The sun., 1889-11-04
FLOATERS IN BROOKLYN.
INDICATIONS OF THE OUTCOME OF
TIE REPUBLICAN STILL HUNT.


Makes Significant and Timely AmdavIt
Tho rival political committeeman ir
Brooklyn were as busy as bees yesterday put.
ting their finishing touches on the campaign
work. The vast majority OF the registered
voters have already been supplied through the
mails with full sets OF regular and great
number of mixed ticketa and individual
posters, as well as quantities OF campaign lit
erature. This morning all the other voters
will get their tickets and no man need 20 to
the polls unprovided with the means Of depos-
iting an absolutely secret ballot. Each side,
however. will distribute an army OF active
workers at the 375 polling places, and no efforts
will be spared to capture votes.
The Democratic managers have made ar
rangements to watch the polls as never before.
They have been we'll aware all along that a still
hunt has been carried on by their adroit op-
ponents, and that big results are anticipated
from the quiet work which has been In prog
ress at the Montague street headquarters for
the past two or three weeks The Mayoralty is
the grand prize which the gentlemen in con-
troll there set out to capture at any price. and
that gigantic scheme has been concocted to
accomplish that result is the opinion OF the
Democratic leaders. Colonization of foreign
voters is believed to be an important part Of
this scheme. Enough was revealed few
weeks ago at the judicial investigation Of
the frauds at the Republican primary
in the Twentieth ward to show that
the Republican statesmen are smart enough
to utilize "floaters" even against each other,
and 1t requires no stretch Of Imagination to
conjecture to what lengths they might go while
working in concert against q common enemy.
It was positively established that several hun
dred men. nearly all hanGers-on at cheap
lodging houses In this city, were taken over to
Brooklyn to help carry the high-toned Twen-
tieth ward primary for one OF the rival fac
tions Some OF the participators in the fraud
when arraigned before Justice Kepna made
full confessions Of their guilt, and they were
sent to the penitentiary and the big conspira-
tors were saved from following them to Crow
Hill only by the breaking down OF the prosecu-
tion on the technical ground that the primary
itself was not legal. not having been properly
very Important revelation, and one which
justifes the suspicion OF the Democratic COM
mtteeman, that they have dangerous and un-
scrupulo GUS foe to meet on Tuesday was made
yesterday in connection with these primary
shape OF this aiiidavit by Michael Scanlon ex-
planning the part he took In the conspiracy,
and naming the men who hired him TO do the
NY name is Michael scanlon. / am brass
founder by trade. and my place of business is
about my ,eeonnectiSn with the Republican
primary in II t99 yard # Brqok
In order to clear myself from the imputation
OF having knowingly, violated consented to
and because the effect Of the impression here
tofore given to the public has been to lose me
the 81 any Hsnefs psons and
fore accused Of any crime. and enjoyed the
respect q my st nsiEhboIs till | got ItPPveiged
heard of the Twentieth ward, primary
was from man named John Lay. who
was willing to do him q Kindness. He told
me he was g out Of work; work; viii which | knew to be
his 70 carry a primary in the Twentieth ward
Of - Brooklyn he would get Q Job. After some
10 taEe hand % and
supposed could il 1t would do him any good.
Next day. Lay introduced me to MIR. William
saloon, at As, Broadway. New York. Mr.
and said there was nothing unlawful in it; that
it was an ordinary primary at which both sides
would poll all the votes they could in the old
they thyi'e came % from. II; He asked me
could could bring ity men en- and S said that 4 he
lodging houses around Park row. It was
agreed that l was to bring at least fifty aud
were paid. asked him to give me SIS to pay
their fares to Brooklyn, and he gave me S26.
held; and brought iiity-eiGft men over &C.
saloons q Callahan and Leeeh. as ' directed 'BS ES
aVonne M eS'n GGon met Bob %'c Cook. * on Of S Who@
tions from hm T6e men an were oO DIVIDED Unto into
parties OF Ave and sent to the primary to vote.
Each was furnished with slip containing the
name OF the man he was to personate and two
ballots, one folded within the other. SO that In
voting once he should really be voting twice 1
reports o., how matters were progressing and
voted went back and voted a second time.
The U money @ = 10 t pay the men off, They were @
poor men, who had come e earn a day wages.
This was done started for New York, suppos- |
Ing the whole thing was ended.
a Next night: however l a Learned that there HI
Bacon and detective wero after me-, On the
following Sunday afternoon l went to Mr. Leay- |
him the trouble was in. There was q war
rant out for my arrest. and 1t looked as II | |
I ne TO stand BY him and his friends and RsS he and
hey would SEQ that no harm happened TO me.
As was very much disturbed he sent for Col
Leaycraits S house at 10 o'clock that sunday
evening and remained talking with me TN ~
lone, not to give them away, and he would see
o it that / was recompensed fully for any
lamRRo might suffer. told Beard ana Leay-
raft that tho exposure might ruin my bust
less and they said that IL necessary they
would buy my stabishment out as well as
provide Tor me In other ways Under these
have kent my mouth shut
ID to the presentitmes but have resolved to do
% no longer. for my business has been ruined,
md these men have failed to keep any Of their
PROMISES except to the extent OF 500. which
Ieaycrait gave me one day on Broadway. My
,usiness Is destroyed. my credit ls gone. and
ny customers shun me. Beard and l.eaycrait
AVE kept me running after them since the
ases were dismissed by Justice Kenna, every
lay telling me to comeito- morrow, and when l
anne, giving me some now excuse for doing
othing. Beard have not been able to soc.
md when asked Leaycraft what had become
II him he answered that Beard got drunk i'm
after the trial and had remained
runk ever since.
q" There are many details which | might add
o this account OF the transaction, but they are
ot material. have here. In good faith and
or my own vindcation. told all that ts essen
ial. wish my friends to see that have been
ady wronged by these men. Beurd and Leay-
raft. and that when / went into the thing |
ad nS idea that was going against the law.
was not animated by selfish motives. Ny
nly obi ect. SO help me God was to help u
liend In misfortune to get place. Lay has
ot got the place promised him any more than
have got the financial recompenBe promised
or the loss OF my business. l now see what l
ught t. have seen sooner. After the cases
,ere dismissed by Judge Kenna asked Bob
'ook what was to be done for the men who had
leaded guilty and been sent to tho peniten-