New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-26
NEWS FROM NEW ERSEY.
JERSEY CITY.
EVIDENCE ALL IN FOR THE PROSECUTION
rHE PLEA OF IGNORANCE AND CARbLE,eNLs
SET Up n DEFEND THE ELECTION


The trial Of the indicted Jersey City election Off
Gers went rapidly along Yesterday In the General
sessions Court and 50 much progress was made that
the state closed and the case was opened FOR Inc
defence. The courtroom was filed with speotS
tors Notwithstanding the oppressive heat }. l.
AItcmus who is threatened with arrest for perjury
in tcstying that Michael J. O'Donnc!y chairman OF
the Democratic County Committee. had offered him
a bunch of the stamped Joker" ballot, the night
before election, was the first witness called. The
"iokcrs" found in the First Precinct box were shown
to him, and he was asked II he had counted them.
IIe said he had not. but he saw them counted by
Mr.. Corbin lie thought there were 25s iokeis" in
the box.
Mr. Corbn called to the stand and examined
the string of ballots picking out the iokcrs' where
he found them. and testified to the marks which
proved their fraudulent character. There were 49, OF
them. AltrmuS corrected his testimony, and sad
that the number stated by Mr.. Corbin was correct.
Tho okers' passed around for the In
spection Of the jury, while ser2eantatArms Sharpe
watched them As closely as a cat watches mouse.
sharpc's anxiety led Judge Lippncott to remark
that II he were custodian Of the ballots he would
feel inclined to commit suicide.
Mr.. COrbin recalled and asked TO pick ont the
joker" ballot, in other precincts Counsel Tor the de
fence objected, the ground that the officers Of only
one precinct trial. and they could have had
no connection with any other precinct MI. Winfield
said he wanted TO show that the conspiracy wide
spread. and the objection overwlet. Nj. Corbir
picked ont the joIers' in three precincts IT tie
IIld District. and they were submitted to the jury
for comparison with the okers Of the First Precinct
lSt District They found to lie alike. MIR.
COrhin also picked out the joiers' In various other
precincts.
Charles W. Thomas. the former proprietor Of The
Hudson County Despatch" was brought from Paterson
on capiaS. lie testified that tie "jokers' might
have been printed at his Office, but denied having ever
admitted that they were
The sat. closed. and Counsellor Vrcdenbureh Opened
for the defence lie made an ingenious but sophstlcal
plea opening with expressing utter dete,tltion Of
ballot box fraud, and thcn declaring thai the frauds
committed lat fall were the result OF ignorance ana
car"c~> ness. and not of design As H. developed M,
iuscuinu, theories the faces OF The accused election
officer, Frightened. and 1t was apparent that uey we're
Just discovering how Innocent and uHSOpnistcacd they
We're. MIR Nrcdenlurgh said the defence II )poscd 10
prove that twenty the twenty fraudulent votes
,"t forth IN tlie Indictment legal votes. The
exception T. Fitzgerald. who had been allowed
10 vote. although not registered but that was no ell
dcncc Of piracy. beca Isc be was lcg1l voter
The first witness called did not help the defence.
he was George HomaI. German unable TO speak
English. lie said he had neither registered nor voted
AZ the November election. This was surprise 10
the counsel for the defence rs they expected him to
testify that he had registered and voted Finally.
after persistent questioning eA-Judge ,iarietsCn
',rubb running for Governor. Mr. Winfield
questioned him again and he said he did not vote
at the November election because he was sick.
John Treu.ch. Michael Kane Patrick Mr'iovern
and Marin Davis. testified that they voted. TreuSch
name spelled DUsch the poll book. Kane
voted from 40 80 eu,-cX>t.. which is "A stable. lie
Mc';ovcrn lives al No. - Morris-si which is not in
The precinct. but he thought it and voted there
the clerk recorded him from No - lIudSOn-st At
his point the court adjourned for the day.