New-York tribune., 1891-02-05
THE GIBBS-COWIE CONTEST.
TAKEN UP BY THE COUNTY COMMITTEE.
A SUBCOMMITTEE LISTENS TO TESTIMONY RE
GARDING THE ALLEGED FRAUDS AT

GARDING THE ALLEGED FRAUDS AT
THE PRIMARIES
The contest between the Gibbs and Cowic factions
In the XIIIth Assembly District was placed before a
subcommittee of the New-YOrk Republican County
Committee last evening at No. 1O7 West Thirty fourth
st. The committee consisted Of James A. Ila"chard,
chairman; sherman EvartS. secretary; Charles \.
Peabody, Charles g. CrOnin and Edward Dubois. The
committee sat investigate charges of fraud alleged
10 have been committed in the XIlIth Assembly Dis
trct at the primary election for delegates 10 the Re
publican County Convention held on the 18th Of last
month
Frederick B. House, Henry Clinton Backus and
James X. Duffy appeared for the sitting delegates, ana
Henry L. sprague and f. J. Tnsdal for the
fontesng delegates. After short speech by
Henry l.. sprague, outlining the charges, VIII
lam Reed, ir., of the watchers at the polls
WAS placed upon the wtnessstand and testified tlal
Chairman Miller, of the Board of Inspectors at tic
Primary, announced that only one challenger would
be recognized. Witness said that the ballots were OF
q different color SO that the Gibbs men, who kept
tally Of the votes cast knew how the real vote stoou
during the polling hours There were over my
men in line" he added, when at o'clock the pOls
were declared closed and Gibbs, who was present
,aid TO an officer: shove all back from the polls IN
eluding myself This was prcbly carried out to inc
letter. IL witness declared that he saw no COVE
men in the line waiting to vote when the polls "e'c
closed.
A question of law arose at this point. "lOus
counsel declared that it did not make any dlfeiehCc
how many voters in line long as the poiis
were closed TO which Mr.. Sprague replied that pS /"
decision Of Judge Van Brunt, ali voters must pe
received even after the hour for closing the poils'
the voter had arrived at the polling place ready 10
vote before that hour.
The witness continued by saying that wheh INC Po'
we're closed the policemen, at Gibbss dlrecuoi' e"'"
cred about the ballotbOxes, so that he conu h'o ~
the counting of the ballots He saw, nc saiu' On'C'
Inspector Miller with of the ballotboAes III HIS
hand and open. and called on him TO close IT, VIi."e
him that he had right TO open H. lie lc>une'
further that the Gibbs faction placed dummies al tc
head of the line who had no right tAeIc a> Noc!s' S
OF them known TO he Democrats, ana OlhorS ~Io NV
out OF the district. The object OF TINS, he sIu "ds
DELAY he voting as much as possible, so as 70 smut on
tempted to any great extent until neas tIc CLOSING
hour. At point in the examination OF the witness
a lively sparring beween Mr.. House and Mr. spiasiT
took place. in which some personalities were huec'
When the examination of Reed was finished Mt.
surace arose and said that he had another witness
who mad testimony OF such importance tlat IL "ou!u
take al least two hours to hear il. This witness i
d. : Carter who Ole OF the Watchmeh al INC
polls -. ..,.,,.o ~,,sior ord
after a DELAY OF ten fifteen minutes came out ana
reD9rIed that they would hear the other testimony
next saturday afternoon at o'clock at No 26o ElSh'
ave The meeting then adjourned.