The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-23
THR BALLOTS STOLEN.
A Sensational Discovery in Ia
coma Mayoralty Case.
CITY HALL VAULT DUG INTO.
Two Men Cut q Tunnel Through
the Thick Wall Of Brick.
The Remaining Ballots Give Fawcete
ITO Plurality, Inz6ead OF c-The
only Possible Tneory of the Crime
Reflects on the Fawcett Adminsstra-
uon-orr Not 10 Give Up the Fight.


Aenects on the Fawcett Admlnsstra-
tion-orr Not To Give Up the Fight.
iaeou.a, July 2@-Spsctal.-Todsy vas
SCI py Judge Prftchard for counting the
uahofs IN the contest brought by Mayor
" <A-Aayor Edward S. Orr against Mayor
70 acting Mayor Angelo Vance Fawcett.
S0AfiSel Tor the parties interested were
before Judge E'rifchard this afternoon in
ihe prosecution OF the case Ii became
necessary TO have the ballots in court and
Inc Judge on the bench ordered that Comp
troiler and Ex-0fteso Clerk Benkam pro-
dasce the ballots In the court room. Mr.
isehhafn went Immediately to the city hali
IN quest OF the ballots. which had been
securely locked and sealed in a vault on
the third ftoor of the building When the
ooor was uniOcked startling and sensa-
uoiiai discovery was made. An opening
had been made through the brick waIl
into the vault and half of the ballot boxes
had been broken into
On Investigation II was found that the
nalioS in four precincts had been stolen.
Iney are the Second precinct Of the Third
ward. inc First precinct of the Sixth ward.
mo Second precinct OF the Seventh ward.
afid the First precinct OF the Eighth ward
Mr. Benham made tina discovery in the
presence of Deputies L. J. Jackson and
Cfaries Hauke, License Inspector William
W eleE and Detective Phn Sullivan. As
soon ar the comptroller and his deputies
aseertaxnssd the condition of the vault tho
party retired. the door was locked. and
word was Immediately sent TO Judge
frftchards court room OF the discovery
that had been made.
In surprisingly short time the news
that the city hall had been burglarized
go
and il was the sole topic Of conversation
during the remainder OF the day. The
crowds al the bulletin boards who had
been watching the progress of the Popu-
list convention al 81; Louis lost interest
In everything save the crirs1 that hal
been committed AZ the eityw hall. At
thu clubs and hotels. as welisas every
where on the streets. Comptroller Benz
nam s startling discovery was discussed,
and many expressions denouncing the
work of the mlscreants who rified the
vault were h9ard..
Naturally. the public was quick to
faSten the responsibility for this outrage
on Mayor FRwcett's administration. As
II 10 clinch the matter. il came out that
Day Janitor blanchard and commis-
ssoner OF Public Works Doherty had heea
In possession Tor several days of facts
showing that raid on the vault con-
tanning the ballots had been made. X
appears from Blanchard's story that two
steel crowDars and a Jimmy had been
found ten days ago at the head OF a dis
used staircase leading from the basement
or the building 10 the fourth floor. Bian-
chard kept the discovery to himself till
last Sunday. when he notified Commits
sloner Doherty OF his find. The two
went 10 the head OF the stairs and found
the tools. They were covered with sand
and brickdagt. Nothing whatever was
done at the time. and TO effort was
made 10 ascertain who bad brought the
tools 10 this strange place. or for what
purpose tE<y had been used.
Soon a<Sfer the discovery Was made, the
vault ~as visited by the officers of the
Interested in the case Mayor Fawcett and
other city officials. The ballot boxes were
removed 70 the office OF Deputy Clerk
Roys. and canvass OF the returns was
made IL was found that the ballots OF
the four precincts above named had been
ahstracted. Many Of the seals on the
other taliot boxes gave evidence OF having
been broken into. Part OF the ballots had
been tncloscd in wooden boxes. and locked
and sealed With red sealing wax. The ball
lois in other precincts were paced in pa
per sacks and sealed in a similar manner
Although thorough examination has
been made by Comptroller Benham It Is
-AAiE7F7o+Sts
stolen.
What effect the loss of the ballots VIII
have on Mayor OTr's case no one can tell
When Comptroller Benham reported 20
the court, the recount was suspended and
testimony was taaen bearing on the case.
1his VIII be resumed tomorrow.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney J. A.
Shachleford was Among the first to view
thu scene OF the burglary He called
Janitor blanchard fnto one OF t4le COM
nlittee rooms and had him relate his story
Others who we're in possession OF evidence
Ga The case were also asked TO tell what
they knew. Deputy Prosecutor Shackle-
ford then left tho building and az once set
shout the work oE app~chensiiBz the male
factors. Several detectives and the force
IN Sheriff parkef's ofIice were detailed 10
work o3 tAe ease.
One of the FIRST men who went 20 wsr.S
on the case was Detective George Ash
by. who was appointed BY Chief Smith
during the Orr administration. and who
has been retained bv Mav0g Fawcest. Ash
~ vas not lang in discovering a great
cGanilty of important evidence II Vas
found that the vaalt had been entered
raraugf room 90. fust back os the conn
CT room. and which has been occupied
by the civil service commission since July
T. The room was formerly the office of
uaFsoor Master Holm. an annointse of
pTled OF by the robbers. and a hole eleven
inches vide and tnlrteen inches loag had
been made through the wall lnfa the
yanit which IS in enc northwest corner os
tho couneil chamber. adjoining thu Office
occspie7a bv the civil service commission.
Inside the vault the broken pieces of
brick ana mortar were piled 80. and lean
lug against s1e pile vas one of the broksn
ballot boxes. Scattered ever the floor
wero pieces of the envelopes which bad
contained eae ballots. Tee g3per OF TIRE
vaalt was Uttered UitA useces of rAper
ard enveio2eS containing ballots. ard COW
cred wlta Drlck ard mortar dust The
door leading into TIE room showed 10 evs-
ssnces Of having bssa troken oneH. En-
trance 10 K mus. have been bad by a key.
Thts established. ~. next step was 10 SIS
certain how the burglars entered tAe
building.
There ars two entrances 20 the city hzil.
ORE Is from raciac avenue. At the corner
OF seventh stree: The other Is On RAN
read avenue on the corner OF the same
s7rsAss These are the two puAlsc en-
frances % the building. After ie O'Clock
A. night they are beitca and lccks3- Dur-
tn~ The rfrht TIE building = IN charge O.
Might 1anstor Waketssd-
Day gauifor Bianehard's story furnished
tha next cias lie found the crow tArs and
fhe sinnnsy AZ The heal og the assiass~a stair
ssax on th4 fcaY4h Eoog. Tee &oSr lead