New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-26


on occasions Of political excitement would object
to being classed with them They were the per-
sonal followers Of McKane-the fellows who
gave permanent effect to the modest" asscr-
ton Of their boss that "injunctions don't 20
in Gravesend" by clubbing. knocking down and
arrcstng honest citizens.
To Judge from the look Of McKane. he is
already a beaten man. lie entered court with
Judge Kenneth f. sutherland and Judge Newton.
Michael =. Ryan brin glng up the rear Mike"
Ryan is the principal Of n public school within
tho bailiwlck Of the fallen boss. and an election
inspector 10 boot He drilled the men and
supcrintcnded the voting exhibition which they
gave at Gravescnd on Monday. when 13i ballots
were put in the box in half an hour. II was
no wonder his face hroadencd into a smile when
Mr. Shepard reached certain point I'm his OPEN
Ing address to the jury. This was his reference
to the fake" attempt of McKanes men to copy
the lists.
THE WAY THEY COPIED THE LISTS
How long will you be?" Judge Gaynors men
asked
1--WE don't know answered the inspectors.
when will you be through
I'VE don't know they said. Perhaps after
election day
wow" continued Mr. Shepard. "at the slow
rate ~ copying one name minute. IL would
take man working ten hours each day. eleven
days 10 copy all the lis.s two men five and
half days. and twelve men less than one day"
lie didn't say. as he might have said. that two
men working with the rlpldity with which they
voted last Monday could have done the work
in a day mos, in two days. Il was the
recollection OF this which made Mike" laugh.
The Judge and the jury were In their places on
time Judge Bartlett looks like Frcnchman.
and the comparison Is heightened by the liberty
cap which rises upward on the wall behind the
bench. At the slightest sign Of indecorum or
even AZ the least outbreak of laughter his gavel
came down with a bang once. however It
didn't once even his own face relaxed. That was
when Mr. Shepard referred to the Offence"
charged against Judge Gaynors copysts.
This illustrious magistrate OF Coney Island"
he exclaimed pointing scornfuly to where the
Judge sat. didn't say that these men were
guilty Of trying to copy the registry llsts-a
hcinous offence but that they were vagrants.
DO vagrants nave gold watches and chains and
money in their pockets?"
on another occasion Judge Bartlett smiled and
forgave everybody else. too. for smiling. and
that when Mr.. Shepard spoke Of how
markably expert on all matters concerning In
toxicaton McKanes employees We're
1T is a curious circumstance" he said. that
when man wishes to copy list Of voters or to
serve a subpoena. he becomes drunken loafcr
the moment he reaches Gravesend He may have
been sober up to the time ne crossed the dividing
line: he may even have been n total abstainer
but the instant ne steps upon the soil of Graves
end he becomes drunk. Yes gentlemen this Is
n curious feature Of this curious case But per-
haps." he added. with an air OF mock apology,
there may be attempt the other side
to explain 1t away"
Ex-Secretary Tracy. who is one Of Mr. Shep-
ards colleagues in the prosecution. listened at
tentively to the opening speech. as did all the
other lawyers. and only once twice did he
lean over to suggest something which the prose-
cutor seemed to have forgotten.
CLEAR CASE FOR THE PEOPLE.
Mr.. Shepard spoke for four hours. and pre-
sented clear for the people. McKane was
taking notes at intervals during all this time.
and now and again he would throw down his
pen, lean back In his seat and look Mt the
jury with weary sigh, as much to say:
Gentlemen. do you really believe I am as bad
as all that?' But the men in the box needed
not this. for their eyes were fixed on the
Judge. now on counsel. each with n stony and
impassive stare. The whole tone Of Mr. Shep-
ards statement touching that feature OF the law
which demands that the registration lists be
accessible to any citizen. although merely pre-
liminary. appeared so plain compared with the
jugglery by which McKane and his officials
successfully evaded this Obligation that every
man. except n Gravesend official was convinced
before any witness was put upon the stand.
political power" said Mr.. Shepard, 'is some
times greater In the hands Of man who holds
Office than I'm the hands of man who does
hold office. The result OF the voting In Graves
end may affect the will Of the people In this
city. maybe Of this State. and possibly OF
this Nation. That result may be attained law
fully. or 1t may be attained unlawfully. If 1t IL
meant To be attained unlawfully, how can you
prevent fraud II the lists cannot be examined
before election?'
Then he went over In detail the now familiar
story OF the wearisome. but Ruthless efforts
OF Judge Gaynor and his representatives To OBJ
tain copies of the lists and dwelt the alb
surdlty Of registration Of 6.1i' votes out OF
n total population OF S.400.
I'm no community outside OF Gravesend" said
counsel do find a larger proportion of