New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-25
WHERE FRAUD FLOURISHED.
THE POLICEMEN FOSTEPED 1T.
CRIMES IN THE lid ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
LAST ELECTION DAY.
SAMPLE OF THE PROCEEDINGS GIVEN By
THREE oFFICIALs-vAIN APPEALS MADE
TO HAVE REPEATERs AND PERJUR-
ERs ARREsTED-LOOKING TO
TIE TAMMANY CAPTAIN

FOR ORDERS.
Tho attention OF the Senate Committee which
is investigating the Police Department di-
rected Yesterday chiefly TO the state of affairs In
the lid Assembly District on last Election Day.
In no other part Of the city. with the possible ex-
cepton Of the Id Assembly District, was crime SO
general and open. or course IL was wnked at
even fostered by the police Had they been at
the polls in any other capacity than as adherents
OF Tammany Hall mu'h of this wrong-dolng
would have been imp ssible. Protests by Re-
publIcans against fragrant instances of repeating
laughed at by the Tammany inspectors,
and 1t Of no avail TO call on tile policeman
20 arrest the offenders. As one man in uniform
whispered to a Republican inspector: Il want to
be fair-minded. but have been ordered to obey
the Tammany Inspector
Police Captain Devery was directly responsible
for class Of abuses which iiourished all over the
lid Assembly District. All his men were told to
allow no Republican watchers behind the rail.
although the law expressly gives them ;his privi-
Iegc. Republicans who had proper certificates
generally put out OF the poling-place If
they insisted having their rights. Devery,
who IS under Indictment for neglect OF duty, in
structed his men. according to witness before
the committee last week. to stand those silk
stockings on their heads II they said anything
A TYPICAL PoLLING-PLACE.
The proceedings In the First Election District
OF the lid Assembly District were described In
detail by three excellent witnesses. They were
the ballot clerk. the poll clerk and the Republi-
can Inspector Fraudulent voting w most
common as the honest kind. one otIlciaA, chal-
lenged forty or fifty voters. but few Of them even
had to go through the formaty Of swearing In
their votes. On the other hand. honest men were
dlsfranchised because rufiians had voted on their
names earlier In the day. Some went ~ court to
get their rights. but most were deprived Of suf-
fraEe.
\ larrant case was that Of an old man. who
on Registration Day had whistled Yankee
Doodle" and danced to show the officials how
active he was in spite Cf his eighty-four years.
Yet "A youth OF twenty-five was allowed To vote
in his name. The incident Of Registration Day
must have fixed his appearance N the minds ot
the inspectors. Indeed. they admitted that they
remembered him. but the TWO Tammany MEM
bcrs OF the board decided that he could not vote.
He was finally enabled 10 cast his ballot ny
securing Il mandamus from the supreme Court
80 ARREST FOR BRUTAL ASSAULT.
An Italian musician. whose name goes on the
official record as Frank Nicholas. had a poor
command Of the English language. but he de-
scribed with evident carnesness Il brutal cleo
ton assault which had been committed by
Tammany thug with brass knucklca, In plain
sight of policeman. The policeman had not
interfcred 10 protect the Italian, and he had re-
fused t. arrest the assailant.
In the polling place at No. l32 Canal-st. there
was outrageous interference with the rights OF
voters "a was shown by the testimony OF jacob
Subln manufacturer of chcory. who had
watched the proceedings. Tammany "heelers'
under the protection Of the police, took men into
the booths and dictated to them how they should
vote in plain violation of the law. In one case
-. nh. tod q, "a al
way was actually compelled 10 vote another way.
while the policeman In the place looked on ana
did not interfere. Ruhans were allowed 10 vote
in IA. names OF other men against Mr Subih
protest. and one watcher VINO protested WAS
assaulted and thrown out.
Similar Interference with voters and many
cases II repeating were witnessed 10y warren B
Halt, a steamboat cOmpany's clerk, VINO served
as "a watcher FOR the Republican CluD IN me
Twenty-hfh Election District OF the Id Assem-
bly, District. In the New Bowery. The policeman
who let the Tammany "heelers' have their o"n
way i'm everything at the pOll!ng-p place. ana as
regarded tn" protests of Mr. Hat as men were
being taken into the booths. doubtless thought
he had gift for humorous retort Il guess
some Of them are blind he said. The voters
who were as wax I'm the hands OF me IamiHany
workers did not appear tC be unable TO vote
without aid, although two or three OF them had
their arms tied up in manner which may
have been intended 10 show that they were dis
ablcd, but they did not take the prescribed
oath Of disability. a remarkable appreciation
Of the sanctity Of an oath was shown by the
policeman when ne was ASKED 10 arrest H'u
who persisted in voting more than once. III
ne swcars in his vote" said the policeman, IN one
such case. IT'S all right. Let him co.
MIR. NICOrL As HARLEQrIN
De Ianccy Nicoll. counsel OF the Police De-
partmcnt has boomed out as the court Jester
OF the proceedings Every lawyer knows the
story II the attorney whose plan when he had no
case was to abuse the opposing counsel Mr.
NIcolrs plan is to turn the hearing into great
Joke If he can. His cross-eXamination OF Wit
ncsscs is meant to be- pure fun. At first he tired
TO shake their testimony. but ne only succeeded
I'm bringing out more damaging testimony against
his clients Now he begins with smile ana
seeks 10 make the witness ana thc audience
laugh senator Icxow has checked this course
several times. bat Mr.. Nicoll continues To put
irrelevant questions In the hope OF robbng the
Investigation of It's serious nature. The lonce
Department may not find 1t all joke after a
time -
The hearing will go on Tomorrow at ~ O'CLOCK