The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-01
warden DaDIsl Thompson Of the Ninth
Accused Of Markins Ballots
TESTIMONY OF EYE WITNESSES.
<ify Solicitor raker, Captain Marston
md Others Declare That the Warden
Deliberately Marked Certain EaIiots
70 Render Them Defective.

when Alderman Ballou of the Ninth ward
arose in the midst OF the official count of
Tuesdays ballots and announced that
definite information had reached him
that there had been fraudulent
alteration of the votes for
warden, clerk and school committee
( in tho First district of his ward. The
aldermen listened in amazement as Mr..
Ballou went ON to say that Warden
Daniel Thompson (Dcmocrat1 of 4 School
& street, in this district, had put
improper marks upon the bal
lots in question in order to make
them defective and thereby invalidate
them, thus increasing the majority for his
own candidates. Supervisors and other
officers OF elections saw the warden COM
NIT the act and are most anxious TO tes-
tify.
The Board Talks IL Over.
Alderman Burrows was favorable to a
hearing OF the questionwithout delay, but
was unwilling to discuss it until the nc
cuscd warden was present to vindicate him
self II possible. He advocated summoning
Thompson to appear and answer the
charges against him. Although not per-
sonally known to Thompson he thought
this was only fair and proper toward the
accused.
City Sergeant Rhodes sent out for
Thompson and while waiting for him to
appear several other matters were
broached.
Alderman Harris of the Eighth stated
that he had been requested by voters OF
the Second district OF his ward to recount
the votes cast for warden of that district.
Certain charges are preferred, the nature
of which he did not know.
Alderman Ballou said he thought the
board should hear the facts. The sanctity
of the ballot box should be preserved in
violate at all hazards. Juggling with the
right of suffrage Is the worst menace to
American liberty. The board should put
the seal of its disapproval upon such
crimes. He did not think That the board Ind
any jurisdiction over the election of
vardens and clerks. He quoted the fol-
lowing from section 8, chapter 36 of the
Public Statutes relative to the organiza-
tion and government of ward meetings:
"The votes for warden or moderator and
clerk shall be counted by the then warden
or moderator and clerk, and the election
declared by the then warden or moderator
IN open ward or district meeting; and
notice of the new warden or moderator
and clerk elected shall be given by the
then ward or district clerk to the town
clerk.n
"The board has no authority over the
Wgrdens and clearks," continued Alder
man 3allou, "but the matter should at
once go to the courts in whom is vested
the authority to right any such viola
tions of law. Still, the board
has a perfect right to know
the facts. II their has been any manipu-
lation Of the votes the board should be
z put in possession of the facts.
Alderman Harris asked what authority
tho board had in regard to the difficulty
inthe Eighth.
The Mayor Says Nay.
The mayor ruled in regard to this mat
ter that the board had no authority to
act.
y Alderman Gilmartin of the Third asked
whether there was any objection to hold
ing over the Ninth ward returns and ap-
pointing committee of investigation.
There was an emphatic expression of
disapproval 20 this manifest attempt to
sidc-track the election of mayor midgled
with denials OF all authority over the
vardens and clerks.
Alderman West desired to know whether
the board had any authority over tho
difficulties either in the Eighth or Ninth.
The mayor said he thought not.
1t u claimed that in the Second district
OF the Eighth ward, where David II.
: Whittemore was defeated by Charles G.
Armstrong, that tho result was Improper
. and inaccurate and not announced as
prescribed be law.
Thompson Kept Away.
The board waited two hours for Wnrden
thompson to put In an appearance, but he
failed to mnterialize. The aldermen then
decided to hear the testimony ofSuper-
visors McQuillan and Charnley of the First
district of the Ninth ward, and of Captain
Marston and Assistant City Solicitor
Baker.
Mr.. Baler's Testimony.
Mr.. Baker testified that about s O'Clock
bc went to the voting place in question TO
see how the count was progress
ing. He observed that the war
dan, when calling of the
ticket, after he had accredited a vote for !.
the Republican candidate for warden,
Mr.. Tinkham, would frequently state.
"Nothing for the next man, This oc-
cured so often that Mr.. Bakers suspicious
the warden's pencil and noticed Thompson
marking the ballot in the place whereon
were printed the names OF candidates
for warden and ward clerk. I'm several i'm
stances he saw Thompson make the form
Of a cross although he could not sec the
paper. He called the attention OF Captain
narston 10 the fact. The captain watched
The warden for few minutes and
then said in very much
surprised tone, 'It certainly
looks that way" The captain then took
position where he could see through the
window and finally came back and re-
ported that be felt sure that the warden
was tampering with the ballots. Mr..
Baker then went out and took look for
himself. When he came back the
warden was just completing the package
he had in hand and Mr.. Baker
requested a supervisor 10 examine the
tally for ward clerk. lie reported thirty
one for Thompson, Democrat, for ward
n. -.