The Portland daily press., 1894-02-06

Some of His RecolIections Have Shrunk--
Kevolvers and Heavy Canes in the
Hands of Invaders He Now Recalls To
Be One Pistol and One Cane Taken
from Men After They Had Been Ar
rested.
Brooklyn, N. Y, February 5.-In the
McKane trial today, Mr.. McKane denied
ordering the arrest on election day of
Colonel Bacon or of any men further
than to issue general instructions in the
morning that order was to be preserved.
Mr.. McKane's recollection of what hap
pened when the arrests were made was
rather hazy. He contradicted himself
several times and endeavored to evade
General Tracy's questions. He admitted
that everything was quiet and orderly on
the streets and that Colonel Bacon said
his companions were Republican watch
ers to be placed at the polls. He swore
positively that Colonel Bacon said moth
ing about having any injunction from
the courts. He said Colonel Bacon made
no attempt to serve the order on him.
General Tracy took up the affidavit that
McKane made in the contempt proceed
ings, in which he swore that
Colonel Bacon's men advanced, "some
with drawn revolvers and some with
heavy canes," and drew from him the
admission that he had not seen the
drawn revolvers and canes in the hands
of the men. He said he had seen one re-
volver and one cane which were taken
from the men. Gen. Tracy asked the
witness to give the occupation OF 12 men
whom McKanes people said were regu-
lar Republican watchers at the polls.
Most Of the watchers were found to be
members of the Coney Island summer
police. One watcher was plumber
who had $50, 900 electric contract from
the town. Several others were saloon
keepers holding licenses from the town.
McKane was asked if he did not
recommend the enumerators who took
the census in 1892. He replied that he
did. He was asked if it was brought to
his attention that the census of February
1892, showed total population of S41S,
and a voting population of 62lS. He re-
piled that he had read it in the papers.
Gen. Tracy asked him if he had not made
study of election returns. He answered
Eyes, have looked into that little"
''You know, then, that the proportion
of voters to population is about six to
eight?"
McKane replied that it was sometimes
that way. McKane said that the registry
list in the second district of Gravesend
had 1914 names in 1892 and 2500 in 1898.
He was asked how the 1900 additional
names got there. He answered: II
lnow nothing about 1t. had nothing to
do with it.
McKane was then questioned about the
arrest of Gaynor's men on the Saturday
night before election day. He said he
was informed over the telephone that a
lot of disorderly men were going down
to Gravesend from Brooklyn on the mid
night train, and lie thereforetelephon ned
the Coney Island police to send all their
officers to the Gravesena town hall, and
he went down there himself He said
that upon the arrival of the men he Or
dered their arrest. He at first sail that
his order was the result of information
which he received by telephone. He was
asked again what this Information was,
and said he was told the men intended to
seize the records. This was the first
time he gave this as the reason for the
arrest. McKane said that after the men
had been taken into custody, Mr.. Gardi-
ner, who was in charge of them, stated
to him that the men were sent down to
be stationed at the houses of inspectors
of election over Sunday. McKane said
that he then told Gardiner t1at his men
would be locked up to keep them from
getting into trouble.