The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-21


account of the Weir episode the day before
Court loungers are always eager for the spice of
a trial of which. with the exception noted, this
one has so far been devoid; but there appear
possibilities of sensational features being
brought oct any moment. The jury is much
more attentive than the at the former trial.
Its members. without exception, follow closely
even the minor statements of witnesses. aud in
the examination of the forged tally -sheets in
spected each one with the utmost care.
Directly after Judge Woods appeared on the
bench yesterday morning, John b. Elan was
called to the stand. In his direct testimony he
repeated what occurred at the canvassing board
When he went there in the morning the board
was organizing, and afterwards the count began
with the returns from the first precinct or the
First ward. The vote called off by Bern
hamer from the poll book certificate. while Capt
Many held the tally-sheet No controversy of
any significance arose in the morning, bat when
the second precinct of the Fourth ward was
reached Bernharner put them aside account
of informally in the papers. In the first pre-
cucL of the Sixth and one of the Tenth ward
the inspectors therefor did not have their out
side returns. and the tally-sheets in the sealed
bars sent for and the canvass made
from them. When the changes were discovered
in the sheet for the second precinct of the Thir-
teenth Ward. Mr. Morrison, of the inspect
ors. protested and said the count ought not to
be made but Bernhamer persisted and Morri-
repeated his protests and moved to have the
sealed bag for that precinct brought in. Bern
haDer would not put the motion. Witness told
of the examination he and others made of the
taly-sheet, by which they satisfied themselves
that il had been mutilated. Mentioning in turn
- IL
first OF the Seventeenth and second of the
Eighthteenth ward, he passed to the tally-sheet
of the first precinct OF the Twenty-third ward.
when other alterations observed.
Captain Many demanded that the tally
sheet be brought in. and Mr.. Schmidt
the inspector, strenuously insisted on this being
done. Bernnamer refused to take that course,
saying that the count must be made from the
papers before the board. Changes were made
in the tallies for Wagner, from which consid-
cradle number had been erased, and in those for
Morrison. to which additions made The
same thing was shown ic the votes for Irwin and
Ayres, and also for Grifiths and Hugo,
the two latter being candidates for the
Legislature. Witness then recounted a similar
incident occurring in connection with the re-
turns of the second precinct Of the Fourth
ward The changes were quite apparent. He
described minutely the erasures and ad-
ditions. The protests were renewed. perhaps
more strongly than when the Twenty-third ward
returns were canvassed. but to them Mr.. Bern
hamer paid no attention, except by ignoring
motions and peremptorlly ordering everybody
TO sit down, as the count must go on. Witness
told of his visit with Dan Ransdell and General
Carnahan to Coy, when they told him of
Goose" Eden having intercepted inspectors on
the way 10 tho courthous under instructions
from HIM to have the returns taken to Coy
the Grand Hotel Coy said he not such a
chump as to do that, but he told Eden TO tell the
inspectors to take the ballot-boxes to the Office
Of the township trustee, and that they had until
Thursday TO file returns of the sealed bags with
the county clerk.
In the cross examination the defense made an
effort TO show that Republican judges of cleo
zion had taken outside returns. and did not ap-
pear before the canvassing board. Consider
able stress, too. was placed the superstition
that the Repu blican central committee had
we'll -orgauzed scheme to get possession of
set OF papers The existence of such scheme,
Mr. Elan, q member of the committee, emphat-
ically denied.
George W. Stubs testified that he was at the
canvassing board all day and the greater part OF
there, told in detail the events attending the
canvass of the changed tally sheets. At
$50 o'clock Bernhamer called Captain McHush
to the chair, when very little was done for
half hour, that those who desired could get
lunch. Witness went down street for that pur-
pose, and met Bernhamer on the way. Witness
told him that things were going on in the can
wasting board which he ought to stop. Bern
hamer said he knew nothing of any frauds being
committed, and, If there were, it was only CIV
ing the Republicans some of their medicine.
Witness further said to him that he could not
afford to allow these frauds to be accomplished,
as he would hear from the people This CONVEX
Eation occurred before the Schmidt papers were
canvassed
In mis- direct testimony Mr.. Stubs said he
was very indignant at the proceedings. Upon
this statement the cross-examinaton took the
line of personal character in attempting to
chow that the witness expressed his indignation
when it was alleged Governor Hendricks was
counted out in 1868 and Dan Lemon was de-
feated for sheriff in 1884 by supposed frauds.
Mr.. Kern made these inquiries, and when he
asked witness if he was indignant in 1876, the
reply was Il voted that year for Tilden and
Hendricks"
The district attorney then read 70 the jury
the circular sent out by General Carnahan,
containing abstract of the cleo
ton laws relating to the manner of counting
votes and the preparation of returns. 1t spe-
clhcally set forth how this work should be done
TO meet the requirements of the law.
w. II. Morrison, Republican inspector of the
second precinct of the Eleventh ward. rehearsed
the incidents of the canvass of returns and de-
tailed his repeated and strenuous protests to the
arbitrary rulings of Bernhamer. In the board,
out of eighteen inspectors there were only five
Republicans. four Of whom were township
trustees He was appointed insp ector because
the Democrats who in turn We're appointed and
could qualify declined to serve Bernhamer, on
his election as chairman of the board. thanked
the inspectors ard congratulated them that
svery thing would be conducted by honest
N hods. and that there would tie no attempt at
fraud the taking out OK tally into other
rooms to change them.
In mis- re direct examination Mr. Morrison
stated that before Perkins was sent to jail he,
the witness. called at Perkinss Office and saw
there with him Coy and Span. The three were
in close consultation. With this evidence the
morning sitting closed.
In the afternoon. Henry Bottom, ianitor at
said on the morning OF the canvass
Of votes he had key TO Room 80 in that build
ing aud Mr.. Himan, the superintendent of the
had another. Mr.. Coy did not get
n key to the room named from him. There is
door
30 There a broken place in the curtain.
The room was always kept locked.
T. d. johnson, of the county auditors Office,
testified TO having examined the Hisey tally
sheet the day Of the 1t had the APP
pearance of having been changed.
George w Shafer, the u ight OF the canvass, |
SAID he saw Coy and Span going TO Room 80. |
about or 2:30 o'clock on Friday morning. Coy |
had paper which looked like a tally-sheet. He |
went 70 the room and tried to get in, but could |
not The ross-examination brought out that |
be was the Shnfer who testifind In the Tate |