The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-12
FOUR ARRESTS FOR
ELECTION FRAUDS
EIoHTEENTH WARD PRIMARIES
DEVELOP PROSECUTIONS.
Elk. Constable John McHale Issues
Warrants for Alderman ]. p.
Kelly, Constable James w. Clark,
Deputy Constable Jacob Gilman
and Special ofhcer p. F. Ryan,
Charging Them with Making a
Fraudulent Return to the County
Commissioners.

AIuernlan JOnn +. Kelly, COnStaDle
James w. Clarke, Deputy Constable
Jacob Gilman and Special Officer +. f.
Ryan were arrested yesterday after
noon on a warrant sworn out before
Alderman Kasson by John McHale,
charging them with making a fraudu-
lent return of the Democratic primary
election held in the Eighteenth ward
Dec. 81 last. The accused waived a
hearing and gave bail for their ap-
pearance at court.
The arrests grow out Of a fight be-
tween rival factions headed respective
ly by McHale and the alderman. When
the count had been finished, after
much wrangling and a number of dis
orderly scenes, the' election board.
composed of John McHale, Michael
Gerrity, John ]. Noone, James Noone
and Henry Rush, repaired to Alder
man Kelly's office to make up the re-
turns. Kelly, 1t is alleged, demurred
at first to taking the afiidavits. on the
ground that the election was rotten"
but finally was persuaded to attach
his signature and seal.
WRITTEN ON FOOLSCAP.
No regular return blank was at hand
end the returns were made up on 4
sheet of fools-cap. When this was re-
ceived at the county commissioners
office and the Democratic commission
er, Mr.. Durkin. saw 1t, he sent word
to the candidates for school controller
and common council, respectively, p.
j. Langan and T. F. Morris, that the
return should be made on q regular
blank. One Of these blanks was sent
To Mr.. Morris in care Of Constable
Clarke. A few days later when 1t was
returned by Clarke 1t was found to
contain some substitutiOns and a dis
crepancy in the name of one OF the
election board, James Noone.
On the original return the nominees
were: Thomas F. Morris, common
council; p. J. Langan. school control
Ter; James j. Noone. Judge of election;
Henry Rush and Michael Gerrity, in
spectors; Edward Manley, register of
voters. On the second return sheet
Peter NJ. staff appeared as Judge of
election; John Clarke and Peter Nc
Laughlin, as inspectors, and Patrick
Duffy as register of voters. These are
the alleged defeated candidates.
The election board was called upon
asked how it was they swore to both
returns being correct. One and all.
at once, claimed they never saw the
second return before and averred their
signatures had been forged
The fact that Alderman Kelly took
the affidavits of the correctness Of
10th returns and attached his sigma
ture and seal is the basis of the prose-
cution against him. Constables Clarke
and Gilman are charged with filing
the alleged fraudulent return and Spe-
clay officer Ryan, who is clerk of AL
derman Kelly's office, is alleged to
have made up the return.
HEARING IN CASE.
The hearing in the case was set for
Z o'clock last evening. Alderman Kelly
had previously waived hearing and
entered bail in the sum of $500 before
Alderman Kasson for his appearance
at court. Clarke and Ryan came in
with their attorney. w. w. Baylor
shortly after Z o'clock and also waived
hearing. Gilman, who had been
waiting some time for the hearing to
begin, decided to follow suit and, at
the suggestion Of the prosecutor, was
allowed to go on his own recOgnizance
Attorney Baylor became bondsman fol-
Clarke and Ryan till 10 o'clock tomor-
row morning. when they are to appear
and give bail for their appearance al
court. The recognizance was also fixed
at $500.
McHale. the prosecutor, protested
against the defendants being allowed
to waive a hearing and also agains,
Attorney Baylor being permitted to
become bail. His objections were over
ruled. The prosecutor assured Clarke
Ryan and Gilman that he had nothing
against them and didn't want to prose.
cute them. If they would tell who
made up the fraudulent return he
would withdraw the case against them
he said. The contemptuous, plying
look which "Shamus" Clarke threw
over his lower shoulder at the solicit
tous McHale was enough to make any
ordinary man feel as If he could veal
his little boys clothes.
The caucus itself is said to have
been a scandalous affair One of III;
election board was kicked out of the
polling place, so the other election Off
GERS say. for eating the ballots.