Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-11
AN ELECTION SCANDAL.
Five Men Arrested In Phila.
delphia.
ALLEGED BOGUS BALLOTS CAST.
Five of the Accused In the Employ of
the National GoverDmeBt-TheT Trouble
Said to Involve Number of Promi-
aent Politicians.

PHILADELPHIA. Nov. li.-As the re-
suit Of an investigation by newspaper
of this city five men, all residents OF
Washington, arrested Tuesday night,
were held in bail for court on the charge
of repeating, impersonating election
officers and making fraudulent returns.
The defendants are John +. Sheehan,
r. NJ. Drinkert, William Cook, Harry
McCabe and George kirkland. All but
one were said to be in the government 6
employ.
1t developed that Kirkland had been
employed by the newspaper mentioned
to enter the conspiracy. He was prin-
cipal witness ano bail in his case was
fixed at $1,000, the others being re-
quired to furnish 81, 500.
The testimony involved several promi-
nent Republican politicians in this city
and lieutenant of Capital police at
Washington.
The fraud was accomplished in the
thirteenth division of the Seventh ward
and the election papers of this division
were produced i'll evidence. The returns
showed a vote of 357 for Q C1lonel James
E. Barnett, the Republican candidate
for state treasurer, and five for W. T.
Greasy, the Democratic candidate.
Kirklnnd, who ut the time Of his ar
rest said his name was George Wright,
described the trip from Washin ton to
this city OF tue alleged repeaters on
Monday night. He then related III de-
tail all that happened from the time OF
their arrival until their arrest at the
railroad station Oh election day.
On tuesday morning, he said, he and
William Cook went to the house of De-
putty Coroner Sam Salter, accom- panied
by Lieutenant JOS q. Rodgers of the
Capital police. Lieutenant Rodgers,
Kirkland declared, was III charge of the
party when it left Washington. At
Salter's house they met the deputy
coroner and John Sllverman, one of the
election inspectors. Continuing, the
witness said:
'Salter handed us number of bal
lots folded and sealed and told US they
were to go in the box as soon as we got
to the polling place. On our arrival
there Silverman and Cook unlocked the
boxes and we put the ballots in. There
were about 200 judge"
Kirkland then said that he acted as
minority inspector under the name of
Clarence McCabe, the regular inspector,
and that Cook impersonated b. E. Ran
kin, the Judge of election. During the
afternoon, witness asserted. 10 8ddl
tional votes were marked by Cook and
Silverman and placed~in the box. The
last "a voters were handed specimen
ballots which witness thought were de-
Htroyed after the polls closed. He said
ia votes were actually cast and that
the number returned was ''S3G or there.
abouts."
kirkland said he acted in the matter
at the instigation of r. Nj. johnson,
newspaper reporter. He was paid Sl5
for his work az the polls by Lieutenant
Rodgers he said.
William Hamilton, the judge of cleo
ton, testified that he was unable TO Of
ficiate owing TO illness and to the fact
that in order to do so he would have to
resign his position as laborer in the post
Office.
The clerk of the MOTEL at winch the
Washington men stopped Monday night
said the bill was paid by prominent
local Republican politician.
r. II. johnson, a newspaper reporter
testified that he was in Washington last
Sunday. He saw Kirkland there and
On that day, and also on the train en-
route TO this city the following day.
Counsel Tor the prosecution announced
that III view Of the evidence he would
ask for warrants for several others who
bad been implicated and that he would
demand the extradition OF Lieutenant
Rodgers.