The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-16

The indictments found against the male
population OF Shelby and contiguous
counties, on charge Of having voted the
. Democratic ticket, have elected consid-
cradle comment. The list given is not all.
4 II Is said that the Federal Grand Jury
prefers working on the installment plan,
and will continue from day TO day to give
out more indictments. There may have
been technical irregulations here and
there, but that any serious wrong has
been done, or was ever contemplated, no
one believes. The object Of these indict-
ments is apparent. There will be no trial
soon-there may never be trial OF these
cases-but the moral effect or immoral
effect OF having whole countryside in
dicted will be felt upon the issue OF the
pending Congressional contest. There
will be fees, rich and juicy, OF course, and
the whole district will be held up to the
nation as bull-dozers and ballot-box stuff
iers. but that anything serious shall result
is not even thought Of
One thing tina. these indictments have
brought out is that the office of the County
Clerk has been raided by unfriendly
hands. In one OF the vaults are kept,
with other records, the tally sheets and
election returns OF the county. These
returns should have been tabulated by
the Sheriff and put on record. but through
some oversight this has not been done.
The vaults are opened in the morning and
stand open for convenience. No one ever
thinks OF going in there unless accompa-
MED by the County Clerk or one Of his
deputies, but that anyone could glide in
unseen is clearly possible, and that some
one has been IN there Is clearly proven.
Whoever the party Is and for whatever
purpose he wanted them, the election Lists
from the Eighth Ward and from the
Fourteenth Civil District have been alb
stractcd and spirited away. They were
In large pigeon hole ON the bot
tom shelf and could be readily
reached. ANY one familiar with thom
and with the vault could 20 In and
pick them out in lilly. The returns OF
the Eighth Ward were in one vault and
the returns OF the Fourteen Civil District
were IN another. A very prominent gen.
tleman has been noticed by the gentlemen
In charge of each vault rs being particu.
larry interested in these returns. They
both disappeared on the same day, and on
this day an interested Republican was
seen around both offices II is suspected
that he took them. There is another very
prominent Republican In whose office one
set OF these returns were seen aud idonti.
6ed since they were taken from the vaults,
aud he will likely be called upon by the
Grand Jury 10 explain how they came
into his hands The Grand Jury will in
vestigate the matter. ~ the witness who
positively identified tho missing returns
will appear before that body One bundle
OF returns were taken whole and In.
tact the other the list Of names alone
was taken, having been cut out OF the
wrapper or cover, and the empty hull
alone left remaining There will be- in
diciments found against tho parties.
These counter indictments are not 10 bo
iound for the purpose Of manufacturing a
- uoqJe argument against the indict-
Is found IN the Federal Grand Jury
-svoni, but because, until now, discovery Of
the missing records had not been made.
The result will be watched with interest,
as the latter indictments will not depcud
upon contingencies, aud are no, brought
for speculative purposes.