The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-07
SHERMAN AND HALSTEAD
TWO IMPORTANT WITNESSES IN
THE BALLOT-BOX CASE.

The Senator Claims That His Rela-
tions With Foraker and Halstead
Have Always Been Friendly-The
Forgery of His Name Copied from
His Rubber Franking Stamp.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The House COM
nnittee Oil the Ohio ballot-box forgery this
morning called Senator Sherman as the first
witness. The senator testified that his rela-
tions with Gov. Foraker had always been
friendly. There had never been any i'll will
between himself and Editor Halstead. The
witness went to Europe the first Of last
May, and returned to this country Sept IL,
and was in Ohio in October. He had writ
ten to Mr.. Grosvenor early in July to the
effect that Gov. Foraker should be heartily
supported. He was on good relations with
Gov. Foraker and Editor Halstead on Sept
IS. and supported Gov. Foraker in the cam
paign. He spoke four times in the canvass
at important points He did not recalve
any inquiry before Sept. 2S from Gov
Foraker or Editor Ralstead, as to whether
he had been a party to the ballot-box con-
tract.
THE FIRST INITIATION.
Of Cincinnati telegram saying that he the
witness) and Mr.. Butterworth had been
connected by gossip with the ballot-box con-
tract. The witness replied that the state
was lie, and any subscription was a forg-
erv. The witness was shown exhibit "a I"
and declared that he had never signed it. He
saw it first when it was sent to him in No
vember by Editor Halstead. The signature
was copy of his rubber franking
\
ture. He did not think that the Mckinley
signature looked like a genuine signature,
but he did not profess to be an expert on
signatures, and might take Mr.. Butter
worths signature as genuine if there was
nothing to call it in question. His own
signature on paper would naturally raise
the question and excite wonder why he had
contrac ed to pay money to John Mclean.
Then the paper showed that the signers had
committed a crime. In addition, they
would be seen to be fools. for the United
States had never bought ballot box. (He
was one Of those who thought the United
States should, however, regulate the cleo
ton of representatives, All of these things
should raise question as to the authenticity
of the paper. The witness never heard or
knew of the ballot box contract, and never
heard of the Campbell bill before Governor
Foraker's music hall speech. The witness
never mentioned the paper in the cam
paign, but it became an issue between
Governor Foraker and Governor Campbell.
HALsTEAD ON THE STAND.
Murat Halst cad took the stand. He said
he was "a daily laborer on a daily news
paper" He was president of a stock COM
panv and wrote a good deal of editorial
matter. Invited to explain, Mr.. Halstead
said that when he published Gov. Camp
HALLS cic A,,r l., o,,N Up
graphic copy of the paper the signatures
below Gov. Campbell's. He never exhibited
the other names TO anyone, except that of
Cox, which he showed to one gentleman.
Bellamy StOrer was concerned about the
paper, and, as the witness thought, appre-
hensive, and to assure him of the fairness
of the foundation upon which he was pro
ceeding, the witness showed him the demo-
cratic names. A committeeman wished to
know if the witness was managing editor
of ..the Commercial Gazette. He replied
that managing editor" was a New York
term. He was the responsible editor and
the principal stockholder.
CAMPBELL's CANDIDACY EXPECTED.
Shown the forged paper, the witness said
he first saw it Sept. IA on the cars, at
Springfield, o. He had been i'll and abroad
and returned in August The cam oaign
was under way. 1t was the judgment of the
governor, in which the witness concurred,
that Gov. Campbell was to be his opponent
and they made preparations for the cam
paign. Soon after his return the witness had
brief conversation with Gov. Foraker
about what should be put into the campaign
against Gov. Campbell. One was his vote
for special ,cars for colored people. Jim
crow car tusiness.) The next was the
brewery trust. Gov. Fora er said he had
information Of Gov. CampbelPs connection
with the Hall-Wood ballot-b)x; that there
was behind the bill a contract which he ex-
pected to get, and that it would be an i'm
portant feature of the campaign.
WOOD TO FURNISH IT.
He said that Wood had promised to fur
nish it. Wood was the inventor, and an
officer of the company. The witness had
his doubts as to whether the contract could
be made to appear. Gov Foraker said
that Wood was an applicant for the office
OF smoke inspector. The witness did not
know Wood. The governor said he was an
Inventor of ability and an old soldier, and
he didn't see why Wood wouldn't
make a good officer. The witness thought
the Office itself was fraud, but did not see
why Wood should not have t,as well as any
other person. Asked for his opinion about
the appointment the witness said he would
not appoint Wood under any circumstances.
That was after Wood had pro iuced the
paper. The witness said he would consider
1t a serious mistake to appoint Wood; that
1t might be we'll enough to accsot his SER
vices, but not appoint him to office.
FORAKER GETS THE PAPER.
On Sept. IA, on the cars at Springfield,
the governor said he had that paper-the
balIot-box contract He said that Wood
had furnished it. Wood was the inventor
Of the box, he said, and secretary of the
company, and the contract came right out
OF John McLean's safe. Wood was party
70 the transaction, had gone and asked for
II and got it. The governor said the paper
mad shocked him; it was more than he
wanted. He said it had names on it that
Ihe witness would not want to pri t, and
ne (Foraker) could do nothing with it. He
showed the paper to the witness, together
With the Campbell bill and Contract ,000."
Inc witness studied the paper. The bill ap-
peared to be mandatory-that 10000 pat
ented ballot boxes should be purchased at
go each. The contract appeared to be
manifest scheme, but subtle and ably drawn.
GoV Foraker said Wood had told him
Inis way of having a separate contract and
subscription list was a new scheme
at Washington, that it had been induced
oy the fact that an old man loaded with
papers had tumbled over dead in Washing
eoh some years ago and his death had
created great excitement
DIFFERENCES IN THE SIGNATURES.
4, taking up the paper, the witness denied
eIii ela0 the three signatures Of Campbell we're
flA IL