The morning call., 1892-12-28
VERY RAW WORK.
How Ballots Were Handled
in Oakland.
PECULIAR WARD POLITICS.
interesting Revelations Made During
the Legislative Contest i'm the
Forty-Ninth District.

b In a dingy little courtroom over saloon
on Eighth street, Oakland, most interest
ing legislative contest was commenced yes
terday before Justices Of the Peace Snook
and Melvin.
+. NJ. Leonard, the contestant. is a Demo-
crat and conducts a liquor-store on San
Pablo avenue. His Republican opponent
for legislative honors in the Forty-ninth
Assembly District is Ii. b. NJ. Miller, an
attorney, who was declared elected by the
small M majority Of "a votes. In his sworn
affidavit Leonard alleged that he hadnoeeD
counted out, and furthermore that Miller
was not eligible as an Assemblyman. be-
cause he had not lived in the Forty-ninth
District year before the election.
In every precinctit was charged that some
Of the votes cast for Leonard had been
accredited to Miller. The testimony intro
duced tended to substantiate all the allega-
tons of crookedness. Had any suffers and
followers of the Kclly-Crimmins stripe
been present during the evidence intro
duced they would have gathered some val
liable pointers. Ii all that was testified to
under oath be true the political manlpu-
lators of Oakland's northern suburb were
more daring than the gang from 10 Third
street, San Francisco.
Now for the surprising testimony intro
duced in the interest OF the contestant.
Special Officer COrtage deposed that during
the recent election and the counting of the
ballots he watched proceedings IN the
Fourth Precinct of the First Ward. During
the count it was discovered that one clerk
had tailed two votes more for Miller than
another clerk had. Matters were evened
up by the latter clerk giving Miller two
more votes. Cortage saw one election Off
cial take ballot from the string and hand
it to another member of the election board.
who put ii in his pocket.
One United States Marshal took a hand in
calling of the ballots, contrary to every law
and precedent.
Defendants attorney spent two hours in
cr0ss-eXamining CoFtage, but was unable TO
shatter his testimony in the least.
How do yon know it was United
States Marshal who called off the ballotS?"
C0rtage was asked.
by his badge. IL L. ). stands for
United States l can swear to il"
What was the Marshal's name?"
Don't know. / never heard IT,"
Charles DAILY was a clerk of election in
the Fourth Precinct Of the First Ward. He
was called as the next witness ami asked:
Did you see anybody calling of ballots
besides election officers?"
Yes sir. saw a United States Super
visor of Election calling off ballots. When
ever one of the members of the election
board went out to take drink the Super
visor would take the absent mans place.
Under cross-examination DAILY said he
was member of the Democratic Alameda
County Committee.
81 was supposed to be a clerk of election"
he continued, "but when went to the polls
l could not find the book should have had"
'Were you drinking that day ?"
''Yes. and so was every other officer at the
polls"
"Were any drinks taken into the booth ?"
Yes, there were. | took in some bottles
of lager beer myself"
Just before DAILY left the stand ii was dis
covered that he still had somewhat of
''heat" on. but he denied that it was hold
over from election day.
John Glenn0n, carpenter told about the
peculiar proceedings he Witnessed in the
Seventh Precinct of the First Ward He
saw one United States officer call off ballots
while another tailed. Il saw one of the
votes cast Tor Leonard" said he, ''given to
Miller. One Of the Democratic clerks was
absent and a Republican served in his
place"
Dietrick Fortman and half dozen others
swore that one ballot containing Leonard's
name was thrown out without cause in the
First Precinct of the First Ward. In this
precinct Federal officers also took a hand liz
counting and tallyipg the votes.
A score OF witnesses are still to be heard
in support Of contestants claim that there
was crooked" work in every precinct in the
FOrty-ninth District. The hearing will be
resumed to-day and will be completed in
time for testimony TO be submitted 20 the
Legislature when that body cOnyenes.