The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-06-14
WHO WAS THE FORGHR?!
Tracing the Custodianship
Of the Doctored Elec-
tion Books.

Who erased the name and address of
Perkins from the poll book and Republi-
can challenge book Of the Eighth pre-
cinct of the First district and substituted
by forgery the name and address Of
Peters9
This GU estion has been propounded
hundreds OF times since District Attorney
Winfield on Thursday made the discoy-
cry of the Torgeries and tampering in the
books. 10 trace the matter as much as
possible first attempted to learn what
had become of the ballot box
after the voting was over.
This remained in the possession of the
election officers during the very long
time occupied by those officials in can-
vassing the vote, and was then turned
over to the City Clerk, who placed it in
the vault. In this box was locked up the
poll boos, and it renamed there unmo-
Tested, the City Clerk says, until a sub
ppna caused 1t to be taken before Com
missioner Romaine. One of the assist
ants IN the City Clerks Office took the
box himself to Mr.. Romaine and saw it
opened and the poll book taken from it.
He watched it and the ballot box con-
stantly while it was used US evidence,
which lasted about an hour, and the
poll book was then locked up in the box
again and returned to the City Clerks
vaults. During this time the poll book
was not tampered with From then un-
til produced in the Court of Sessions by
order of Judge LippincoJt, the poll book
remained in the ballot box in the vault.
While it was in the custody of the court
no opportunity was afforded to commit
the forgery, as q matter of course.
WHERE WAS THE FORGERY DONE?
Now, when was it donep Who did il?
Could anyone have mad access TO the bal
lot box and the poll book while they
were locked up in the vault, and have
committed the crime? Could it have
been done while in transit from the City
Hall to Commissioner Romaine's Office
or to the Court House. 1t is not reason
able to suppose that it could have been.
The next logical inquiry naturally is,
could it have been done before it reached
the City Clerk at all? If so it must have
been done while in the custody of the
Election Board If done then, who did
itY No one but the election officers them
selves are permitted to handle the poll
books. Did one or more of this Board
altar the poll book?
The evidence given at the Deane trial
showed that the poll book had been kept
at times by the two inspectors and the
clerk. and that at different times these
officers were absent from their post.
Could the alteration have been made
while one or more were thus absent, pur-
posely or accidentally?
THAT CHALLENGE BOOK.
Another strange feet is tnat the chal-
lenge book was also tampered with and
the name Peters erased ana Perkins writ
ten in. This book was kept by Drach-
man, o Republican watcher appointed
for that purpose. 1t was his duty to re-
cord every voters name to detect illegal
voting. Drachman swore at the trial
Of Deane that the challenge BOOK was
not out of his possession except when he
went to his meals. He must have been
tod \,
name OF Per ihifiS, for he sgcre he was and
identified Deane as the alleged Perkins.
He recorded the name in his book as
Perkins, but when asked in court to point
out Perkins, name he cOnld not lind It,.
| He was positive, however, he had recorded
| it and that he had not erased it. Who
| did? Was it done while Drachman was
| at his meals by the substitutes who acted
| for him, and was it,done at the request of
some member of the Election Board, or
was it done at subsequent datef
Drachman took the challenge book to
| his home and kept IL two days, when he
| turned it over to Billy Eaton.
WHAT EATON HAS TO SAY.
That gentleman was seen this morning
and he said, 'The challenge book kept by
| Drachman has been in my possession
since April TO- two days after election. It
handed 1t to Judge Lippincott. | re-
! ceived the book from Dracnman."
"Who changed the name Perkins to
Peters, Mr.. Eaton?'
II don't know. All / know about the
| book is this:-I offered it to General Ram
sey, but he would not accept it; he told
me to keep it, for the Senate Investi-
eating Committee might need it. During
| election day three or four men kept the
book, and the handwriting will show this.
Since had possession of the book Cap
tain Graham has asked for it several
times, and on the morning of the trial he
came to my house while WAS dressing
and asked me for Gods sake give me
| that book. was not dressed and stuck
my head out of the window and to get
rid of him told him the book was at
General Ramsey's store, but I did not
mean it. / only wanted to get rid Of
Graham. While the book was in my Gus
tody it was not altered, and on Monday
shall see Judge Lippincott and make
this statement,
How did you get possession Of the
book at first?"
II went to Drachman's house for it at
seven O'Clock in the morning of April TO-
We did not want to lose it..
Ex-Fire Commissioner John Brennan
said he never saw the book after ele:rion,
but had supposed that it was in the Gus
tody of Captain Graham who had charge
of that precinct for the Republicans. The
question, who made the forgeries has not
been answered yet, but the TWO books
have been pretty well traced.
nor3f arrf5f ff bo 1riol+o<1 ,,,tf Mr. f11o,.o