Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-01-24
The Blair-White Fuss.

At Indiana, Thursday, witnesses who
testified that they got money, claimed
that il was not for their votes. but to pay
them tor their day q work. The ballot box
of the first ward, Blsirsvilie, was opened
and ir was found that about dozen votes
were illegal. They are nesrly all for bite
The boxes of White township and West
Indiana were opened, and about the same
81 ate of aft airs discovered.
On Friday Eli J. Campbell told the story
ou the stand that when he started for the
polls early on election morning he was a
Blair man. On the way he met J. Nickle,
and the lstte.'s insinuating manner work
ed marvellous political change IN mis-
feelings. Nickel, be said, told him that II
be would vote for White he would see that
be did not lose his days wages Eli
wayered and told the election board it was
ali right for Nickle to accompany him Int"
the booths. Nickle showed him how to
m Ark his ballot, and presented him with
paper dollar.
Bert Peiffer was very nervous witness,
and looked as though he wished he had
never gone to the polls. just before the
election he was in Indiana, and thinking
he could do Judge White some good in his
territory if he had little "persusder,
wrote the judge letter TO that affect he
handed th letter to the judge in person.
Frank Keener, Esq, is Mr.. Watsons Ia"
partner, and the judge told Peiffer to see
Keener. He did so and Keener. Peitivr
swore, gave him two pint bottles "iull to
the neck" Judge White was not pr esent
when he got the liquor and he did not feel
that it had any influence on his vote.
Nickle also seems to have figured proml-
nently in the vote of John Stoniger OF Eas
Mahoning township, although John de-
clsred On the stand that he had always
been q straight Republican and controlled
his own vote. Be that as it may, Nickle,
he alleged, went inside the booth With him
and helped him mark his ballot, and Ston-
niger had paper dollar in his pocket
when he came ont His brother Joe also
fell beneath Nickle's everwatchful eye and
received one of the paper dollars also The
money, Joe said. was TO pay for his days
wages, and not intenoed as bribe.
Alex Mccoy testified that while journey
ing near his home, previous TO the election
Judge White had given him paper dollar,
but did not ask his support. He had been
working for White before that time, and
the money had no influence on the way his
ballot W ~ cast.
Mr.. Ruffoer, one Of Blsir's attorneys,
moved to further amend their bill of par
ticulsrs. This was vigorously objected TO
by the other side. The court overrulvd
the objections and the bill will be still
further amended.
The ballot box of the Second ward of
BIairs Vile was opened in court and the
names of some 25 voters We're found tn
have been added to the check list, and no
sufficient sfidavits in their cases were sent
to the prothonotsry's Office. This made
the pumber of alleged ballots in that dis
trict appear much larger than mentioned
in the contestants bill Of particulars, aud
rno latter q AtJolucJ nShcu POimoT'" w.
amend the bill. Council for Judge Waite
Obi .cted, but the objections were over
ruled, and the contestant allowed to a.
mend. About 40 sllegal votes were shown
that day by the contestants.
During Tuesdays session several men
admitted receiving money, whiskey AID
meals from Whites friends.
Several other witnesses were examined
that day, and the ballot box of Ravn- Twp.
op.nsd. Several men who voted in that
Twp. were not on the check list, aud Blairs
atty again sked leave to amend his bill OF
particulars.
During Thursdays session one witness
swors that Judge White t'ld him to 90 TO
cashier W watt of the Deposit Bank for mon
ey. and that he went there and got IT. 1t
was bis price for his vote, aud he kept bis
word and voted for White. Several wit
nesses testified to being offered money for
their votes The ballot box of Cherry twp
was opened and an examination of its con-
terts begun.