The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-21
THIRzT.roUn MUST GO TO PRISON.
Decision o. the Appeal OF the Jersey city
Election Omcers,

Decision o. the Appeal OF tho Jersey city
Election Omcers.
The decision OF tho Now Jersey Court Of
Errors and Appeals In the cnses Of the Jersey
City ballot box suffers was handed down
yesterday. Tho court aflrms their conviction
and sentence.
The decision. although It has been expected
for some time. created q sensation among
Jersey City politicians last night. Next to tho
defendants themselves their bondsmcn felt the
greatest anxiety. The Election Board. whose
case was taken UP on appeal to determine the
legality Of the conviction. consisted OF Jacob
Moscholl, J. Thomas Du Ranccy. James Hart,
and Thomas Fallon The decision will apply
to all the other election officers who have been
convicted.
The frauds were committed at the fall cleo
ton in 1885, The ballot boxes were stuffed
with fraudulent ballots indiscriminately and
without any attompt whatever to cover up tho
crime. In the lower part Of tho city tissue
ballots were prepared. put through the top Of
q patent ballot box. which stamped and pune
tured them so rs to give them the appearance
OF being genuine. and were dumped into tho
regular boxes on election day. 1t was the
most bungling piece Of political crooked work
ever attempted anywhere. so bungling in fact
that when the perpetrators were Pbout to be
tried it was satirically suggested that they
might escape conviction by setting UP plea
OF insanity.
Dead mems names were voted on. and voters
were registered from stone yards, churches,
factories. and vacant lots. The registry lists
were swelled to enormous proportions. in no
Instance did the number OF names recorded on
the poll books agree with the numher recorded
on the dial Of the patent ballot box. AS an
example. in ono precinct 1886 votes We're
recorded on tho dial and only 232 on the poll
book. One bright election clerk had the names
recorded in alphabetical order. He had in
efr ri,
list in order to have enough to equal the num-
ber Of ballots in the box.
Why all this was done is q mystery that has
never been, solved. The natural Democratic
majority Of about b" 7,9OQ was swei!ed in that
investigation. and although there WAS not
enough fraud shown to alter the result. tho
Senate unseated Edward +. Mcdonald and
gave his seat to vii liam 5. Stuhr. Demo-
cratic Senate was elected in tho fullowin.
again. He resigned toward the close of the
session. and was elected to Congress.
In tho mean time Judge Liprincott.n Demo-
crat; District Attorney Winfield. II so n Demo-
crat. and Democratic Grand Jury turned
their attention to the ballot box stuhers. Six
ty-seven OF them were indicted and thirty
nine tried and convicted. Tho latter We're
sentenced to state prison for eighteen months
Five got of with nine months in the penitcn-
tiary because they agreed n"l 10 take an APP
peal. They have served their terms and are
now free.
1t WAS rumored last night that there might
be general exodus of those VINO wcro ont on
bail. and some Of tho bondsmcn We're greatly
worried There are twcnty-cight election
officers yet to be tried. District Attorney VIM
the decision OF tho Court OF Apl calls was rem
dered.