in the second precinct of the Thr
teenth ward. The four ally-sheets pinned to-
gether the Republican sheet top. When Mr..
Bernhamer called the vote-I think the first was for
Representatives. caed more votes than the tally
sheet showed Icalea his attention to that Then he
stopped calling from the poll book aud called the bal
Of the vote from the tallyshee The poll-bool
showed votes for the Republican candidate than
the tally-sheet showed.
On the case of what officer was the discrepancy
Al think in tho case of Mr. Grffiths There
also discrepancies as to the candidates for Grim
inal Judge and coroner.
Q.-Was Bernhamers attention called to any indi
cations of erasures in that case
Al think the clerk, Mr. McLain, called his atten-
ton to that, and he said the board there in d
ministerial capacity and could not listen to any wit
nesses or arguments and went on with the count.
Q.-Do you remember the occasion when Lorcnz
Schmidt presented his papers TO the boardI
Al do. Mr. Lorenz Schmidt brought up his pa.
pers, and handed his poll book to Mr. Bernhamer
and he called the votes off When / got down to the
coroner. said, Mr. Schmidt that looks like it has
been scratched" When l got to the judge of the
Criminal Court, said, That looks like it has been
scratched" and when he called for the talIy.sheet
the and the ink is different" He said, then
he would like to have the board send down and get the
other poll book and tally had been done be-
fore. Mr. Bernhamer refused to send for the sack
and went on calling from the certificate
The Commissioner asked as to Mr. Bernha-
mer's method of calling the votes in the vario us
precincts.
properly filed up be called from that and when it
not he called from the tally-sheet. When the
tay-sheet did not correspond with the polbook
called his attention to it. When Mr. Schmidt made
his statement to the board asking that they send for
the sack he said the talysheet had been out of his
hands. and he would like to satisfy himself as to the
correctness of it.
Q.-What took place from there ONT
Ais request refused. and he insisted on
sending for the bag down at the clerks Office he
wanted to be everything was right This created
excitement the Republican side of the house
Mr.. Schmidt said he gave 1t Republican and that
created laugh on the other side of the house.
Q.-You may state what attention the chairman
paid to the alleged changes in the taysheet and poll
book presented by Mr. Schmidt
Ale looked at the taly-sheet and many others
did. They all said that changes had been made The
ink looked fresh it looked to be different color of
ink.
Q.-Do you remember the controversy in regard to
Counselmans papers changes made his tally.sheet
and poll-book-when produced the second timel
Ale brought his papers early in the morning
about o'clock When down to the cand
date for coroner it had been scratched; Also the Re-
publican candidate for judge OF tho Criminal Court
1t done badly that could see that tyenty.one
votes had been scratched from the judge. Some
off the coroner but could not how many. On
the Democratic sheet scratches made to add on
In one place the paper was scratched through. Sew
eral came up to the desk to look at them Among
them was DR.. Wagner. who then asked all honest
Democrats to come and look at the sheet and see If it
was not downright steal. There was a discussion
between Span and Mr.. ELAN to whether the vote
70 seou a. Ae.u' aIiu soineuouy tSkou Spaau
i it hadn't boon scratched He said Yes it looked
like it,
Q-What questions were asked Mr. Counsel,nanl
A.-Questions were asked him. but don't think
he was responsible for what he said He had the APP
pearance of being big drunk. His breath smeed
pretty strong. l would not consider him sober. /
don t remember that he did answer where his tally
sheets had been. believe Mr.. Christian stand
ing there at the time. believe he told him Counsel
not to answer. would not be positive there
was such excitement there / do not think
4. Z. GOunSelfnaQ.
OIL win ask you if the bags were called for in the
case of Mr.. Counselman.
Al am not sure of that. l think there was some
Mr. Morrison-asked that the bag be
sent for. / am not clear that. There was such
exctenaent at that time.
DR.. Theodore Wagner, coroner-elect, was the
pext witness. lie was asked if he attended the