The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-05-22
ONE BOX OPENED.
The First Gun In the Per-
kins Farce Misses
Fire.
CLERK SCOTT TESTIFIES.
Half an Hour to Work the Combin-
alton and Two Minutes to Find
Nothing Wrong.

The scene Of operations in the Mayor
atty recount was changed from Commits
sioner Romaine's Office, in the Weldon
building, to the Aldermanic chamber
this morning. At the time appointed for
the hearing County Clerk Mclaughlin
and City Clerk Scott were on hand.
Counseilors Grouse, Record and Gordon
representing Mr.. Perkins, and Counsellor
Black representing Mayor Cleveland, met
in the Commissioners small Office and it
was mutually agreed upon to go to more
spacious quarters, and as City Clerk Scott
was agreeable that the hearing should
take place in the AlSerms e chamber,
the whole party journey ed thith -
City Collector O'Neill I. oe slfg - OBJ
lection on account of the heal & distu b.
ing his clerks, but he conclude. % all Nv
the hearing to proceed.
One of the large tables was procured.
and around IL sat the three lawyers rep
resenting Mr.. Perkins, and Counsellor
Black, representing Mayor Cleveland,
and stenographer
Counsellor Record, who has assumed
the leadership in the Perkins fight, held
long and earnest consultation with CITY
Clerk Scott Mr.. Record wanted the cleo
tion boxes used at the last election deliv-
cred and opened, but Mr.. Scott refused
until an order from Court had been pro-
duced. Finally he consented TO produce
one of the boxes.
CITY CLERK SCOTT.
The formal opening Of the proceedings
then began. City Clerk Scott was the
first witness Mr.. Scott said he was City
Clerk of Jersey City for twenty years.
Mr. Record examined him as follows:-
Have you the custody of the ballot
boxes used at the last election, the COM
bination, contents and registry lists2n
Il have"
what time did you receive them from the
election officers?n
by referring to my memorandum book ),
viii you produce that books''
Eyes, sir. :"
at which the examination was con-
tinued.
Have the boxes been uninteruptedly
In your possession since you received them
from the election officers?u
They have"
ssWili you produce the ballot box and
registry list Of the First precinct Of the
First Aldermanic district?n
II will produce the ballot box with its
contents and the registry list but not the
combination
The box was then brought in. The
registry, which showed on its face 35S
votes, We're duly recored by the stenogra-
pher.
''Mr. Scott. win you produce the COM
bbiiasstioa CT the hex 50 that it can he
PLACED in evidence" Mr.. Record asked
Il would very much rather not to do so
until you are ready to 60 ahead with the
counting of the ballots" answered Mr.
Scott
Being told that they were ready to pro-
ceed with the counting, the City Clerk
gave up the combination slip. and the
work of opening the box began
THE BOX OPENED
1t took four lawyers, Commissioner
Romaine and the City Clerk Just half an
hour to open the box, during which time
everybody was impatient At one time
one of the lawyers suggested that an axe
be brought into use. The box was finally
opened.
As soon as the lid had been removed
Counsellor Black said he wanted to enter
protest against the opening of the box,
on the ground that no rule had been
granted or notice served.
The Commission ruled that the box
was now open for inspection. Counsellor
Black wanted the counting of The ballots
postponed until the arrival of Corpora
tion Counsel Ed wards, and said he had
no one to tally for him
The tally sheet was then taken from
the box, showing total of 313 votes for
Cleveland and forty votes for Perkins.
This made total of 1853 votes and CORE
| sponded with the dial.
The sworn statement of the election
officers was not produced Their names
are Francis Whelan, judge; JOHN Greene
and John.J. Miller, inspectors, and 2. j.
Kennedy, clerk.
At this juncture Corporation Counsel
Edwards entered and consulted with his
associate counsel The poll book, show
ing total of 1853 votes, signed by the
registry book showed 352 names The
number of the last ballot was 351
The counting of the ballots was then
postponed by mutual consent until nine
o'clock tomorrow morning.