New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-31
TESTIMONY ON MANY POINTS
TAMMANY AS WELL AS REPUBLICAN WIT.
NESSES CALLED.
STORIES OF POLICEMEN WHO WERE cRTMINALL4
JEALOUS on ELECTION DAY-RELuCTANcE
TO ANSWER oUEsTIoNs-A WARD
MANS ORDER TO A LIQUOR
SELLER.


The session began shortly before II o'clock. with
Senators Lexow. O'Connor, Bradley Cantor ana
Robertson present The first witness was John
Iafond a shoemaker living at No. 25l Spring-st' ne
voted in the Seventh Election District OF the 'lilh
Assembly District.
In 1892 he was the Republican captain OF the
election district and an authorized watcher ABOUT
A. m on election day in 1892. Policeman Theodore
SNYDER after talking with the Tammany captain,
went up to Lafond and asked him what ne was
doing there The witness said he was a watcher
and tried 10 show his certificate The Policeman
however took him by the collar and put him OUT
OF the place. About p m. Alfred X. Conking
came around and hearing OF the affair, had the
watcher readmltted. The policeman let the TAM
many men do as they pleased on election DAY IN
1898. The witness saw fireman named LuKens
drag man out OF the polling-pace. the policemen
Snyder and another not interfering. Ihe chair-
man Of the Board Of Inspectors threatened to have
Iukens arrested but nothing was done Inc WIZ
ness continued his story follows:
Il wanted to have man arrested who had sworn
in his vote after ! had challenged him. The police
man was outside and | got man to call him Tor
me Iukens assaulted the man for doing ms
Roth policemen were there, but did nothing.
also saw police permit men 10 go out with their
ballots TO the TAmmany captain, who was across
the street | protested but the men were allowed
70 come back and to vote. also saw the ballot
clerk throw pastors into the booth. One police
man was only ten feet away. called the atten-
tior Of the chairman OF the board to this but he
said nothing
DUTIES or POLICEMEN.
De I.ancey Nicoll began his cross-examnation BY
asking whether Lafond had always been Repuoh-
can The reply was an affirmative one. Then Mr..
Nicoll wanted to know II the witness was not aware
that the policemen at the polls under the entire
direction of the inspectors. This question was OBJ
jectei to by Mr.. Sutherland on the ground that
Lafond was not expert on the law MT Nicoi
repl,ed that he wanted to clear up certain point
There had been a good deal OF misunderstanding
about the duty Of the police at elections Police
men were at the polls to obey the orders OF the
Board of Inspectors.
'Do you mean" asked Senator Lexow in surprise.
that II a crime is committed in the sight OF q
policeman. he is not"
mo sir" broke in Mr. NIcoll. 81 don't mean to
saw that II IT is done in his sight. he should make
the arrest without complaint. But there are
many acts which might be construed as violations
OF the law which would seem only suspicious to the
officer Many such things have been testified to
here"
committee" declared Senator LeXow. firmly, but II
seems to me that very clear violations of the law
have been shown. However, you must keep 70
other questions. The witness is not an expert"
.If the policeman the clerk throw pastors into
the booth" Mr. Sutherland asked OF Mr.. NicolL
was It not his duty to arrest him.
.It was II the inspectors directed It,"
..It was whether they did not
IAfond said further that in 1893 he had seen
policeman electioneering. Snyder was Republican
in 1890 but in 1892 had changed his opinions. as q
good many others had. THE reasons obvious"
suggested Mr. Sutherland
Mr. Nicoll wanted to know IL he had made any
complaint against Snyder. The witness answered
that he had merely tod Mr. Conkling OF the oc-
currences He had started to the police captain
but while he passing another poll!ngp place in
the district he was surrounded by crowd OF ruff
i11ns who lnsulted him and trod on his foot. They
knew him to be a Republican by the button he wore
In the lapel of his colt. policeman II ai,
merely laughed when appealed to for protection.
WORKING AGAINST BAHAN.
Mr.. Sutherland then called Thomas Flannery. VINO
has a liquor-store at No. 3s5 Bleecker-st In July
last he was indicted for violating the Excise Nv q