The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-06-30
THE PHANTOM VOTERS.
Close of the States Case Against
Tom Trotter and Pals.

Yesterday afternoon was consumed in
the ballot hox stuf1ing case in hearing
evidence such as has been offered at each
trial.
City Clerk Scott, City Marshall Long
and William H. Corbin testified as to the
election districts and the Investigation by
the Senate committee; and Colonel w. s.
Sharp. the sergeant-at-arms OF the House.
told the jury the old, old story Of how he
Kept the ballots during the Investigation.
Frank Covert Of No. III St Paul's ave-
nue.. and Charles Covert of No. 107 st.
Paul's avenue, brothers-in-law OF Tom
Trotter, testified that they did not vote in
the Third precinct James Covert, an
other brother-in-Iaw, could not remem-
ber whether he voted in that precinct or
not. ALI three were registered from Tom
Tr0tter's gin mill.
Edward Warren Of No. Z Mercer street,
swore thss he did not register from No
2s0 Henderson street or vote from there.
Charles Warren Of the same address testi-
fed to the same facts.
Nicholas Wolf swore he did not vote at
all at that election, aud James Collins
and John Collins, cousins of Henry
Spears wife. testified that they did not
vote at the election in question because
they were not old enough.
Mrs Della Loft swore that William
Patrick OF No. Is Wayne street. who. was
registered as q voter, died long before the
election. A number Of other witnesses
testified in the same strain, and the case
was adjourned.
THIS MORNINGS SESSION.
When the trial was resumed this morn
ing the court room was not filed. Ex-
Judge Garrctson was the first of the de-
fendants' counsel to arrive. Tom Troster
appeared soon afterward and took a seat
on the first row of the benches. Joe
Buckridge came In little later dressed
with almost finical care and wearing
striking light vest. Freeburg and Spears
dropped in unconcernedly shortly after,
and all four chatted carelessly until the
Judges appeared on the bench.
William j. Moran, the first witness
called, was not in attendance Alexander
Robinson Of No. 100 Bright street was
next called. He lived at No. 50 Gregory
street during the fall election OF 1889. He
swore that he did not register Iat that
election. The Prosecutor called attention
to the fact that he was on the registry
list aud was also down as voting.
Annie Hamilton was next sworn. She
testified that there was no Michael
Hogan living at No. 43 Gregory street
during the fall election of 1889. He is
down as registering and voting. She
also testified that James Dunn, q nephew
OF the woman. who lived In the house,
did not live there. He Is upon the regis
try, but not upon the poll list
William Dirken testified that Frank
Prentice. who is on the registry list did
live at No. las Montgomery street. Mary
Hackett of No. 16S MONTGOMERY street
testified that James kiernan, Michael
Hart and Robert Reilly did nor live there
in November, 1889. They are all registered
from there. Cross-examinati0n made. her
slightly uncertain. She said one family
in the house rented furnished rooms aud
that gave her the doubt.
Albert Slockbower testified that he
lived at No. 256 " arren street, but did not
register nor vote He is down as voting
from there. William j. Moran called
earlier, was the next witness. He con-
ducts an undertaking business at No. 4S
Gregory street and lives next door. He
said that there was no Thomas Moran
living at No. As Gregory. This name is on
the registry aud poll list from there.
THE MYTHICAL CLAUD ERHARDT.
Big Jake Kramer was the next man
sworn. He lived at No. II Gregory street
during the election of 1889. He said no
such man as Claud Erhsrdt. who is
checked as voting from No, 40 Gregory
street, lived there. Mary Kellaher, who
lived at No. 40 Gregory street In Novem-
ber. 1899, said no sucn man as
Claud Erhardt lived at that
number as far as she knew.
John J. Perrine was next called.
He lived at No. 267 Washi nztcn
street In Novembe 1885, He said no man
named Theodore Crummenine lived at
the house at that time. Crumnle nine is
registered and down as voting from that
number.
Mrs. Renwick, who lives at No Wash
ington place, testified that George Frazier,
George Carrick and Oscar Howard, all
regist tered aud down as voting from
there, did not live there In November 1889
to the hest of ber recollection. Miss Annie
Collins of No. 216 Warren street testified
that neither Girls O'Donohue nor William
o. Brien, both down as voting from that
number. lived there. Robert Murphy Of
neither John Moore nor j. K. Murphy
lived there, to the best of his
knowledge, during the fall of 1889. Both
are down as voting from there
Under cross sS-examination by Counsellor
HudsDeth, he said he did not know
whether there were any men who hung
about his saloon TO clean his windows
aud sweep out. Here Judge Lippincott
broke in and said:-'If he is a saloon
keeper ne III ust have haugers-on."
Hangers out if your honor please"
answered Hudspeth. Murphy admitted
that men might hang out" at his place
without his knowing their names.
SAME OLD STORY.
Similar testimony was given by Mrs.
Catherine Forbes, OF No. 21S Warren street
(WhO knew nothing OF an enormous family
of Goldens registered from her house); bv
David Latten, of No. Al Railroad avenue;
by Henry Arsenal, of No. 300 Henderson
street; by Wolf Nathan, of No. 43 Gregory
street: by Philip ). Rice. OF No. 81 Mont
gomery street; by james Foeller, Of No.
IA Newark avenue; by George Cordts. of
No. 50 Montgomery street; by John Bon
n er, of No, ISL Montgomery street; and By
John Summerfeld. of No. 10 Newark ave-
nue.. All these persons testified 70
knowledge of facts inconsistent with the
records of the election.
Among the incidents which relieved the
monotony of this testimony was state
ment by Mr.. Winfield following the evil
dence of Patrick McComb who was sure
that No. 50 Gregory street was vacant
lot
"I have here an affidavit" said the
Prosecutor, Registering one Brown from
this empty lot. This affidavit is made by
John Ramsay. | think il is only just to
the people that thew should know who
made tn ese afiidayils.
Counsellor Hudspeth then asked the
Prosecutor why these people were not i'm
plicated in this conspiracy. y
WELL" he answered, my only fault
Is that l did not know as much then as /
do now
Thomas L. Jones. who was then sworn,
was examined as to the condition Of the
polling place. He said:-"Both windows
werea5oarded up to the top, but there was
a sufficient space for all purposes OF the
voters / do not remember Ii the ballot
hox M "a in full SIGHT of the voters ~