New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-21
pTCE CONFESSES: NEXT,

n Mr. Frank Rice did not experience an IN
tense desire to retire from public life, as ne
stepped down from the witness-stand yesterday In
the BROOKLYN Supreme Court, then we are sorry
for him. If he is still able to meet unhllshngly
the Gaze of his eIlow-ctizers. who until a few
weeks ago looked upon him as an upright Official
and an honorable gentleman, certainly his moral
sonsibilites have become dcadcned TO degree
that makes his a well-nigh hopeless case Mr.
Rice is not victim of partisan persecution lie
has not been slandeled by either personal or po-
litical friends or enemies. lie has simply con-
demned himself and by his own sworn con-
fesSOn he stands today convicted OF one OF the
most discreditable acts that public officer could
commit.
II will be remembered that al the final meet
ing of the State Board of CanvasserS on Decehi-
Der %. Immediately after the Court OF Appears
had decided a> had every other court TO Which
The question had been presented that the Wy
lod'' returns were false and fraudulent. MI. klc2
was conspcuously jealous in his efforts - Wihe
the Boards action outrageous by canvasslhg th>
Infamous return He it was that treated the
o. rnest protests of the Republican cJunSe! WIN
contempt and insoent abuse. until he was asked
If no had not received the true certificate OF the
Duchess County election. Then he lalred INTO
abiect silence. This silence he maintained de-
spite the searching questions of Mr.. Cady. lie
persisted in maintaining it until Yesterday when
in the presence Of Justice Cullen he relieved his
soul by coniessng what everybody knew all
along. that he did receive the corrected celtlh-
cate confirming Mr.. DeaneS elections that after
il had come into his possession ami aitef ne ma
benn informed of lis character b" deliberately
gave it to stranger, whom, according ID M
testimony he had never seen bel0e although
that individual showed no legal authority 70 war
rant its surrender to him. This in brief. i MI
Rice.s humiliating recital. We commend the
consideration of il especially to those Democratic
uaoers Which have had the cifrOncry to defend
tbe action of the State CanvaS>eTs aS beng
rsti6ed in consequence OF the Boards assertion
that the true returns of Mr. Dcane> election had
never reached them.
Mr. Ricc'S confession, il will be observed,
makes havoc of another reputation As well As
his own that Of storm Em1ns the Clerk "l
Duchess County and the defendant in the con
tempt case. Emans to shield the leaders Of the
,cnsrilacy whose willing tool he was. SW0Ic thai
he received the returns frcm the messengers OF
the Governor. the secretary Of state and Con
troller: but Mr.. Rice and the messengers fatty
contradiced him on this point yesterday by ac-
knowle1gng that EmanS obtained the papers
asr.r they had been properly delivered and be
came the property Of the Secretary of state
Mr. Wcm2le's testimony was 81 negative
character. He professcd to know nothing Of tho
re-delivery Of the returns to Emans. His deputy
Mr.. Wostbrook though SubpCcnlcd. did not APP
Uear. Mr. Williams, Governor HIS private
secretary. swore that though mail addressed ~
the Governor came 10 his desk. yet he never
handled any election returns frCm Dutche>S
County: that he did not even sen EmanS, and
that no one in the office besides himself and
Governor Hill had any authority 10 fe-deiivcr a
letter received through the mail. rs Mr.. Will
Jams and his messenger sw0re that neither OF
them gave the paper to EmairS, and AS Emans
svears he sent copies through the mail and as
they were shown 10 have reached their destlna-
lion it seems to II, that this matter is getting
dangerously near a point when one David Is.
Hill ought to be called upon to rise and explain.
Come, Senator, follow the example Of your fcl-
w-cOnspiratcr, and make clean breast Of 1t.
Through one Of your organs stat, your connec-
ton with the re-dcliveIy Of those DutcheSs Coun-
" returns, or at least come within the state
which you so long msgoverned, so that you can
be subpoenaed and give your testimony under
oath.