New-York tribune., 1891-12-24
DISHONEST STATE OFFICIALS.
TRYING TO THWARI THE COURTS IN ALBANY
GOVERNOR HILL, SECRETARY RICE AND con-
TR0LLER WEMrLE HELPING FORWARD THE
PLOT To ROB THE VOTERS OF THE
XVIII SENATE DISTRICT - MORE
TRICKERY AND BULLDOZING.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE,


Albany. Dec 23.-The people of the state will hear
with profound regret that three of their officers
have taken part personally in evasion Of the order
OF judge Cullen. OF the supreme Court, that the cor
rected election returns OF Duchess County should be
hed with them, In order that injustice should be
done to the voters OF the XVIII senate District who
elected Gilbert A. Dcanc, Republican, as senator.
False returns from DutcleSs County row before the
state Board OF Canvassers declare that Edward Osborne
Democrat elected senator 1t was TO correct these
returns that Judge Cullen. Democrat ssuei his order
and since the political balance OF the Legislature may
pend upon the vote Of this Senator from the XYth
District. 1t Is obvious that IL is matter OF high inn
portance that the corrected returns should be brought
to the attention officially Of the state Board Of Can
vassers
County Clerk Emans, Of Dutchess County, on Mon
day night at ocloc, mailed In Poughkeepsie t. Gov
llill Secretary OF state Rice and Controller
Wempe separate copies Of tie election returns OF that
county. Charles F. Cossum and Postmaster Platt. OF
POugkeepe, witnessed this act and also the three
letters put in the Albany mailbag. That mailbag
rived in Albany at a. m. Tuesday, and the letters
placed in the mail boxes respectively, Of David
b. Hill, Edward Wemple and Frank Rice. So far ;
the United States authorities concerned therefore,
these letters duly delivered TO Messrs. Hill,
Wemple and Rice. To-day however Messrs. Wemple
and Rice stated that The election returns in question
not in their possession and Colonel T. Williams
III.
had not received" them. Controller Wemplc informed
The Tribune correspondent that he had ret received
the returns As for Frank Rice the Secretary of State
all that he would that the election returns In
question were not In the Office" and he declined to
talk further about the subject
CoNNIvING At FRAUD.
Who now has possession Of these returns of Dutchess
County! County Clerk Emans says he has them.
How did he recover possession Of them' lie frankly
acknowledges that he came TO Albany and secured
them. Then he must have obtained them with the
consent Of David Il. Ill., Edward Wemple and Frank
Rice Those cannot plead Ignorance OF the fat that
those e ,cton returns had arrived in Albany and
,ar rs the United States Government was concerned,
had been delivered to them. Mr. Emans says that he
was awakened Monday night In Poughkeepie, after
he had mailed the election returns. and there de-
livered 10 him stay Of proceedings In the Duchess
County cases issued by Judge Ingraham; that he at
once took train for Albany, consulted with the At
tcrney General In Albany, and recovered possession OF
The election papers, II Is obvious. OF course that
David Il. Hill, Edward Wempie and Frank Rice were
perfectly well aware OF what they were doing when
they surrendered these three important letters to
County Clerk Emans. II Is believed that Mr. IIill
and Mr. wtmpc solved the problem OF how to eva1a
receiving the Objectionable election returns Of
Dutchcss County by simply giving Deputy Attorney
General Maynard Mr. Emaus the KEYS OF their post
Office boxes, thus permitting the nterception Of the
letters by them.
Tut the courts have held that the mailing OF letters
Is p,,sumptlve evidence that they were received; and
Mr. I'M and Mr. Wempe, IN any case. cannot escape
the verdict Of their fellow citizens that they wif'iy
aye back 10 County Clerk Emans the truthful elec-
lion returns Of Dutchess Cou1ty. ~ for Frank Rice.
the Secretary Of State. his responsibility h greater
even than that OF the other state officers concerned
IN this affair for he II the chairman Of the state Beard
of Canvassers. lie should be eager 20 place before
his fellow members Of that Board the mo't accurate
election returns he can obtain. There \ reason 10
suspect that County Clerk Emans uf Duchess County.
regaIned posse the returns of that county in
the office Of the Secretary of state. fox Mr. Rice was
careful 10 say to-day "The Dutchess County election
returns sent here by County Clerk Emans are not In
this ONCE"
.wIIl you say that such election returns have
zen rece.vedl" be was asked