Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-23

ing To cneat them out OF IL. hc came over
and was sent by General Powell, or Mr..
Constantine, or both OF them, To Canton
with q message TO the leading Democrats
there 10 watch the count carefully. The
election WAS close and the committee
feared that they might be cheat
ed Of the fruits Of the cleo
ton in the close counties, OF which
Stark WAS one He went in the interest Of
u fair count, and considered his mission
perfectly legitimate. He did not zee tele-
gram from John X. Mclean. before lac
started, instractiny the committee " claim
the Legislature, and heard nothing of the
kind iiher before Ut after he started, di-
rectly or indirectly from Mr.. McClean. lie
knew Of no reason why the message was
sent by him instead oi being telegraphed,
other than that the committee saw tit to
Communicate with the Stark county Demo-
Gratis in that way. On his trip he went "
Cardington where they had heard that the
Republican clerk WAS going " refuse to
give . certificate TO the Democratic repre-.
sentativeelect While in Canton he saw
the McGregors, father and son. the latter
being Clerk Of the Court. and also Mr.. Cole,
the Representative from stark county.
Mr.. Hill was next examined about the
events Of Sunday night, aud adhered to his
statements on direct examination. He and
Cogan did not shadow Squire Martin that
Sunday evening He did not remember
of seeing Robert Montgomery that evening
Remembered seeing Brice Custer. Was en-
ployed In Cslender's SarO bank fifteen or
sixteen years ago for = short time, and also
operated similar establishment elsewhere
in this city for . few months Had not
gambled with cards, or at faro since 1873.
Said that he had seen Squire Martin in his
faro bank, and that Martin had gsmbled.
He denied that he sent telegram from
Washington in the Fall Of 80. stating that
he was not in Columbus the Sunday after
the election in October. IS Said that he
would not consider il crime to offer n
public officer money to do his duty. Did
not think il would have been Q crime for
him TO have offered Martin money to throw
out the disputed precincts il it had been
legal To throw them oat
Mr Charles L. Blackburn testified that
he did not know Mr.. Booth: was not At his
office the Sunday night after the election !;
had never met Robert Montgomery until
after the indictments were found. Re-
turned TO Cincinnati Monday morning,
having received word from GAINESVILLE that
his presence there Was unnecessary. Mr..
Huling crosse Iamined Mr.. Blackburn
about the Cincinnati indictments against
him which the witness said. like the in
distment in this case, were procured by
seif-confcssed and self-acknowledged per-
jury. Was questioned sharply As to the
reason Of his taking room at the Neil
House, as he and Cogan expected when he
came up here to 60 to GAINESVILLE Sunday
evening. and he arrived in Columbus about
noon Sunday.
The witness vas also questioned At con-
siderable length in regard to his failure to
appear fp answer tp this Indictment whom
il was first found. He explained that he
was absent at the time with friend named
kueEtz, at q village called Peach Grove,
Indiana. buying horses Mr.. Blackburn
denied any knowlege of a telegram received
by John K Mclean, which read: ''Send
Blackburn, or your best man." The cross
examination of Mr. blackburn closed at the
hour of adjournment. Mr.. Myers will 60
on the stand this morning.