New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-25
fragrant CASES OF INTIMIDATION.


IN nearly all the cases investigated by me the
offenders were indicted by the Extraordinary
Grand Jury But there were many striking in
stances were, although clear violation cf the
election law had been proved, we were unable to
bring the matter before the Grand Jury. because
the men cognizant Of the circumstances were
afraid to make affidavits or to give their names
to me SO that they might be called as witnesses.
This cowardice-if enc may use 50 hard
tern-was the most among the many dlfiiculues
in my way. Sometimes the business men would
refuse to make ailidavits because they were
afraid thai their financial interests might be
affected. Others had been intimidated and
threatened with personal violence others again
sympathiZed, grounds Of personal friendship
with the offender Still others were in dread OF
the police.
y have not the slightest reason 10 complain Of
the District Attorney" continued Mr. Gofi. THE
cases already prepared were briefed for his con-
vcnience. 1t is my hope that we shall be able 70
present another batch Of cases - the January
Grand Jury, but that Of course viii depend on the
evidence which obtain.
II may here say that the watchers acting for
the committee were all business men OF the
highest possible integrity, whose reputation was
above rcproach. OF course the watcher, trying t.
do his duty. occasionally came into collision with
the Tammany policemen. An instance oi Wnat
may be expected when patrolman tries 70 DO his
duty was furnished in a case uptown. \ police
man removed one of the Tammany heelers from a
place inside the rail. whore he had no business to
CAPTAIN of the district. who saw the police cap
tain In forty-esght hours from that time the
patrOlman had been transferred TO an obscure
uptown precinct
EUILDOzING FROM FIRST TO LAST
"Another feature Of the Tammany method
was seen in beautiful force when the poll closed
and the counting began. Then the Tammany
watchers and those who were there TO support
them with the fist if necessary. crowded around
the tables hustling and elbowng our watchers
to the rear. so that it would be impossible for
them to witness the work. Individual police
men. anxious to be honest. were afraid to act in
defence of the right. knowing well that they
would be visited with cenSure and punishment
ITO call this election Is wrong: 1t was
simply registration of the will OF Tanmahy
Hall"
delivered at the Anu-Tammany meeting In tho
Cooper Union Thursday night aptly Illus
trates the situation:
Under the system Of repeating carried on IN
a barcfaCed manner" said Mr.. Goft, $500 votes
were Illegally and fraudulently cast ana credited
TO the man who showed under by lONooo
majority. In many election districts no oaths
A, all were administered. and at o'clock, the
Tammany captain who held the lists Oi regis
tered voters In the district told the inspector
TO keep the polls open after the hour OF clos
ing and sent out runners to bring in from the
by-ways Of the city any tattercd tramp VINO was
willing to enroll himself as a voter
Otto Kemnner said:
This is only what might have been expected
form the bent of the public mind me
opinion of the people is being fully vndi,
cated-vindicated SO strongly that even Colonel
Fellows will be compelled to recognize its sig
nifcance and push the cases to trial