The morning call., 1892-11-24
THE MAYORS CLEW
Light Upon the MutiIated
Returns.
AN IMPORTANT LINK FOUND
Affidavit OF the Messenger Boy Who
Carried the Returns From the
Booth.

Mayor Sanderson has not been sleeping
as an Election Commissioner, as many who
watch the canvass of the election returns
would suppose.
IL will be remembered that the returns
from the Eighth Precinct of the Thirty
second District were altered so as to take
away 100 votes from the Democratic candi-
date for the Assembly ana give them to the
Republican.
The election officers Of that precinct said
that messenger boy came to the booth
some time about or 4 o'clock in the morn
ing with note purported to be signed by
the Registrar and asking to give the election
returns for the general ticket TO the boy.
This they say they did, retaining the note.
When that precinct was reached IN the can
vass it was seen that an alteration had
been made in the tally-sheet.
The Mayor since the discovery was made
has been busy endeayoring 10 uneHrth the
culprits who made the changes. The first
thing to do was 10 find the messenger-boy.
An appeal was made to the superintendent
of the American District Telegraph Com
pany. and he posted notice in all the
branch offices OF tue messenger service ask
ing for the boy who went TO the booth on
that particular occasion.
Yesterday afternoon =. j. Manly, bright
boy bout is years OF age, went 10 the sup
erintendents Office and acknowledged that
he was the person wanted. De was taken
TO the Mayors Office last night and made
and swore TO the following statement:
Peter J. Manley being duly sworn deposes and
says: / reside at 1919 Rausch street / am
employed as messenger with the American
District Telegraph COMPANY. My watch is from
z O'clock at night until O'clock in the morn
ing. | am detailed at the branch Otiice OF The
company al 2 Golden Gate avenue. On the
November o
morning of The ION. at . O'Clock, Two men came
In The Office aud asked for boy. Tie sergeant
me outside. They then told NE that
they wanted me 10 go 10 the polling
piaCo az Tug oOIhel Vi OIAtn Tnu ID ein t
streets and gave me note and told me TO take
II 10 that place aud say that | came from the
CIy Hall ana that smooIh-faeed man sent me.
They - paid me 81. and said they would
drive do~n there. They then got into cart
that was sanding near by and drove on. They
passed me near Folsom street on Sixth street.
1 called o them and asked them who | should
give the letter to- They said TO young man
behind the rail. When l arrived at the booth
gave Ihe letter 10 adark'comDlexIoued man with
a dark mustache who gave II 10 smooth.iaeed
nlan. He did not seem 10 know what 10 give me
after he had read the letter, but man who
seemed to be an outsider told him what papers
10 send,
After considerable talking they took some
papers that several signed aud then They were
placed In an envelope, sealed with seaiing-wsx
and given TO NE. 1hen l was given bundle
which as already made up aud smaller en-
velope, which was unsealed, merely Stuck with
gum.
/ was detained In the polling place about half
an 5our, / should think. As soon as i got the
envelopes and bundle started for the telegraph
Office. thinking hat 1 would meet the Deu who
sent me either on the way or there.
When arrivgd at the office / told the ser.
geant that l thonght there was something
strange about the matter. saw tie address on
the envelope and as iie sergeant said he did not
want TO lake charge OF the packages took them
10 the City Hall and delivered them tG young
Eian. taking this receipt therefor.
was back al The Office az 6 oclOck A. NJ The
men VINO engaged me were strangers TO
One was tail man about feet, with a heavy
dark mustache. He was dressed In a dark sult
and wore black derby ha!- The other was Il
shorter man. about . feet inches and light com.
plexiOn.
1 cannon say whether lie had mustache or
not lie had no beard. lie wore light suit
and light ovefcOat End dark Derby hat. He did
most OF he talking. The envelopes and bundle
were never cut of my possession from The time
received them until delivered them at the City
Hall.
/ have not talked with any one about ths
matter except the superintendent OF the COM
pany. I. J. MANLEY.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 2sd
day OF November. 1892.
GEORGE Ii. SANDERsoN, Mayor
The boys statement is corrobOrated by
ployed.
The question now is, Where and when
were the alterations made?
If the boys statement that they were not
| ont OF his hands after he left the booth uu-
| til he handed them over at the Registrars
| Office Is true they could not have been
| altered In transit.
Another question is were the alterations
made In the booth and was the employ ment
of a messenger-boy to take them TO the Reg
istraI's Office only a scheme to hide the guilt
OF the parties?