The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-30
CARPENTER Is BOUNCED
BUT SCOTT RAY DON'T GET THE SEAT.
The Elections COMMITTEES Submits Two To.
ports on the Ray Carpenter Case
Lively Debate in which the
Democrats Garry or the HOnors

When the senate came 10 order Thursday
morning the full quota of senators allowed by
the constitution was there. Mr.. Thompson OF
Marion, who had been confined TO his house
more than aweek, had sufficiently recovered TO
attend and remained in his seat till the close OF
the session last night.
The committee on elections reported on the
Ray-Carpenter contested election ease. Mr.
Cox made the majority report, in favor of un-
seating Carpenter and sealing Ray. This report
is signed by all the democrats of the commit
tee. Mr.. Thompson of Jasper, on behalf Of
the minority, submitted a report confirming
Carpenters title to his seat.
Lincoln Nixon, who has no superior as
reading clerk in the country read both reports
In full, which the senators listened to atten-
lively
The majority report was as follows:
Within the time liked by law the contestor, Scott
Ray, fled in IN Offices OF the clerks o shelby and
Decatur counties his notice of contest, showing his
legal right 10 contest the election Of the coutestee
samuel J. Carpenter, 70 SCAT IN this senate, alleging
therefor.
/ The disqualification Of the contestee to hold the
Office, in this, that Immediately prior 70 and al said
elections said cOntestee guilty Of Offering prom
Using and giving brides 10 divers and sundry quail
III NoieIs o. oheiOs COUNTY ioI 5iieiI al. -
support and votes 10 him. the said conestee Tor the
purpose Of procuring his, the said contestees cleo
lion 70 said Office.
, Because Of the inegibiity OF said contestee, in
this. that Immediately prior to and at said election,
said cOntestee was guilty Of Offering bribes and re-
wards 20 divers and sundry qualified voters OF said
county OF shelby, induS said voters TO vote for
and support saif GonteStee for said Office thereby
procuring for himself more than one hundred votes.
etc
3 That on Nov & 1888, one Edward Speer
tho trustee Of the township OF Washington Ia Deca-
fHr county that such trustee he unlsWfully pre-
sided Inspector OF election then held in the north
east precinct who with said Speer constituted the
board Of election at said precinct
hat a. said election one William W. Lowe was
candidate for the office OF surveyor OF Decatur
county and AZ said precinct received 3d. votes Tor
said offee And that said Speer was kin TO said
William W. Lowe in being an uncle by eOnsan-
guinity and that said Speer at the time well knew
said kinship, and az said precinct the costestee re-
ceived majority Of 2i5 votes over the confession
These PROPOSITIONS are stated in various forms 10
the notice Of contest, but without any material
difference in substance.
As TO the last proposition involved in the notice
OF contest, il is agreed between the parties that
Speer was the trustee Of the Washington township
decatur county, precinct al the election as IN
srector a. alleged and at that time the brother
Of the maternal grandmother of William W. Lowe,
who, al that election, was the republican candidate
for surveyor OF Decatur county and was voted Tor at
sid election. alleged
To this notice Of contest Carpenter files general
denial, and also a pleading alleging certain in
f0rnalies in the organization Of boards Of election
~ Shelby county, BY reason of kinship Of members
81 the election board, being Of kin 10 certain can
didates.
We have carefully examined the deposition Of
witnesses taken oy the parties and also taken oral
testimony OF witnesses produced before the COM
mittee by the parties, and in addition to the facts
above agreed 70, We find that Al the election for
senator in the district composed Of the counties OF
Shelby and Decatur, held on the 9th day Of NOyem-
Der, 1855 that in the county Of Decatur Samuel j.
Carpenter received 26s1 votes, Scott Fay received
2S59 votes and Douglass Dobbins received 63 votes
Ju the county Of Shelby samuel J. Carpenter re-
ceved 1854 votes scott Ray received O7 votes and
Douglas Dobbins received l92 votes.
Showing upon the face OF the returns that the con-
testee Carpenter received aggregate vote OF 5645
votes and SCOTT Eay the aggregate vote Of 5s, and
Douglass pObbiDs received an aggregate vote Of 255,
giving Mr. Carpenter a plurality Of seventy-nine
votes over the cOntestor, Ray.
