The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-02-01

that he was brakeman on the Missouri Pacific
railway, and that he had his residence TO usehis
own word according where it would have
been most convenient for me-" He testified that
he voted for 81. E. Richter for representative for
the Fifty-seventh district His vote was illegal.
A. j. Lester testified that he had voted in
Council Grove at the November election, 1892;
that before he voted, one Z" Bill Coslin said to
him that he (Coslin) would pay him (Lester) for
voting for 81. E. Richter" Lester testified that
he had "Soted the Peoples party ticket with the
exception of one;' that the exception was that
he had voted for II. E. Richter for representa-
tive. 1t Is due to Mr.. Lester to cay that
crOss-examination he testified that he was not
influenced in his vote by Mr.. Coslin's offer to
pay him if he would vote for Richter; bat the
fact that Mr. Coslin offered to pay for the vote
OF an electOr is that should not be forgotten.
and one that should suggest to the proper
prosecuting officers of Morris county an exam
ination of section 2I5 Of the act relating to
crimes and punishments-
A. II. Borne testihes that he is 2S years of age;
that he moved into Council Grove township on
Saturday, the 18th of October, 1892; that he
voted in that township on the sth of November,
1892. and voted the straight republican ticket"
Mr. II. Z. Richter was the straight republican
candidate" for representative at that election.
Mr.. Borne's vote was illegal.
James Gaskins is q years of age and unmsr-
ried; he testihes that he first came to Kansas on
the 18th 18th OF February, 1892; that he
stopped at the Commercial hotel. in the Second
ward of the city of Council Grove, and ''was loaf
ing and wanting job." and remained at that
hotel until the Sd of May, when he ewent to
Council Grove township and worked for and
lived with a Mr. Watkins until September 9;
that he then went to Mr. Allison's. Where Mr..
Allison resided, he did not know. but he testified
that ''he did not reside in the Second ward of
Council Grove" with the exception OF three or
four days. Gaskins worked for Mr.. Allison,
cooking for him and living with him until the
I'd day of November. when he returned to the
Commercial hotel In Council Grove and on the
Sth day OF November he voted in the Second
ward of the city, and voted for 81 Il. Richter On
Cross examination by Mr. Richter's attorney,
Mr.. Gaskins said he had had "no residence in
Kansas since February, 1892, except at the Com
mercial hotel" where he had left his trunk and
clothing; but it appeared that he had not paid
his hotel bill in full. which very lkely explains
why his trunk was retained there; but your COM
mittee are satisfied upon the evidence that he
acquired no residence In the city OF Council
Grove other than any transient guest acquires at
any hotel where he stops for few days. His
vote was illegal
Respecting the fraudulent conduct of the
judges OF election, the testimony shows that at
the November election held in Ohio township,
u a.
the Judge of the election Mr. Thomas took the
tickets from the box and handed most of them
to Brooks to read, and Bailey strung them. Dur
ing the counting of the votes, ballots ''wers
lying all over the counter" where the ballot
box Stood and Thomas had ballots in his hand
from time to time which he had taken from the
table. He was seen to fold up such ballots and
his actions attracted such attention that he was
openly accused of changing ballots, that is, SUBJ
falr RoEDIo Rsbo
taken out of the ballot-box. Mr.. G. II. Titus
| testified that he was present during the count
ing OF the votes, and that Mr. Bailey, one of the
judges Of the election. openly charged Mr..
Thomas with changing ballots, using the follow
| ing words:
Here, Thomas. you must stop that changing
ballots; that Is ttOO or three I haUe seen you
change"
Mr. g. ". Campbell testifes to the same or a
similar transaction during the same counting.
He says the following colloquy took place be-
| tween Bailey and Thomas:
BGttcv: 81 want you to quit changing those
! tickets"
Thomas: 4 am not changing them -
BetIev: "You did; saw you; there is another
[ticketl lying there folded up"
Mr.. Campbell states that Thomas hesitated
awhile, and then said he had folded up the ball
| lot to throw at the boys" Mr.. Campbell also
testified that the ballot which Bailey had
charged Thomas with substituting for ballot
| taken from the baliot-box was republican
ticket" and was counted,
Mr.. Bailey, one of the judges OF said election,
also testified He says that Mr.. Thomas did
change the ballots, and the remarkable story Of
| fraud and corruption which he tells should be
| repeated in his own words, that the people not
merely of the Fifty-seventh district but of the
| whole state may understand how they are robbed
and defrauded of their votes, and how the ballot
box is robbed by men who pose as it's protectors.
Mr.. Bailey says that he was sitting with his face
toward Thomas, having his hat down over his
| eyes, but SO adjusted that he could plainly see
both of the hands of Thomas, and wstched
Thomas movements. Wequote from Mr. Bailey's
testimony as follows:
s'Thomas took the tickets out OF the box,
Brooks read them, and strung them. :.
| The first thing that attracted my attention he
/ it was necessary, then holding tnem down In
/ front of him under the edge of the table and
Spe9ing Of Sg be tSea he 81 would fod them 5aeF
and throw under the right hand; hen he would
ing with the ticket until Mr.. Brooks would get
ready for it. Then he would unfold the ticket
and hand It 70 r st 2Sa TN tce e soS On a.
take another one ont of the box and go through
the same motion as ne did before with part OF the
six times. The desk the bailot-box stood on was
about four inches lower than the table the clerks
/ worked upOn and projected over the table the
ballot-box stood upon about three inches There
| were two tickets lying under this projection
folded up the same as ballots in the box. he
took ticket out of tho ballot box, held it down
In front of him under the edge or the table and
opened it enough TO examine the heading, placed
| it in his right hand as before, put it under the
! other hand and worked IL under. the same as he
| had before. His left hand was within an inch or
two Of those two tickets under the projection.
| Then he worked the ticket that he took ont OF
| the box back under his hand and took one of the
other tickets that lay there. Then he unfolded
that ticket and handed it to Mr. Brooks to read.
The ticket that he took ont of the box at that
time was 9 Peoples party ticket. The one be
{ took In it's place Was 3 republican ticket. The
way / know that the first one was 9 People
/. | marty ticket was that I saw the heading OF it;
and Of the one that he put In its place being
, publican ticket, saw it and heard Mr. Brooks
When discovered what have just related, ]
demanded OF Mr.. Thomas to hand Ar. Brooks
D the ticket he took out OF the box he said ne