Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-13

| hind the scandalous transaction.
But the first thing that Taylor did
was Just what he should not have
done. He went directly to the
Office of Mr.. Pirtle and told him
all that he had told Ryan. Then
was when some very able rustling com.
menced on the part of everyone who had
had any connection with the fraudulent
transaction, to escape the consequences
OF their rash act.
But MIR. Ryan and Mr.. Addcock "om-
menced a search of the records to ascer-
tain what alterations had been made in
them. Upon page 49, volume 8, Of the
naturalization records, they found the
entry of r. A. Taylor. The entry showed
that Taylor had landed at Philadelphia
badly blurred, and it became plainly ev-
ident that 1t was an erasure. This in
formation bore out Taylor's story.
In looking over volume three, Mr.. Adj
dock discovered some nineteen erasures
of a similar character, appertaining to
parties other than Taylor. Many of
them were very suspicious, and it
looked as though the small matter of
mutiIating records, changing and alter
| ing them, was a trihing occurrence in
the county clerks Office.
Very fortunately, though, the statutes
of California look at the matter in
another light. By the law it is made a
felony.
When all of the details of this truly
appalling piece of criminal work to
make one Republican voter were un-
folded to a HERALD representative, he
could scarcely credit it. But other cor
roborative testimony was secured.
MR.. PIRTLE's STATEMENT.
Mr.. John A. Pirtle was seen at his
Office last evening, and made the follow
ing statement OF the entire case to re
porter. 1t is very plain. Mr.. Pirtle
endeavors to clear his skirts OF all inten-
ton to do wrong. He said
sIn the last week in July Taylor came
to me at my office and said that mis-
take had been made in his first papers.
He asked me to help him in having
them corrected. told him that knew
nothing about the naturalization laws,
but that if he would bring in his papers
l would see if something could be done
for him.
"On the next morning he brought in
his papers, and in looking at them
found that they set forth that on June l,
either 1887 or 1888 he had landed at
Philadelphia. 1t had first been written
1887 and then 1888. | feel satisfied that
the last had been written over the 7.
He explained this by saying that he
had first told the clerk 1887, and that
after the papers were 30 made out. He
said that afterward he was not sure
about the 81, and he directed the clerk
to make them 88, which he did. l then
asked him which the correct date was,
8S or 81? He replied that 81 was the
correct date, and that his mother would
swear to it.
~ then took the paper to the court
house, and in company with Mr.. Ward
and Mr.. Lowery, we examined the rec
ords. We found the same erssure Of 7
and the written over 1t as in the dec
laration.
"Mr. Ward referred the matter to Mr..
Whitney, now. tax collector. He came
down and looked at the record. He did
not recollect the case.
II then told all present the story of
the mistake, as related to me by Taylor.
Some one, l do not know who, now, said
that If the facts were as related, Taylor
was entitled to the benefit of it. The
record was changed, by whom I do rot
now remember, SO as to read 1887.
"About one week after this, August
I'd, Taylor asked me to act as one of the
witnesses, and assist him to secure his
final papers. was busy, and told him
to secure some one else. / told him also
that il he could procure no one else, /
would act.
"On Wednesday, the Sd, he again
came to my office. asked him how
long had known him, and he said,
over five years. / asked another gen.
tleman, resident of Vernon for many
years, if had known Taylor for five
years. He replied, Certainly
Fortified by this statement and by as
near as could remember the facts, I
appeared before Judge Smith as his wit
ness. Taylor got his final papers. so
II discovered Wednesday night that l
had made an error. By chance found
that l had not known Taylor for five
years. then determined to have his
final papers revoked at once.
"Icalled at Judge Reymert's office, but
Taylor was not in. This was Thursday
morning. Later Thursday morning
Taylor rushed into my Office and throw
ing down his certificate he said :A
."Go and have this cancelled quick.
They have got on to it,
81 asked him what he meant, and he
said, Il have lied to you, and they are
on to it. didn't come here till 1885,
81 tookst certificate and went to
Judge Smiths Office, but he was not in.
Later called again, but he was not in
the court room. This morning | went
to his court room but he was not in. /
found him at his house, sick. ex-
planned the entire case to him as / have
stated above. He said that he would
revoke the certificate, but that it would
have to be done in open court.
"I had no intention of doing any
wrong or being party to any fraud in
this whole business. / did not know
how Taylor intended to vote nor did 1
care"
TAYLoR's STORY.
Robert A. Taylor, the party who has
been the cause of all this trouble. makes
another statement. 1t is very thin
one, and contradictory of the story told
by Messrs. Ryan and Adcock. In re-
sponse to the questions asked him by a
HERALD reporter last night, Taylor eaid i:
II was born in ireland in 1869. Mr..
Pirtle never came to me soliciting my
vote. nor did he ever ask me how 1
would vote. When brought my first
papers to Mr.. Pirtle simply wished to
vote, and to do that Lad to be natural
lied. l said that landed here in June,
1888, and told Mr.. Pirtle it should be
June 1887 NV papers read June l.