The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-11-06
800 REPEATERS
Scheme to Take Them to
Vote in New York City
in Blocks Of Ten.
JEESEYCITY MAN ARRESTED
Saloonkeeper Friend When
Collared Had Documents
that Gave the Deal
Away.

Away.
Chief of Police Murphy last night nipped
in the bud a scheme to have small army
of repeaters go from this city to New
; York City and vote Illegally. He was as
sisted materially by John McCullaugh,
superintendent of Elections, and it is
said, by Chief of Police William Devery,
of New York City The conspiracy was
prevented by the arrest of Joseph Friend,
saloon keeper of No. 76 Gregory street.
The man was arrested by Detectives
Bennett and Lee of the local Detective
Bureau. His place of business is at the
corner of Gregory and Henderson streets
He confessed that he was guilty as
charged and handed to the police let
ters that showed in detail every feature
of the conspiracy. Police Justice Hoos,
before whom Friend was arraigned this
morning in the First Criminal Court, held
him in $500 bail to await the action of
the New York authorities who will start
proceedings to extradite him on a charge
Of being fugative from justice. Emanuel
Gross. of No. 299 Grand street, furnished
a bond and Friend was released. When
and Friend is hailed before a New York
court he will have to answer charge
of conspiracy to defeat the election laws.
The whole matter came to light yesterday
evening when Deputies Titus and Nc
Naught, of Superintendent McCullaughs
staff brought to Chief Murphy the fol-
lowing letter.
Benjamin Murphy Esq. Chief of
Police, Jersey City.
Dear Sir-I have the honor to bring
to your attention, through the bearer,
the accompanying copy of commune
cation which | have received from
John McCullagh, Superintendent of
Elections, and to ask that you furnish
me with any information you may
have in your possession relatives to
the organization of bands of repeaters
in your city who are to be used in
groups of ten to repeat intimidate and
interfere with legal voters IN certain
Assembly districts in the County of
New York, and in the election districts
of Coney Island, County of Kings.
Thanking you in advance for COM
pliance with my request | have the
Yours very truly
WILLIAM s. DEvERY,
Chief of Police
The copy of the communication referred
to said Mr.. McCullagh had in his possess
sion certain evidence that a conspiracy
to have at least 100 men go from this city
to New York to vote in various precincts
illegally, had been Matched here. 1t men
toned as a specific case the part being
taken by Joseph Friend who, the letter
said, was to furnish from 10 to 25 men of
the 100 guaranteed by those engaged in
colonizlng voters here. No other men were
mentioned, and though the police say they
know of at least eight others engaged in
the scheme no other arersts have been
made and none are promised. Chief Muir
ply replied to Chief Deverys letter as
follows:-
William s. Devery, Esq, Chief of
I am in receipt of your letter of this
morning relative to alleged attempted
violation of your election laws
Last evening, upon information from
John McCuMagh, Superintendent of
Elections, caused the arrest of Jo-
seph Friend, a saloonkeeper, and found
in his premises a number of letters
from persons in New York with whom
he, Friend. was supposed to be nogo-
tiating to furnish people to vote il
legally at this election. 1 also received
Information to the effect that there
were eight of the persons in this city
who were alleged to have agreed to
send people to vote Illegally. All the
addresses sof the parties mentioned
have beenh closely watched from $50
o'clock this morning, and feel safe in
saying that none of the persons re-
ferred to have either gone to New
Work or sent anybody else there for
any improper purpose as alleged.
Respectfully yours,
BENJAMIN MURPHY.
changed Superintendent McCullaugh was
in communication with Chief Murphy by
telephone and he explained the situation
in detail. The chief made an arrange
ment whereby Mr. McCulaugh came to
this city and he and his deputies, Otto B.
Paulfen and w H. Mccarthy, who were
working on the case in the guise of tools
for Friend, the Chief and Prosecuting
Attorney Erwin held a consultation and a
plan of action was decided upon The
first step was the arrest of Friend. Then
the conspiracy was laid pare.
Friend was in constant communication
with certain men on the Bowery, New
York City. Who these men are the police
of both cities refuse to say.
Friend had entered into contract with
the New York men to send repeaters over
to Manhattan and vote them over and
over again in number of precincts in the
lower section of the borough. McCui-
lagh has a letter written by the New York
gang to Friend, in which he was instruct
ed just how to act. He also had letters
from Friend to the New Workers. in which
he discussed over his signature the ar
arrangements and the chances of detection
by the authorities. The contents of Nc
Cullagh's letters were not made public.
One written to Friend by the New York
gang was made public, however and this
is of most damaging character.
This is the letter which Friend showed
to the McCullaugh deputy
'You are most hight recommended to
us hy prominent Democrat in your
city as being on the right side and one
of the most loyal and reliable Demo-
Gratis in Jersey City Also knowing
your ability to judge and control men,
we need your assistance and are will
ing to pay you for it. We want ten
men from your district, men who know
enough to do as they are told and to
keep their mouth shut. This work will
be worth s255 to you. Five dollars will
be sent with Instructions for car, &c,
and the $3.50 paid as you may designate,
either to the men as they cast their
votes or to YOU There Is positively no
danger We have everything fixed, at
the polls where we will use these men
kvx41 IL.