The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-26
ELECTION PICTURES.
SOME SCENES FROM THE NEW YORK
REFORM CLUBS GALLERY.
Strange Reading for Honest Citizens
How the Criminals and Roughs run"
an Election-"What Are You Going to
Do About It2"
From the New York Evening Post.

port for 1888 OF the City Reform Club was
made in the editorial columns OF the EUen-
ing Post An account Of the actual state
OF things in some quarters of the city at
election time will be of painful interest to
reputable citizens Of New York. The fol-
( lowing passages are from PIP. 0-l9 OF the
report:
In 1887 the detectives took lodgings in
cheap houses in the Bowery and remained
there until after the election. In the char
acler Of tramps or other impecunious cti.
zens, they mingled with the bar-room
crowds and picked up such information as
they could find. They discovered that the
commonest method OF fraudulent register
ing and voting was this Upon the days
of registration, men hired for the purpose,
chiefly criminals and loafers, went about
from one registration place to another, reg
istering in each one under false names pre-
viously assigned to them. Very many oil
these false names were registered as be-
longing TO men living ut the addresses OF
cheap Bowery lodging-houses. 1t was ar
ranged that ii any inquiry were made rs
to particular name, the report at the
house should be that man OF that name
lived there. Upon election day men en-
ployed for The purpose were hired to vote
upon the false names, each man having a
carefully prepared list OF the names upon
which he was to vote. II is interesting to
observe the abnormally large proportion
oil very simple names without middle let
tiers contained in the registry lists under
mn an NJ t0.al 81 10. a..
burden the memory OF the worthy citizen
who registers or votes iraudulently with
middle initials or Russian names.
Besides these regularly organized frauds,
many sporadic eases occurred. A man
would register two or three times under rs
many names in the hope OF selling each
OF the votes thus secured. A number OF
these trumps formed themselves into
club. the Cob Dock Club, afterward as
suming the name OF the John j. O'l,ca-
gan Association, under the leadership OF
Col. Hughes. The colonel made beds in
lodging house at $ week during the day,
but in tho evening he became a leader OF
men. When the colonel organized his
club with some thirty tramps and "bums,"
lac delivered a ringing speech. lie said:
Now, boys, We must stand shoulder TO
shoulder, an march fer Smith, Hughes
in and has;ened to the Cob Dock saloon,
where he said TO Mr.. o'Reagan, Isn't
that beer ready? l can't hold them felers
much longer, they're gcitin' that dusty"
Nhercupon keg was tapped In tho back
room, and the coloncps men were sum
moned. The colonel himself stood at the
door Of the saneium sanctornm In which
was the beer aud incontinenlly fired"
sundry tramps not members OF the asso-
citation. who tried 10 sneak in. By such
skilliul management the association was
established, and, indeed, II grew 50 much
that in the Charles Smith parade It APP
pearcd rs a separate feature, and was ex-
hortcd by the colonel 10 brace up and
show 'front.' in passing the Silver Dollar
saloon.
Upon election day criminals and roughs
infested the polls, taking charge Of the
- fraudulent voters, and In some cases in
timidating respectable citizens Many Of
these criminals were notorious, and, we'll
known az they were 10 the police, they
ought not 10 have been permitted 10 loiter
about the polling places. In some cleo
ton districts they seemed 10 be running
the election, and in no case was any check
placed upon them. Among these were
such picturesque citizens M Tom Nicolls
Nine.iingered smith, Jugry McCarty. Red
John Sullivan. Xiii McManus, Blinky
Kelly and Cracky McCany. These men
aud others were seen repeatedly TO take
voters into the polls, come out with them
and take them 10 private rooms ia neigh
boring saloons The statements OF the de-
tcciiyes show that the conduct Of these
men during election day was such as 10
convince any intelligent observer that
bribery was going on upon every side.
al iNa IsfHal FafnFfuI ~ fullAttsas
ION election morning ! went 90 the
polling place. 20 Bayard street. arriving
there at O O'Clock am. Tom Nicolls, d
crook, assisted by Red John Sullivan,
Jerry Sullivan, hid McManus, Martin
Kirby aud Juggy McCariy, all Of whom,
believe, are crooks, bad charge Of the
fint Election District In the interest OF
Barney o. Roufkc. Charles Smith, the
candidate for Assembly OF Eighth Dis
irct, was around this district In his own
behalf. There was big crowd early.
cav the following transactions take place
Jerry Sullivan aud Red John Sullivan
were NO king the lodgng-houses both d
them would 90 up into the Windsor lloic
(lodgng-housc) aud bring down the maj
who was 10 vote; they wonld be met OF
the corner by Kid McManus. who further
\ questioned them, then took them TO Mar
y lin Kirby, who took the man TO the poll
ing place, 30 Bayard street, and II lac VA
too intoxicated (which was the case yer,
frequently TO 90 up the steps 10 the polls
lac was kindly helped up by the two Pc
licemen aud sergeant Who were on dutl
on the steps, into the hands Of Tom Nicolls
who was inGido the polling place. an,
as soon as the man, or bum
had cast his vote he was hustle,
out OF the place double quick. droppc,
into the arms Of Kirby, who, in turn
turned him over 10 one OF his hCnchmon
generally Red sullivan or Kid McManua
who hustled him into the back room Of IN
Kenwood House, the door Of which sloo,
open, and there received the money whicl
had been promised him. followed Jcrr,
Sullivan up into the Windsor Hotel OF
more than enc occasion, and saw him an
proach mon and hold whispered converse
lions with them while Rcd sullivan
would keep a lookout that none ~
preached while the deal was being made
OF coume | could not BAY that they wer
brhlng these men, because / could no
get near enough TO them TO hear the con
vcrsalion, nor did see the money pal
60 thom, for this reason: Standing outsld
the KcnwoOd House tho O'l,ourko crow
had i've or six mon who were there for IA
purpose OF preventing anyone from follow
ing Kid McAlanus or any Of the rest Of Ia
gang who were taking anyone ln 10 brib