The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-04
COY AND BERNHAMER.
Further Comments of the Press of the State
Upon Their Just Conviction.

Owen County Journal: Tally-sheet forgery
will not be practiced by the Coy gang any more.
Winchester Herald: The Democrats who voted
to convict Coy and Bernhamer did their simple
duty. and stood by the sanctiry of their OATH
Peru Republican: The Democratic "bosses'
have not been mad since the draft as they
are now at the conviction of the tally sheet
forgers.
State will rejoice over this verdict. It goes far
toward insuring free ballot and fair count in
Indiana.
Brazil Register: Indianapolis mas not got
natural gas, but she enjoys just now a substan-
tial boom a place where tally-sneet forgers
can be convicted.
Union City Eagle: Taly-sheet forging has
been declared crime. Abuse of witnesses, at
torneys and the court will not justify the guilty
coDdone the offense
Connersville Times: Justice has overtaken
them at last, and we are safe in predicting that
there will be more frauds on the ballot at In
dianapolis, at least for time.
Paramount News It is great stroke for the
Democratic party in that the defeat of the
vicious Coy element will relegate to the rear at
least, a class of ward bummers that disgrace the
State.
Martinsville Republican, The honest re-
spectacle. decent members of the Democratic
party in this community, all without exception.
concur in the verdict of the jury in the Coy
gang case.
Lebanon Patriot: We are perfectly willing
that the Democracy of the State shall denounce
the conviction of Coy and Bernheimer, and we
only hope they will put the denunciation in their
State platform.
Evansville Courier fDem.G If the result of
the trials gives the State immunity from fraud
on the ballot box in future, object will have
been gained that must be gratifying to In
dianians of all political parties.
Lafayette Courier: Bollot-box stuffing. cor
ruption of voters, tally sheet forgery, and every
other form of crime against popular election
should be made so odoius that no man would
have the hardihood to engage in such rascality.
Winchester Journal: The people of Indiana
send greetings to the committee of hnn-
dred. composed of men of all political parties.
and bid them God speed with their good work,
hoping that they will ''let no guilty man es-
cape."
New Castle Courier: The friends of conspra-
tors Coy, Bernhamer and others have conceded
by their actions, from the first that the accused
were guilty. They never sought trial to prove
their innocence, but all the time threw every
POSSIBLE impeachment in the way.
Nashville Republican: The conviction of Coy
and Bernnamer, two of the tally -sheet cobbleps
is a matter for rejoicing on the part of every
honest citizen. Their offenss not merely
against Republican candidates, but the people
of the whole State. without regard to party.
Greensburg Standard: The verdict is
doubtedly just, and the better class of Demo
Gratis. those whose respect for law and order is
not outweighed by partisan prejudice, we'll
Repu blicans, rejoice that our courts not ap-
pealed to in vain for protection from frauds up
on the ballot box.
Shelbyville Republican: The Democratic
party could have made much capital out of the
conviction of its own tally -shset forgers if its
press had been shrewd enough to take the right
course in the matter. As it is. the Sentinel 6
Co. are doing all they to rob their admins
tration of all credit for fearessly enforcing the
laws.
Princeton Clarion: The verdict is one that
will be approved by every lover of tho rights
and liberties of the people. It will strengthen
confidence in the force and stability of our laws,
and will be a salutary lesson to all who are in
clned to the belief that money md political in
peoples ballot.
La Grange Standard: The difference between
Sim Coy chairman of the Democratic central
committee, and Green Smith. the usurper. is
not great, and when Smith trembled in the SEN
ate for fear of popular indignation, il was Sim
Coy and Bernhamer who stood by him. and It
was Sims loafer friends who guarded the doors
of that outraged body. The whole thing is one
great fraud. concocted and managed in the eff
fort to steal the United States senatorship and
when Simeon leaves his saloon for a term in a
less elegant place, he will be expiating the sins
of bigger Democrats than himself.
South Bend Times (Dem.1, Hon. John B.
Stoll, editor: The first trial. largely conducted
on the brass band style. was in many respects
farce. 1t resulted in isagreement the jury.
The second trial resulted In the conviction of
Coy and Bernhamer and the acquittal of Mat
tier. The jury finding composed of
seven Republicans and five Democrats.
By direction of Attorn ey general Garland and
President Cleveland, old time and able Demo-
cratic lawyer named Clavpool,. YVES designated
to assist the Democratic United States District
Attorney, Mr.. Sellers, to conduct the prosecu-
ton The defense was conducted by Judge Nc
Mutt, John w. Kern, John W. Buskirk and
Alonzo Green Smith. Sellers and Claypool, both
being Democrats, discreetly but earnestly di-
rected their efforts to a vindieation of the law
With mere partisan affairs they had no concern.
disputed; the main point was to determine who
did the foul deed or caused it to be done. and to
bring the guilty to punishment With the
minor features of the trial the public at large
has but little concern. Courts instituted to
mete out equal and exact justice, to convict and
punish those who violate the law
To mind there can be no higher crime
than the stuffing of a ballot-box the fasifica-
ton of an election return. Either of these Of
lenses is but little below treason against the
State or nation 1t is infamous. dastardy, an
assault upon the vitality of the govern ment. No
one guilty of such crime should so unpun-
ished. No higher honor can be bestowed upon
q political party than to have it said with truth
that it honestly aims to purify itself. Bad men
are to be found in all parties. That party
which most courageously Furnishes its own ras-
Gals is entitled to the highest need of praise
The party that screens its rogues rightfully
sinks into popular contempt
In so far as political considerations are at all
admissible in this case, rejoice to know that
the movement 10 secure the prosecution of the
tally beet forgers was headed by Democrats;
that the application for the appoin tment of spe-
cial counsel made by a Democrat; that
Democratic President approved the selection of
an uncompromising foe of fraud and skull
dugeery in the person of Judge Claypool; that
the prosecution was wholly conducted by DEM
ocrats and that. after patiently hearing all the
testimony aud the arguments. five Democratic
jurors united with their Republican colleagues
in reaching a verdict
We feel sorry for any who gets into
trouble; but such regret does not go to the ex-
tent of excuslng an assault upon the majesty OF
the ballot. If free government 10 to be main
tanned and psrpetuated the sanctity of the bal
lot must be preserved 1t is no excuse to say
that Republicans have been engaged IN the same
vilanous operations. Largely because Repub-
licans did tolerate such outrages their party was
hurled from power The true Democrat will
seek to satisfy the psople that under Democratic
rule ballotbox stuffine and tally sheet forge-ies
are not to be tolerated Therefore, say
all honor to Judge Thurman. Judge Clay
pool, District Attorney Sellers, Attorney-gener
al Garland and President Cleveland for placing
the seal of condemnation upon each and every
assault made upon the majesty of the ballot