The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-04

when his right to vote was questioned.
promising to return with his first papers.
he had not returned when Journal re-
porter was at the polls shortly before the
closing time. Notwithstanding the desper
ate efforts of the Popocrats to cause trou-
Dle, the full strength of the republican
vote OF the precinct was Dolled. AT D
clock all the votes but two had been
cast At that time number of Popocrats
had rallied 10 appear.
POPOCRATS DESPERATE.
Equally high-handed were the methods
resorted to by the Popocratic clerk and
judge. j. L. Bell, deputy city attorney, and
w. B. Overman, who created a great deal
OF trouble at the voting place at 402 North
Pennsylvania street, in the tenth precinct
of the Sixth ward. They began by object
ing to allowing George lockwood to serve
as the Republican clerk. They claimed
that he had lost his residence in the pre-
cinct. Mr.. lockwood was able to prove
that while his family were about TO move.
they had DELAYED doing so until after the
election in order that the voters In the
family might be protected. In spite of the
lockwood served. No less than nine Re-
pubiicans were challenged by the desperate
Popocrats. All but one of them, however.
voted. They were given plenty OF backing
and the Republi an election officers refused
to permit them TO be bulldozed. In the
case Of ID. Snitzer of the Central Cycle
Manufacturing Company, their threats pre-
vailed, and although Mr. Snitzer was un-
doubtedly entitled TO vote, he did not do
so. He was informed by the PopocratS
that he had no right TO claim Indianapolis
as his residence because his wife is trav-
cling in California. and they insisted that
his home must be with her. The judge told
Mr.. Snitzer that they had thoroughly inves-
tigated his case and the board had decided
that he mad no right to vote. Rather than
run the risk of any trouble Mr.. Snitzer
was intimidated into refusing to make affi-
davit of residence. From the statement
made to him by the Popocratic judges he
was led to believe that the decision was
judicial finding by the entire election board
In the eleventh precinct of the Sixth
ward the PoDocrats contested the right of
a colored TO vote declaring that he
had received a sentence from the Criminal
Court which disfranchised him. Attorney
ined the records and found the charge to
be false. He secured a note from the clerk
or the court stating that the record made
such showing and the Popocrats with
drew their objections. The Republicans
challenged a medical student by the name
OF Miller at this voting place. He was not
down on the Republican poll book. After
he explained how he had acquired residence
he was permitted 10 cast his ballot. An
other colored man name Spaulding, who
mad voted in that precinct for years. was
objected to by the PoDocratS, but he was
sworn in and voted.
ATTEMPTS AT ILLEGAL VOTING.
Numerous attempts at illegal voting were
frustrated by wide-awake Republican
challengers and watchers. Asa Kelsey
tried to vote al 341 North California street
but ne withdrew without voting when the
Republican watcher insisted that he had
not lived in the precinct the legal time nee
essary to give him the right TO exercise the
elective franchise. Although urged by Pop
ocrats to make an affidavit of residence
Kelsey discreetly withdrew. Hiram Drake
was stopped by the Republican watchers in
the fourth precinct of the Fifth ward. 1t
was declared that he cid not live in the
precinct at all. He went away TO get house
rent receipts showing his residence. When
he returned with them they were found to
be several years old and were not regarded
conclusive evidence by the Republicans
He left again, declaring that he would get
later receipts, but did not come back.