The morning call., 1895-01-19
SUFFERS In DANGER.
Sharp Action by the Grand
Jury.
INVESTIGATIONS BEAR FRUIT.
nix indictments Filed Against Election
Offenders.
THE CHARGE, MADE is FELONY.
Terror Created in the Ranks of Those
Who Participated in the Recent
Election Frauds.
THE CHARGE. MADE is FELONY.

The Grand Jury fired its first gun into
the camp of the suffers yesterday. For
some weeks it has been examining into the
cases of those accused of perpetrating cleo
ton frauds. Yesterday it returned seven
indictments against the offenders. 1t was
early when the jurors convened, and the
session lasted longer than usual. The
corridors leading to the Grand Jury rooms
were thronged with election officers and
their friends, who had been subpenaed to
tell what they knew of the frauds dis
closed in the recounts of Haley VS.. Curry
and McNab VS.. Whelan. On the faces of
many there were gloomy and anxious
looks, as it was expected that some indict-
ments would be filed. The temper of the
jurors, as told by those who had been
called to the witness-stand, was known to
be stern and determined. But it was not
thought that so many indictments would
be filed at once.
When the Grand Jury was charged by
the then presiding Judge he instructed
them particularly TO examine into the
frauds as disclosed in the Twenty eighth
Assembly District, especially in the Fourth
Precinct, where the crooked work was
most glazing. It was in this precinct that
the culprits served who were indicted.
About o'clock Foreman Gagan of the
jury sent word to Presiding Judge Sander
son asking if he would receive them, and
on an affirmative answer being returned
by the Judge the jury filed into the court
room. After the names of the jurors were
called Foreman Gagan handed the court q
bundle OF papers. A whispered converse
ton took place and the jurors returned to
their quarters. Judge Sanderson ordered
bench warrants issued for the arrest of the
persons indicted and directed that the
utmost secrecy be preserved. As it was
known whom the Grand Jury had interro-
gated and what particular frauds were
being investigated, those interested were
soon able to guess against whom the indict-
ments had been filed.
The indictments were against the follow
ing, and the charges made were felony:
James Ryan, James Sutton; James J.
Cusick, two indictments; Albert Houston
and George W. Lee. The bail in each case
was fixed at $1,000.
officers of election. The principal indict-
ments are against James ]. Cusick, who was
Democratic clerk of election in the
Fourth Precinct of the Twenty-eighth Dis
trict He is charged with interfering with
election officers in the discharge of their
duties, and with making alterations of the
election returns. His case is the most
S6IlOlSs Liz CIldIStS dSdIuSO Gue Outlets
are principally for interfering with officers
and performing the duties of election Off
GERS contrary to law.
The following is the list of officers in the
Fourth Precinct of the Twenty eighth
District: James Murphy, George Franklin,
Charles R. Franklin, w. Y. Ring, r. A.
Delamore, Charles Taylor, William Grodt,
J. n. Berry, Edward P. Peterson, William
Farron, J. J. Cusick and John Dolan.
II will ha cnpn that all hT1t ono IF fboca
indicted do not belong to the regular ap-
pointed officers. From the testimony pre-
sented to the Grand Jury it was disclosed
that the men indicted either acted as Off
GERS, by counting the ballots and running
things" or by tampering with the regular
officers in the discharge of their duties
The testimony also proved that liquor was
plentifully supplied to the officers until
some were in such a condition as to be I'M
able to perform any kind of work. In fact
some of the election officers examined gave
the plea of drunkenness as an excuse for
their conduct and ignorance of the law
So long as the votes were counted they did
not care who counted them or how they
were counted.
The news of the indictments soon spread,
and caused apprehension in the ranks of
those who have been subpenaed before the
Grand Jury on the election frauds. 1t is
the intention OF the jury to take up all the
precincts in the various districts where
fraud is known to have been committed,
and this knowledge is causing many to
tremble in their boots. The situation of
those who not only participated in frauds
but even interfered with election officers in
the discharge of their duties is getting very
serious.
After the indictments had been entered
in Judge Sanderson's court the bench war
rants issued were placed in the hands of
the police for service.