Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-23
THOSE SECOND WARD SLIPS.
Hearing in the Contested Election
Cases in This City Before the
House Committee The Testimony
Today Startling Facts Promised
to Be Revealed.

Edmund Ryan testified that he saw the
slips used and read one; saw many of
them used.
Edmund Ryan, a member OF the Demo-
cratic CITY Committee, testified that he
saw the slips given out by Edward Smith,
John =. Smith, Thomas Hand, Michael
Connolly and Thomas Fitzpatrick. He
saw Edward Smith, Bernard T. Lennon
and others visit the Republican headquar-
ters which were located in the yard next
TO the polling place.
In answer To All inquiry MIR. Coyle stated
that he was not allowed to see a ballot
marked for MIR. Holland, although the
latter did not appear to be satisfied with
the way In which his ballot had been
marked.
Albert $. Siner waslnext called to the
stand. He was a Supervisor in the elect ion
held in April. The slips were brought to
the polling place by " heaton Coles son
and given to Messrs. Fitzpatrick and
Croker. The Supervisors were not al
lowed To mark any mans ballot who was
provided with a alp. When man went
in with slip he called for Mr.. McVey,
who would turn him over to Mr.. Howes.
The latter objected 10 letting him (Siner)
see the marked ballot. He called the at
tention OF the Warden to the fact that il
was not the proper thing to do.
Petor Gormey wanted to vote the
straight Democratic ticket but was
handed slip with the inscription "Mark
my ballot for the Citizen Democratic can
didates."
Witness stated that MIR. Tormey In
formed him that he wanted to vote the
straight Democratic ticket. He was sat
istied that the elections in the Second
Ward for the past few years have been
| carried on in anything but an honest
manner. As general rule the voters who
had slips went TO McVey, VINO directed
them To Supervisor Howes.
He was present when the Warden
| thro5tened TO have Peter Coyle arrested
for endeavoring to see that the marking
of he ballots was done in al hon, st man
ner. At times there were ss many as five
electors waiting for Mr.. Howes to mark
their ballots.
Edward McCaughey, a member OF the
Second Ward Committee, was then sworn.
lie told of the extensive manner In VIII b
the: slips were given out and named
| several supposed Democrats who were
| engaged in the work. lie saw TIepke,
Smith, Banigan and others 90 into the
Republican headquarters.
Daniel j. Keough told OF the manner in
which the ballots We're distributed and
the methods pursued by Warden McVey
in supervising the marking OF the ballots
held by people with slips. lie was pre-
sent when Warden McVey threatened
the arrest OF Supervisor Coyle for at
tempting to perform duties which his
Office required.
The voters who were handed slips were
ALWAYS closely watched by leutenants of
the ballot distributors.
Mr.. Carroll here explained the case Of
Mr.. Penny, who was sent there as a decoy
90 see what action Warden McVev would
take when a voter asked for assistance in
| marking mis- ballot. McYey called Super
VISOR Huwes aud Just as the latter was
| about to mark the ballot for candidates
whom he did not want TO vote for, Mr..
! Penny dismissed the services OF tho Su-
| pervisor llowes and marked the ballot
himself "This incident" said Mr.. Car
roll, "gOes 10 show the methods used by
Warden McVcy Ia the matter ot marking
ballots.
Mr.. MoCaughey testified that large
number OF the voters who were handed
slips could read.
Joseph l.. Kelley swore that on the Sec
ond day man by the name OF John Cum
ningham came within the railing and had
| slip. lie was directed to Warden Nc
Ney, who handed him over to Mr.. Howes,
who marked the slips. He saw James f..
Banigan with slips in his hand.
homas r. Meehan testified that he had
charge of the carriages for the Democrats
on all three days and saw the slips passed
around and got one from Mr.. Penny and
John Hurst. They gave them to him
without being asked for them.
He saw Warden McVey take John Hol-
lands ballot away from him and give IL
to Supervisor Howes to take back to the
table and saw him return with anot her
and mark 1t for him. Meehan objected
and McVey told him to "mind his own
business"
Ha heard some talk about beer and
money being free on all three days.
AT this point the hearing was adjourned
until 2:30 o'clock.
Several witnesses remain to be exam
ined and Others, it was said, will be sum.
moned, including Mr.. Smith and Mr..
Cole.