The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-12
KENNYS LIVELY FIGHT.
Horseshoe Politicians Make
Things Interesting
Kenny Wins.

The only excitement in lower Jersey
City, at the primaries held last night,
occurred in the Horseshoe, and an old
time fight was witnessed. The scenes of
the battles were at the corner of Coles
and Tenth streets and at the corner OF
Henderson and Thirteenth streets. At
both corners the fight was centered on
the election of county committeeman.
John P. Kenny, the present encumbent.
from the Ninth precinct of the Second
ward, was reelected over Richard
Scheutte by handsome majority. At
the close of the polls the vote stood
Kenny, 252, and scheutte, 40.
The polls opened at this primary
promptly at four o'clock. At that time
fully two hundred persons from all sec
tions Of the city were about expecting
to see trouble at any moment. Scheutte's
friends, led by John Ludlow. who
has always been a warm friend
to Kenny, were about in large
numbers, but none seemed overanxious
to vote. For nearly a half hour not a
vote was received. Then rush was
made for the polling place, which was
located In the back room of a saloon, but
all inner doors of the room were locked
and the only one opened was where the
votes were being received. The box in
which the votes were placed was COM
posed entirely of glass, showing that no
fraud could be committed.
Two members of the Election Board
were friends of Scheutte. so he felt con-
fdent of winning. About 4:S0 o'clock the
greatest excitement reigned outside the
polling place. Each side seemed confident
of winning, and frequently bets of no
small proportions were given and taken
When the excitement subsidized little
John Ludlow, who was looking after
Scheutte's interests, followed by num-
Der of the members of the Daniel Mulli-
gan Democratic Club, entered the hall
way and caused jam. It was seen by
Kenny's friends that trouble was brew
ing An argument arose and Ludlow
made a grab for the glass ballot-box,
which could be seen distinctly from all
windows facing the street. Kennys
friends promptly grabbed Ludlow and
forced him out on the street. The police
would not allow any person except those
who wanted to vote within 200 feet of
having a challenger on the inside Of the
hall, and Ludlow was given the posi-
ton. He kept very quiet afterward and
had but little to say.
Frequently during the time before the
polls closed trouble between the factions
seemed imminent. Constable Frank Hague
Of the Court House put in his appear
ance and was about until nine o'clock.
He did much toward preventing another
outbreak. The rumor of trouble at the
polling place spread about the Horseshoe
like wildfre. Soon a crowd of curiosity
seekers, numbering nearly 500 persons,
collected and hung about all evening.
Scheuttes friends walked up and down
Tenth street, from Mulligan's saloon to
the polling place. during the entire elec-
tion. Mulligan, who, it Is said, was re-
sponsible for the fight for the commit
teemanship, did not remain around the
polling place only long enough to cast
his ballot. Everything seemed quiet un-
til Committeeman Kenny attempted to
close the polls at nine o'clock. A rush
of Scheutte's friends was made for the
hallway and again crowded 1t. Kenny
was compelled to enter the room by
means of a side window. Constable
Hague followed him, and both remained in
the room until the votes were counted.
After the first fifty votes had been
counted and the result Of the count had
been made known Scheutte's friends be-
came exceedingly excited and again tried
to push into the room. Constable Hague,
however got in front of the door and in
fhau NJ
disturbance he would place them under
arrest This threat on the part of the
cricer seemed to have the desired effect,
! for they left the vicinity. The count
Went on uninterrupted When the result
was made known Kennys friends became
jubilant and celebrated their committee
mans reelection.
At the corner of Henderson and Thir-
teenth streets, the fight was between Am
brose Guiton and Thomas J. Crotty, Sr,
for the committeemanship. Until shor;
time ago Crotty was a warm friend to
Guiton, and freely mentioned his name for
the Fire Commissionership. The two men
were frequently seen in each others COM
pany. and 1t was thought that nothing
could separate them. During the present
campaign Mr.. Crotty thought he wanted
to represent his district in the County
| Committee. and he decided to run. He
! filed his petition and had his name plac-
| ed on the ticket. Guiton was surprised
at this action. He hit upon a novel
method to get even with his former friend
| in whose saloon the primary has always
| been held.
In the advertisements placed in the Pc
pers the polling place in this precinct
| was said to be at the corner of Heuder-
SON and Thirteenth streets. Guiton took
! the ballot box before the polls opened,
| 10 the corner directly opposite Cfofty's )
| sa1oon and held his primary at that
/ blsln6 This facf made Crafty mad He
/ was vi the titkef and wanted the urIm-
! afy held - his Place. azsa &lso Wanted g