The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-21
He Declares That He Had
No Participation in Bal
lot Box Stuffing.
HE CORRECTED SOME ERRORS
Ex-Nayor Collins and Many other
Republicans Testify 10 Stumpf's
Coed Character.
ALL THREE CONVICTED.

Dixon, counsel for John Stumpf, one Of
the indicted election officers. began his
address to the jury. He said that Mr..
Stumpf was placed on the election board
at the solicitation OF the Republican
party aud against his will He had heard
threats against the Republican members
OF the Board and so he refused to serve,
but he was finally persuaded to act. II
there was a conspiracy, Mr.. Dixon con-
tended, Stumpf was not necessary for It's
consummation. Dolan kept the registry
book and McGrath the pool book. Egan
received the ballots, aud all Stumpf had
10 do was to look out OF the window.
Stumpf was antaeonistic to the Demo-
cratic members of the Board throughout.
THE OFFICERS NOT SWORN.
When the Board began work on the
morning Of election day Stumpf wanted
the members 10 be sworn. but the Demo.
Gratis said 1t was net necessary and called
In a policeman, who said they were right.
Mr.. Winfield asked Mr.. Dixon II he meant
TO say that the men took no oaths on cleo
tion day. Mr.. Dixon replied that he did.
"Well, what is this thenri asked Mr..
Winfield. handing Mr.. Dixon the affida-
Wits of the Board. Nj. Dixon looked at
the document and discoved that it was
not dated. He said 1t was the certificates
made on registration day. When they
came to take the votes from the cigar box
In which they had been deposited while
the box was being repaired the other
members of the Board wanted to dump
them into the ballot box. but Stumpf in
sisted upon running them through the
lid.
sTUMPF AN HONORABLE MAN.
The Democrats also took the three keys
to the box and would not give Stumpf
one. This was Stumprs case as outlined
by Mr.. Dixon. be called Stumpf 70 the
stand, but he had gone out TO look for his
witnesses, so Judge. Henry Puster was
called. He swore that he had known
Stulnpf for twenty-five years as a staunch
Republican and an honest upright man.
Mr.. Dixon asked the Judge II he knew
Stumpf's reputation for loyalty to his
party. Mr.. Winfield objected, and the
ground that Stumpt's party loyalty had
not been assailed. Mr.. Dixon fDme-
diately took issue with the Judge and re-
minded him that In sentencing Derancy
he rad said that the defendant had been
guilty Of treachery to his party. Judge
Lipoincott, however. refused to admit
the question.
Jacob Ringie, President of the Sinking
Fund Commission, took Judge Puster's
place in the witness box. Mr.. Ringle said
he had known Stumpf fifteen years and
declared his character for honesty and
Integrity to be beyond reBroach. Rou nds-
man Coward corroborated Mr.. Dixon's
statement about this wraDgle over the
keys to the ballot box, and Street IasDec-
tor Philip Tumulty and John Graham
swore TO Stumpf's good character.
Stumpf then took the stand and testified
to the facts set up by Mr.. Dixon in his
opening. At one time during the day he
said ne heard whispered conversation
between Dolan and Egan, and looking up
he saw Egan have slip Of paper from
-, rfK.fr inf fha
poll book. He also heard a policeman
ask Dolan If be would go ahead with the
count that night, and Dolan replied. "We
will if everything is all right; If not, we
won't"
HOW THE BALLOTS WERE COUNTED.
At the count Stumpf said he strung the
ballots while Egan numbered them and
Dolan kept tally. Dolan Kept the sheet
so far away that the witness could not
see distinctly how he tailed When the
joker ballots came out, Stumpf looked at
them carefully TO see if they were can
tured and stamped, although some had
but little ink on them.
On cross examination by Mr.. Winfield
Stumpf said that he had been an election
officer for eight years and that the books
were kept at the fall election of 1880 in the
same manner as they had always been
kept before. When the election was
over Doian and Egan counted up the
looks and announced that Sl2 votes had
been cast. He said he signed
the returns because he took it Tor
granted that the result as announced
by the clerk was all right. as he had failed
TO discover anything different. He ex
amIned the sjoker ballots" because the
Republicans had been warned that such
ballots would be used. He asked Judge
Seymour II there was any law against
mans voting any sized ballot. aud the
Judge said mo" Egan voted the only
joker ballot he saw cast
Several more witnesses swore TO
Stumpfs reputation for honesty, and
then Mr.. Dixon made strong appeal TO
have the case go over until today, as he
wanted time to produce witnesses. Judge
Lippincott consulted with Judge Paxton.
aud refused the request. But Mr.. Dixon
insisted so strenuously that the Judge
left the matter to the jury, and those gen.
tlemeu decided to come back today and
hear Mr. Stumpf's other witnesses.
The trial was resumed this morning.
Mr.. Dixon began by thanking the Judge
and jury for the courtesy they showed
him yesterday, and called Stunpf to the
stand again Mr.. Dixon asked II he took
any part in a movement to Investigate
the frauds of the election of 1899 Mr..
Winfield objected and Judge Lippincott
sustained the objection. MIR. Dixon then
asked Stumpf If he had subscribed
10 any fund for the purpose
Oh uttoCtlng those lrauuS, anu buiS qut5-
tion was also overruled. Then Stnmpf
said that during the count the night OF
election he noticed four times when Me-
Grath read off the name of Henry Byrne
instead of Hugh Abernethy for Assembly.
He called the attention of the Board to
these acts. and the Board corrected them,
willingly at first, but very reluctantly af-
forwards. Those was the only instances Of
wrong counting which he detected.
Stumpf then repeated his story of his
wrangle with his fellow members of the
Board over the possession OF the combina-
tian OF the ballot box.
John G.. HoDken, of No. 167 Jackson
avenue, who was candidate for Register
on the Fusion ticket of 1882 testified
that he had known Stumpf for twenty
five years, and believed mis- character TO
be excellent. Mr. Dixon asked il the
witness knew Stumpf to be Repuhli-
can. Mr.. Winfield objected, and said they
had tried six cases of this kind now, and
this seventh was the first into which
party had been dragged. The objection
was sustained.
Ex-MAY0R COLLINS ON sTUxPFs CHAR
ACTER.
Mr.. Gilbert Collius. president. and M.
Thomas Mr. Evan, Jr., secretary of
County Republican Committee testified
TO Stumpfs good character, and Henry c.
Gruber, vics-president OF tine old Ballot