Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-02-22
A Democratic Black Friday in Ohio.

Last Friday was a black one for the
Democratic politicians Of Ohio, for on
that day their conspiracy against the bal
lot box was exposed by one of the par
Elephants in the crime. After fighting des-
perately to support the evidence OF Alger-
non Granville they were compelled to
listen to it in circumstaniial detail as it
drove home the proofs of guilt. Granville
was a willing and graphic witness, with a
good memory and an enthusiastic desire to
do what he could to save his own skirts.
The theory set up by the defense is that
the Republicans have instituted this prose-
cution in order 10 entrap innocent and UNI
suspecting Democrats and then make po-
litical capital out of the expose, but Gran
ville's testimony smashed this theory as
easily as If it were an egg she'll. Its SUBJ
stance is as follows:
On the day of the 1885 election Granville
made up his mind that the Democrats were
defeated on the face of the Re turns, but
meeting the defendant Montgomery Oh the
street he was cheered by his injunction to
keep still, for "there was o hen on, and to
go to bis tMontgomery's) office. While
waiting there the great and good Allen o.
Myers came rushing in with the announce
ment, "John II. Mclean is bound to lie
elected to the next United States Senate.
no matter what the expense may be-" This
was the leading motive in tho Democratic
symphony. According TO Myers figures,
the Legislature would be one Republican
on Joint ballot, but the election Of Young
dem. from Franklin County would turn
the scales and bring about the desired re-
suit. Myers further informed Granville
that Hamilton County had been fixed, but
that they had not expected that Franklin
would go Republican. Myers then agreed
to get the returns and engaged Granville to
fix them. In due course OF time Montgom-
cry appeared with the returns, which were
fixed by the use of acids and adroit PEN
manship. Granviile's testimony went 10
show that Robert b. and A.. c. Montgomery
and himself committed the forgery, and
that all the indicted persons were parties to
| the frauds.
1t is needless to say that this testimony
fell into the midst Of the guilty gang like a
bombshell. They had not only fought
against the admission Of Granyille's evil
dence, but they had trumped up all sorts
Of charges against the witness, and had at
tempted to bny him off and run him Utf,
but to no purpose. He had more TO make
by sticking to the prosecution and telling
the Truth. The gang are in a state Of con-
sternation, and will undoubtedly resort TO
desperate measures, for If something is not
done hat testimony will expedite some OF
them on their road to the penitentiary. So
certain is the prospect that two or three
more Of the conspirators are expressing q
willingness to turn States evidence. JUS
tice is coming along slowly but surely. It
is two years since the crime was commit
ted, but before two months more have
passed. unless all signs fail, justice will get
her dnes. The Indiana conspirators are
heading the same way. 1t is q cheering
time for Republicans in both States. where
Democr tic forgery and fraud have gone
unchecked 80 long. 1t is a matter for some
regret, however, that the Democratic poll
ticians who have been defending and COZ
doning these outruges because they wero
committed in the interest Of the party dc
not share the opinion OF Judge Thurman,
that sthe crime 10 one for which the DEM
ocratic party should blush, if, indeed, 4
IL not lost TO every sense Of shame. -CAi-
cage Tribune.