New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-07
PL4TT INSPECTORS ON TRIAL.
EVIDENCE AGAINST TWO MEN INDICTED
FOR VIOLATING THE PRIMARY
III Es~TION LAW


The trial of Victor Mcguire and Frank Cantwel
indicted for violating the Primary Election ~
when the Republican primaries were captured b.
fraudulent methods by the agents Of the Pat-
Iauterbach machine was begun yesterday before
Recorder Con and jury In Part II OF the Court Of
General Sessions Assistant District-Attorrey L<ws
had charge OF the prosecution. and Abraham Lew
appeared for the indicted men. Edward Lautsf.
bach chairman OF the Republican County Commit
tee had a consultation with the Recorder and II
expected that Mr. Lauterbach will De called a.
witness In the selection Of the jury care was taken
to exclude all Good Government Club men and mem
bers of the City Vigilance League. The Rev. d..
Parkhurst president Of the league, was In court
when some OF the jurymen were accepted.
Henry Melville and ID. c. Morell caused the indk;'
ment of Mcguire and Cantwell. and they viii De the
main witnesses for the prosecution Mcguire ana
Cantwell were Platt-Lauterbach inspectors for ne
primary at No. PAS Thompson-st Nj. Melville y
leges that on the evening OF the primary ne wentp
the polling place at 730 O'Clock, and demandan
see the enrolment list, but Mcguire and CanuS
refused to let him see H. Instead OF canvassfng y
vote as required by law. in the presence Of the w
terested voters the inspectors carried away the os
lot-boxes and counted the votes In secret. ine'
aftcrward made what they called report 70 "s
Republican County Committee. declaring that forV'
nine persons voted. Mr. Melville declared ,p pss
forty OF the forty-ine alleged voters had no'
registered at the last general election. , ,,
The first witness in the trial was George ~ ra-
chester, secretary of the Republican County CON.
mittee. He asked about the call sent OUT ~ sns
committee for the Republican primaries on peceH y:
Der 10. 1896. and he produced printed copy OF sns
call. the reception Of which caused long srsu,
ment by Mr. Levy. who objected because tne ga
was not the original call. The witness e1pA'nea
how the cali was made from resolution, "a N
The next witness Henry Melville OF 40 y
East Washington Square. He said he was Repu.U,,,
lican and he called the polling place No -
Thompson-st. the night OF the primary hs ~
there at 7s0 O'Clock and remained until Se Socs
when the polls closed He saw Mcguire ana ean an.
well there acting as inspectors He saw tne pols
closed. Mcguire took the baot-box under MS AZ
The witness demanded that the ballots be couh. w.
and that he them counted Mcguire took on y yas
top of the box and showed the ballots. say 10.
see there are forty-nine ballots there Magaa'
then left the place without counting lne sSem
Cantwell said they not obliged 70 COUNT .iT TIE
as that would be done at Police Headauarts asn ths
votes were not canyassed. Mcguire put GOWN e''
names Of those who voted. -, 49,. "a
Ex-Postmaster Cornelius Van Colt TOOK tns sus sss
for a short time and was asked numoeI y. yu so,
lions about the manner OF sending out 'he Ca,
the Republican primaries. Court theh ao'0"A
until this morning