The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-03-13
BALLOT BOXES AND TALLY SHEETS,
Witnesses in the Thompson
Hearing Evidence They
Know More Than They
Care to Tell.
Testimony at Today's Hearing
Camden County Clerk Sum-
moned to Testify.
Special to the Jersey City Ne,rs.


mittee on Elections struggled with the prob
lem of investigating alleged frauds in the
"Duke" of Gloucester's home district.
The greater part of the time was devoted
to the taking of testimony, the witnesses be-
ing members of the Elections Boards in the
Gloucester city districts, where glaring Of
fences are said to have been committed at
the last general election.
The investi cation was continued in the
Speakers room directly back of the Assem-
bly, Chamber, and the not over large apart
ment was jammed to oppressiyeness before
Chairman Stone and his colleagues were pre-
pared to go ahead. John w. Griggs made
his first appearance as counsel to the COM
mittee, and Jacob Lippinaott, who is con-
testing Assemblyman Thompson's seat, also
appeared for the first time.
Much of the testimony was of highly In
teresting nature, and at times there was q
general pricking up OF ears as this witness or
that one made a damaging admission, or
plainly showed by his words and deeds that
he knew far more than he cared to tell. even
under pressure. The box used on Election
Day in the Second precinct of the Second
ward of Gloucester City was the bone of con-
tention. 1t was opened, but no ballots were
counted, it being decided to take testimony
and criticise the pollbook
William b. Hulings, who was the last
witness called, did not seem to like the idea
of being catechised too closely, and he made
no attempt to conceal his feelings of resent
ment, either. Mr. Rulings was an election
officer. At times there was a long line OF
applicants to vote in waiting. Two men
whom the witness did not know very well
attempted to vote on the names of Mike
Doyle and William Ducey, whom Mr.. Hull
ings knew quite well.
~ kicked" said the witness; s'told the
strangers to git, and they got"
NAMES SCRATCHED.
How do you explain the fact that eighty
two names were scratchedp asked Mr..
Griggs.
Witness replied that the names were those
of citizens who were a trife slow; they
reached the poles after others had voted on
their names or failed to find their names on
the registry. Although having lived at
Gloucester forty-fve years, Hulings did not
personally know the majority of those
who veted last election day. He
to him had voted on David g.
Holmes name. That was trihing mat
ter evidently. As for the combination of
the ballot box, the election officers cared
little The witness could not explain why it
was locked when turned over to the com
mittee
Mr.. Hulings invariably prefxed or affixed,
81 won't say positively" to every question
put and answered.
81 would like to ask the witness few
questions" suddenly exclaimed ex-Judge
Rankin of counsel for Assemblyman Thomp-
son.
Il object" broke in Assemblyman Salin-
"Why for; why do you objecta" asked
Assemblyman Flynn. "You have been ask
ing the witness all sorts of guessing ques-
tionS and yet you would cut others Off"
Salinuo1 nhiQnfad a nIIAStl0n in
tended to bring out the politics of the mem
bers of the election board and Mr.. Rankin at
once aSsailed him.
s.You must not talk in that manner to me, "
expostulated Sallnger. ~ won't have it.
want you to understand that am member
of this committee"
Eyes and you're imposing on the ON
mittee at that retorted Rankin.
Chairman Storls raped until Messrs.
Salinger and Rankin had subsided.
Hulings appeared to be SO much in doubt as
to what kind of buildings there are in
Gloucester City that Chairman Storrs took
him in hand,
'sCome now" said Storrs, slet US get down
to facts. Are there any buildings twenty
stories high in Gloucesterp
Witness thought not.
.tAre there any ten, any five, any four2D
thundered Mr. Storrs
Witness wouldn't be positive.
"Are there any three stories high?" asked
the chairman.
Yes, Mr. Hulings knew there were build
ings three stories high there.
He was then asked if many three-story
buildings were not occupied by gamblers
but on this point his mind was little
clouded.
In regard to the methods pursued in max
ing house to house canvasses Hulings de
clared that wherever there was doubt as to @
mans right to vote he was sworn in before
registering
READY WITH A LIST.
ssI suppose you often found the residents
of houses ready with list of male occu-
pants for youw asked Mr. Lewis.
"Yes," was the rather unguarded seply
Later Mr. Hulings said he didn't mean that
there was a patched up list awaiting the
boards coming 1t was seven o'clock before
Rulings was allowed to leave the stand. Il
is said that he has always been strong re-
publican in politics.
whose testimony was published in yesterdays
NEWS, is also republican.
ssGus" Stein, Jr., at present residing at No
206 Federal street, Philadelphia, but who
kept the Democratic poll book in the Second
district of the Second ward, last election
press yesterday. His father conducts q
saloon at Gloucester City. Gus is a painter
bv trade 1t was his first trial as election
clerk, and as consequence there were lots
of things he overlooked, he explained. In
the course of the day eighty-two names had
been erased from the books and in some
cases other names were substituted. Lots OF
people had been challenged Mr.. Stein said.
When man was challenged he usually
went away and there was no discussion
Witness did not recollect having any talk OF
making arrests. Everybody seemed to think
it was sufficient when a challenged party got
up and busted.
aYou had to do some tail hustling to get
down Ill names and make eighty-two cor
rectionsp remarked Mr.. Griggs.
isYou are quite right; it kept me pretty
busv.n was the reply.
Of two William Donahues registered from
one stable, one voted the other was chal-
lenged. The challenges were inyarable made
..It seems to me that all those challenged
were democrats, smilingly remarked Mr..
not much, they weren't, put in Assem-
blyman Flynn.
Griggs.