The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-30
Court Officials Testify in Horton
Butler Contest Concerning Pros
ecuting Attorneys Work.
COMMITTEEMAN CLARK CALLED
He Disclaims Responsibility for
Selection of Disloyal Election
Officials-f,vidgnce as 10 Al
legged Illegal Registration.

Patrick II. Clark. a member Of the Re
publican City Central Committee from the
Twenty-third Ward, was placed on the Wit
ness-stand in the Horton Butler contest
case yesterday afternoon by Judge F1sse'
counsel for the contestant.
An attempt WAS made to show that the
witness. although a Republican commit
teeman and well-known politician. had
used his influence in behalf of the Demo-
| cratic congressional nominee. Hr. Butler.
and had recommended the appointment of
| Republican judges and clerks Of election
favorable TO Butler.
Mr.. Clark vigorously denied the imputa-
tion, and declared that IL any Republican
election officials were appointed on his
! recommendation. and their party fealty
\ could be questioned, he could not be held
accountable. for the reason that the men
/ whose names appeared on his recon-
/ mendation list were given TO him by the
| precinct committeeman Of his ward.
| whom he considered capable of distinguish
ing between good ana Indifferent Repub-
| licans. His cross-examination was deferred
| until to-day
Judge Fisse developed from CIark's tesd-
| mony that he was an anti-Baumhoff man
at the Republican primaries and sought 10
show that his connection with the appoint
ment OF election officers initiated against
| the interest of Horton. who was q Baum
hof candidate. and favored the election OF
| Clark admitted that he had not identified
! himself with the BaumhOff faction OF the
Republican party, declared he had voted
the straight Republican ticket and said
! that the grievances existing between him
self and Mr.. Baumhoff were purely per-
sonal and had no bearing on the election.
He declared that Baumhon, and not him
self. should be held responsible for cleo
tion officers who were said to be lacking
an party fealty, arguing that the precinct
l1lh ffaA ha
to him were acting as precinct commit
teemen when Mr.. Baumhon was a mem
ber of the City Central Committee from
the Twenty-third Ward Clark testified
that he did not know the politics of many
OF the judges and clerks OF election whose
names he sent to the Election Commits
sioners' office. but was of the opinion that
they were loyal Republicans, because his
precinct committeeman said so. Speaking
specifically of those he recommended he
said he regretted he had been instrumental
IN the appointment Of a man named Nc
Twenty-third Ward He admitted that he
knew McHale, and that since the election
they had been political enemies
Judge Fisse then read a letter purpOrtiug
to have been written by McHale. in which
the writer declared that for a considera-
ton Of s. he would give important testi-
money concerning Clark's alleged leaning
toward Butler. Judge Ftsse announced that
ne had paid no attention 10 the letter, and
strued as favorable expression Of opinion
of the writer.
The witness spoke of alleged false regis
tration from Bambrick's quarry in the
Twenty-third Ward. and other places. He
spoke of the prevalence OF Indians at the
di1erent polling places on election day. but
voted Judge Fisse then asked the witness
why he had not responded to the request
use in the Horton-Butler contest proceed
Hgs. Clark declared that he had none TO
An important feature of the contest was
developed In the testimony of Louis Zepp,
a. Clerk In the Court of Criminal Correc-
ton; and in the deposition OF John II.
rohiman, Jr, former Chief Deputy Sheriff
Iheir testimony shows that between 3 and
o'clock on the afternoon of November
pared information and verified the same
against 80 different persons and $40 war
rants were issued; that Assistant Prosecute
pares all informations for that court, and
that IL was unusual for the prosecuting Of
heer 70 verify them. for the reason that |
on which the Information is based ordina RI |
ly signs the warrant
marked that three hours was an excs.5,ne-
ly short space Of time for the Prosecuting J
Attorney TO investigate the facts in so |
cases ano reach the conclusion that there |
was probable cause to lodge Information in |
$40 cases. and to become sufficiently ia
niiar MI with the facts to make oath to
the information az lodged.
II developed that each Information and |
verifcation covered one and one-haIf pages
Va tPni tap. rowe SAID that under /
ordinary circumstances 1t would require |
more than the time allotted for one man 10 |
write tne names on each information and |
insert the dates therein. not figuring on
the time Necessary I'm examining into The
merits of each case
Former Deputy Sheriff Pohlrnsn satd
thai he had not sought the aid OF the poliea |
in serving these warrants on election day
and that. contrary to custom. the address
OF the man to be arrested. although in the |
possession of the Prosecuting Attorney. was
not contained in the warrant. The humber
OF tne poiiins precinct from which they had |
registered was written on the back OF the /
warrant. Nie
In room No: ia of the Rialto building a
number Of witnesses were examined Win |
a view TO showing false registration. I NJ
Bradbury, a negro. of No. aD3 RarteI ave- |
nue.; said that he voted for Butler because
he had been told that he would be Immune |
from police Interference IL he did so
Mrs. Annie Rudd. proprietress OF a room
her house contained only three rooms ESH,a
to her "eie
Other witnesses who testified u,A-s. FL
ward ANDERSON of No. 9os South Ewing ave
nue.. Henry Rupert of No. 7g5 South Sirtb |
s,reet street 6oosrt >; Paryin Of No. 2eos Olive
avenue and several negresses who conduct |
roomlng- houses on Chestnut. Pine and Ma
Before Notary Oscar E. Buder and
SStenographer G. n. Tolles in the Bank of
Sitnesses saiha Ddihlaing; & there were but few
testimony traced the Butler Indians, fro-n |
one precinct TO another on election dav
out IN no case was any direct evidence ~ |
established. r y WiIcox % | ,
negro, OF No. ISIS Lucas avenue said Thar
ne Went 10 the polls to vote on eIection |
LAY ana found that some one had saved |
him the trouble of voting by Appearing 81
me PoiIs early in the morning and casting ,
Other witnesses We're: John na,.;- |
negro. No. 1923 Linden street: e: q PsnI;aa a {
negro No. 1924 Morgan street: r. n /
sm,tn. No. 26l5 Olive street: Rernarj
Belker. No. 1lI2 Morgan street. un,ar uIu :
Br9wn No. 1Z2 Franklin avenue: seWsrd
Sss sS,chsensle: No. 1oo2 North Twelfth street. l
brad Iart, negro. No. 70s North TV-alstS | 5
street; Michael Lang. No. gas WsIren Z
food Government League
Inc Executive Committee Of the Good !
J'oSernment League held a meeting LAST |