The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-09
INELIGIBLE MR.. MEAGHER.
Evidence Clearly Proving that He Can
not Lawfully Take His Seat.
Chairman Huston Claims the Republicans
Are Justly Entitled to Eighty Members
of the Legislature on Joint Ballot.

At the rooms of the Democratic committee,
yesterday. Chairman Henderson sat at the head
of the table like old Rudiger ALPHABETICALLY
as the man who has lost the State to the Democ
racy undoubtedly is. Mr.. Henderson's manner
was discordantly cheerful-like man laughing
at funeral. eve still have the State Leeis-
lature,p chirruped the moribund chairman, "bv
two on joint ballot" John Lamb was seated in
chair near by. 1t will be remembered that Mr..
Lamb was the young person who resigned the
United States district attorneys Office to run
against James Johnston for Congress in the
Eighth district It was cruel but the inter-
viewer was memorable. Mr.. Lamb was asked
as to whether Mr. Meagher, the Terre Haute
justice of the peace elected to the Leg
slature, was eligible. Said Mr.. Lamb,
"He is elected and eligible. The whole matter
was investigated before the election by exSepa-
tor Mcdonald, Senator Voorhees, and Judge
McNutt. They decided he was eligible. He
never received a commission. / have never
gone into the details. simply give you what
have heard"
Here Leon o. Bailey interposed remark
which caused Mr. Lamb to heave a deep sigh
and exclaim, This is too much first to be de-
feated, as have been, by Jim Johnston, and
then to be hoped on by Bailey"
Mr.. Bailey, who bears no slight resemblance
to Paul Sweedlepipe's pert friend Bailey in
MARTIN Chuzzlewit," looked sorry. and Mr.
Lamb received him again"into his good graces
If MIR. Lamb had examined the records of the
Secretary of States Office he would have found
that, as matter of fact, his friend Cornelius
Meagher, of Terre Haute, elected justice of the
peace of Harrison township, Vigo county, at the
last spring election, was commissioned April Is.
1886, his term of Office to begin Oct %, 1886
and to run four years. That Mr. Meagher was
upon the ticket was due TO John E. Lamb.
Mr. Lamb wanted Mr. Meaghers influence
among the nail-workers OF course, neither
Mr. Henderson nor Mr.. Lamb, not even Gov.
Gray, supposed that with their admirable CORY
mander the LEGISLATURE could be at all close, or
that Mr. Meaeher could be disturbed by con-
test. They would have everything all their way
and though clearly Ineligible there could be
''kick-up' about it. just how much good the
nail works have done Mr.. Lamb is not matter
of any consequence now
The fact that Meagher was ineligible because
he had been elected justice of the peace in the
spring, was pointed out to the Democratic con-
vention by r. W. Harper, leading Democratic
lawyer Of Terre Haute. at the time of the iron
puddler's nomination. But the county ticket
was nearly completed and there was no Knight
of Labor on it, so Meagher was nominated. The
Democratic lawyers laughed and said that, as
Democratic. the constitutional prohibition would
make no difference, that Meagher would be given
his seat The constitutional prohibition is as
follows:
No person elected to any judicial Office shall during
the term for which he shall have been elected be elig
BILE to any office of trust profit under the State
other than judicial Office.
The following official documents are from the
records of the Vigo county clerks Office:
We, Cornelius Meagher. Thomas F. Donham and
John Boand are held and firmly bound unto the
State of Indiana in the of So, OO0 for the pay
ment of which we bind ourselves heirs, aud exec
utors, and administrators, jointly and severaly by
these presents; sealed with seals and dated this
9Th day of May, 1886. Whereas, said Cornelius Mea
ghor has been elected justice of the in and for
Harrison township Vigo county Indiana for the term
of four years from the I'd day of October 1885, now
if the said Cornelius Meagher shall faithfully discharge
all duties required of him as such officer by any law
now subsequently in force this obligation shall be
void; else remain in force.
CORNELIUS MEAGHER,
THOMAS f. DOMAIN,
JOHN ROLAND.
ADprOvod bV me this 9th dav of Nav 1896