We further md that the contestee met one Tbad
l. Major an electOr OF shelby county, shortly before
the election and talked with him about the election,
and, by appointment. met Major at livery stable
in the city OF Shebyville and significantly inquired
Of Major that II he Major should md some money
in a manger whether IL would b. all right, when
Carpenter deposited 50 IN manger IN
il With but little trouble and appropriated il.
Upon the same day Carpenter met one Austin
House legal voter of Shelby county shortly before
the election at the livery stable, in the city OF
Sheibvville, by appointment with House, and
after discussing election matters aud his candidacy,
deposited SO in feed-box in the stable, aud told
House 70 look in the box and he would md some
thing. House looked In the box and found two i've
dollar bills and put them in his pocket and took 1t
The said Carpenter also paid to one Thomas II.
MabOlm legal voter If Shelby county, upon one
occasion SO aud IN about two weeks before the cleo
ton an additional Of SIS to influence said Ma
holm and work for the said Carpenter against
the said contest0r, Raw.
We further find that shortly before the election
the contestee, Carpenter, gave 10 Redin DOran, a
qualified voter oil shelby county, the sum OF $50 by
transmitting IL to him by the hands Of one George
II. Dunn who was q friend and supporter OF Carpen-
Ter, for the purpose OF bribng said Doran 10 vote
for and support the election OF said Carpenter.
Again, before the election, Carpenter entered into
corrupt contract with one Andrew J. EnSminger, a
legal voter Of shelby county 70 pay him $50 u nhu
the vote and conduct Of said EnSmiOger in said
election, and dill send Ensminger the sum of $ by
the hands OF a mutual friend who refused to receive
the amount because the whole contract price vas
on the Monday before the election Carpenter gave
William Henry, legal voter, = TO influence his
and conduct in the election, and apOogZed for
his Inability 10 give him more because he had paid
cut al Of his money 70 other voters on that day.
short time before this conversation Carpenter gave
John Henry brother OF the above-namet witness
hog Of the value OF $40 to secure his vote and inhu-
snee in the election.
Barnett legal voter Of shelby county and offered
him 50 % influence his vote aud also 70 20 into
Noble township, shelby county, 70 work for him on
the day Of the election, which Offer Barnett refused.
On sunday before the election David T. Lee, legal
voter Of Shelby county, went % the residence Of Car
and Carpenter gave him a written order upon a
friend for s. Who he said holding his money
and who paid the order upon presentation.
In the city of Shelbyville shortly before the eec-
ton Carpenter offered Wyatt Barnes legal voter Of
Shelby county, sum Of money II he would 20 out
and work for his election
Mr.. Carpenter vent upon the stand a. a witness in
his behalf, and did not By his evidence, or
the evidence Of any other witness attempt 10 explain
impeach or deny the testimony Of the foregoing
witnesses, dispute, eX lain qualify solitary
fact above set out with the single exception Of
the evidence Of James Barnett As % James Barnett
Ar. CARPENTER denies that he AZ any time
had any conversation with him, and introduces
fifteen witnesses 70 impeach his character for truth
most OF whom admit persona, hostility 20 the wit
ness while the confession introduces thrtytwO Teputa-
Die witnesses who sustain his character for truth
Also Joshua James, reputable witness, testifes
that he Carpenter talking with Barrett ia a So
loon and also at the time and place fixed by Barnett
20 his testimony having the conversation with
Carpenter, thus c0rObOratiBg the evidence Of Bar
nett against the statement Of Carpenter that he
had such conversation with Barnett, which produces
the victiOn Ia minds Of the truth OF the
ment Of Mr.. Barnett. We SIZED. from the evil
dcnce in the case, that In each Of the foregoing in
stances Of the giving and Offering Of money by the
contestee Carpenter, % the voters named, II Of
election the in this which he now occu-
pies, and BY doing be has disqualified himself %
hold the office Of senator from the district posed
o the cOuntis Of Shelby aud Decatur under sec. 81
OF the z vised Statutes being sec. ? OF art. ? OF
the constitution OF the state OF Indiana which reads
rs follows tO-Wit:--
g. every person shall be disqualified for hold
ing Office during the term for which ne may have
been elected who shall have given offered bride,
threat or reward to his election" There was
effort by the Contestee before the commission
your committee. 70 prove any act Of bribery by Ray
and there l. entire absence Of evidence upon that
subject as 70 him.
The evidence further shows tina; the voters Of the
district had full notice OF Nr. Carpenters disability
20 hold the Office Of senator BY Of his bribery
aud offers 70 bride at and before the time he was
voted for in the most public manner that IL could be