New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-03
THE RING TRIES FORGERY.
BALLOT BOX SUFFERS STOP At NOTHING
DEsPICABLE METHODS USED ~ THE JERSEY
CRY CANVASS

DEsPIOADLE METHODS USED IN THE JERSEY
CITY CANVASS.
That the Democratic ring in jersey CITY has been
charged with balOt-bOx stu1iinC and many other
crimes is notorious but until yesterday il was never
accused of forgery Yesterday forgery of The most
contemplate and dcspicable nature was reao7tcd 70
for the sole purpose of injnring Colonel WanSerS
chances OF being elected Mayor and OF turning from
power the ballot box suffers who fill the offices OF inc
city. This IS no exaggeraiion, for there are large
number Of convicted balOt-bOX suffers who nave Dee
sentenced to terms OF eighteen months III the Sidtc
prison. and who ont bail pending decision oil
the Court Of Appeals, 1ing important Offices III The
city.
Two weeks ago a letter sent out for publication
which informed The friends Of Colonel WanScr that he
had decided to withdraw rs candidate. ms W'cr
was published in part, but was accompanied by an
interview with Colonel Wanser who denounced IL us
a forgery Yesterday Tho sun" published a letter
signed Peter f. Wanser" protesting to give an eX-
PLANTATION of the first forged letter This second Ieer
was a bitter attack on Benjamin Murphy. Chief OF
Police OF Jersey City, and he was accused OF forging
the first letter.
When Republicans and Democrats in Jersey City
saw this second letter they were astounded Inc
almost Damon and Pythas friendship Which mas eA-
listed between Colonel Wanser and Chief Murphy Tor
twenty years was well known throughout the CIV
IL was known wherever the men known. Long
before Colonel wanser reached his rcalestate once
crowd OF of standing In the community "crc
there waiting for him. The forgery was shown 70
him and he was asked II the statements were true'
The Colonel dumfounded at what ne fcao N"'
he read 1t again. and then in his characteristic manner
said TO his friends present: 81 would rather Dc
gentleman than to be Mayor, and will never raduce
dear friend for any Office The letter was never
written by me. 1t is forgery
Tribune reporter present and soon after
Chief of Police Murphy came in. lie shook hands
cordially with the Colonel and in his good way
exclaimed We'll, what is their game suppose
YOU saw this7" The Colonel said he had. That was
all the effect the forgery had upon the separation
of the old friends Later in the morning the RepuD-
Ncan candidate for Mayor wrote TINS letter:
Editor NewYork sun:
Jersey city; y j. A tPIgn.d 2 p 1ssS' F.
libel on one of my b:st friends. PETER F. wANsER'
Chief Murphy also wrote letter to The sun
denying the charge made against him. Chiei Murphy
took his letter in person to The sun" ONCE "heh
he returned he brought the forged letter with him.
If was written in a fine business hand and looked
like the work Of trained newspaper writer 1T
was properly punctuated and paragraphed ana bao
been written hurriedly. When asked what he would
do about the forgery the Chief replied
Il certainly shall do all in my power to reach
the party who wrote the letter. and when find him
II there is any criminal law mat Will ieac" INN ''0
will receive its full measure
Colonel Wanser said The chief and Will work
together In the effort to uncarth the scounhrci WHO
wrote the forgery and the worse scoundreis VINO III
str,cted him TO do H. Every knows Chief Murphy
las a. many personal friends any man in the CITY M"
the object was TO influence his friends against me aod
nv campaign. There is no doubt that the letter was
lie result OF a conspiracy but If 50 the fellows VINO
conooc I'd were premature for it gives me an Oppor
tuni.,. 10 deny the stab In the dark ! have had
number of nv Democratic friends call me to-day and
denounce with indignation such campaign material
Ex-Judge seymour, when Tribune reporter SPOKE
TO him about the forged letter, said 1.-THE forgery q"
these letters was evidently done by the same person
and under the direction Of one mind They are the
emanations of some personal enemy Of Colonel Wanscr
or some admrer or admirers OF Mr.. McDermott wh)
hoped in this way TO create discussion in the Republ
can party There time when the Rcpub
licans in Jersey City united npon CANDIDATE
and an xious to elect him now. Tile ring and It's
followers are undoubtedly alarmed at the unanimity
which prevails among Republicans. and the forgeries
in question were evidently perpetrated with hope
OF -aising some personal feeling jealousy and
thereby obstruct the progress OF the active campaign
which the Republicans are carrying on. These for
geries are only another example Of the frands which
Tor years have been the main dependence o. the rns
know they cannot win the fight this spring honestly
and they are evidently determined TO stop AZ nothing
their wild endeavors TO seat their candidate against
the will of the people,"
Ex,Jpdce John A. Blair denounced the forgery as
"the most outrageous thing ever saw" . 49,
Incorporation Counsel william A. Lewis said " IL
friends in a quarrel for political purposes. 1t win
proye 10 be a boomerang"