New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-20
THE BALLOT-BOX SUFFERS
JUDGE EDWARDS THINKS THE GRAND JURY
SHOULD INVESTIGATE.
A PROSPECT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTION
RAsCALfTY IN TROY MAY BE PUNISHED
THE HEARING IN COURT YESTERDAY.

THE HEARlNG IN
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TINE rnIBUsEi
Albany Nov l0.-The order 0bta ned yesterday ps
Mr. wellington directing the Board OF supervisors Oh
Ronsseaer County TO show why II should NOT DC
restrained from canvasSing the returns In tne oAth
Ward where the Senatorial ballot-Dox was s'oio" W
a Democratic tough came on for argument ocio'o
Justice Edwards this morning. In Troy. Inc anua''''
of the two Republican Inspectors in support OF inc
application for mandamus set forth that after
the election the various baOt-boxes were Sesio"
and over the aperture Of the senate box senate
ballot was affixed with the word Senate PLAINLY
visible. That box, with the others, was piaco" az
the end OF the room, and a man was leit 10 "aeon
them He however, did not stay at his post ino
ward ballots were first counted and the Inspectors
I'm pursuance of their duties TO count the balos were
unable 10 watch the box. When the senaoriai ooX
was opened and counted It found that only TWEEN
ty-fve ballots were there for James C. Rogers, the
Republican candidate, and for Ives. the ProhiDiloh
candidate six votes while NJ. F. Collins, the Demo
cratic candidate, received nearly 900 In each OF the
other boxes the Republican ballots numbered over
300. one Of the Republican inspectors said thai
something must be wrong aud he asked for the nalot
box When this was produced II was seen that tho
apert,iro was closed by a plain white piece OF paper
instead OF the Senate ballot. Afidavis "ere ALSO
presented from seventy-fve Republicans, who swore
that they voted for Rogers and from eleven fro
hibltlonsts, who sworo they voted for Ives.
Democrats, presented the aidavits OF the Democi%'
Insuectors who swore that they saw nothlhs
crooked and that so far they knew the election"
was absolutely honest. Under the sharp qIeSuohs
Of Justice Edwards however the Democratic lawyers
wore forced TO admit that they had no evidence waI
ever 10 offset the fact the seal Of the senate Do
was broken and changed. The lawyer for the Deno-
Gratis argued that the court had no jurisdiction 10 III
t.rfere In the case as the Board Of County Canvassei
is a ministerial body and must act upon the race oi
the returns.
When the lawyers ceased their argument 'uue0
Edwards reserved decision and spoke few "oruS
that carried CONSERVATION to every Troy Dehocra'
in the court room. The Judge said: ." dcsHe I"
add a few words on my own responsibility addrcsseo 'o
the counsel on both sides Of tbs case wish 10
ask you IL this be not proper subject for the Grand
Jury Of this county to consider. II these amoaVi's
be true then on the merits Of the case which they
disclose a gross crime against the eleciVe
i'm this city has been committed. II Is an .uence
that Won cannot afford TO ignore. The GfaIn jury
Is now In session, and IL seems 10 me lhat inc inaV
ter should be investigated Immediately
L. f. Griffith, the Democratic counsel, Is DlsuGt-
Attorney He protested excitcdly mat he wouh oe
Glad 10 prosecute the offenders, and he would Ike 10
have the Republican counsel, Mr.. Wellington, asp
cfatcd with him. Mr.. Wellington decnnel, out s,h
Edwards quietly remarked that ne had no dGuot ,ns
Mr. Griffith would do his duty, and then me iun a
added I'm a sterner tone, This Is not mere pOltcdi
offence IL Is higher than that. 1t is more grave
crime n the afidavits presented this morning are
true then a gross crime has been committed
should be derelict in my duty should not suggest
| the investigation Of this offence