The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-20
FIRE Chief FOR LAW
WAY SUPT. MAGUIRE WENT IN Nc
ALPIN HEADQUARTERS.
TELLS THE GRAND JURY.
WAS LOOKING FOR VOTE BUYERS,
But FoLND NONE.

to Members of fhe Grand jury on
Vote Buying-He Led His Crowd
Into the Camp of the Enemy and
Found Two Boys, Two Beer Kegs
and Two Empty Beer BOttIes-A
Half Dozen Unsatisfactory Wit
nesses Examined and the Grand
Jury no Nearer the Truth-Mr.
Isidore SiIverberG, an Active Me
AIpin supporter, Could Tell AbsO-
IuteIy Nothing Ex-Magistrate
Could Not Understand Why He
Had Been SubpOenaed-VOted for
McAIpin Because He Had "DOne
Him "A Good Turn"
1t was the same old story with the
John Doe" witnesses who appeared be-
fore the grand jury yesterday afternoon,
and of the half dozen or more who APP
peared not one knew anything of the
purchase of votes or the sale of liquor
during the last special election.
The volunteer witnesses who were ex-
pected did not materialize and it was
never presumed that anything tangible
would be obtained from any one else. The
grand jury will meet again on Monday.
18th, and at that time there may be some
additional testimony on the alleged cor
ruption at the recent election.
Mr.. ]. r. Saussy, Jr., did not appear
before the grand jury, and the vote seller
for whom he searched did not show up.
At one time it was believed that the jury
would be furnished evidence upon which
it could base indictments, but there seems
now to be no chance of such happening.
Witness after witness has been questioned
without success and the dist of those who
are supposed to know what becomes of
campaign money has nearly been ex-
hausted without any apparent result UNI
less it be the nervousness displayed by
those interested.
Superintendent of the Fire Department
John e. Mcguire. was probably the most
interesting witness to testify. At the
grand jury's last session Mr.. Saussy
stated that he had been informed that
the fire chief had led the raid on the Nc
Apin headquarters, and had actually got
ten on the inside of that sacred and
mysterious room. the presence OF which
so few of the witnesses subpoenaed would
admit that they knew of.
Supt. Mcguire walked into the jury
room with much the same manner that
he assumes when directing his men at a
confiagration he was cool and collected.
He stated most positively that he had
purchased no votes, and had seen none
purchased on election day. Neither had
he seen any liquor sold while the polls
were open.
1T is true that / did go into Nicholson
Hall on Drayton street, where the Meal
pin headquarters are said to have been
located. l am a lava biding citizen, and
desire at ali times to see the law en-
forced, and am always ready to lend my
aid in that direction. l had been told
that votes were being purchased in the
place, and that certain cards that had
been given to those who voted were being
cashed in the building
Il went a the head of a crowd of the
boys into the building intending to have
warrants issued If l found any evidence
of vote buying. 1 had made up my mind
If such thing was going on within the
very shadow of the sacred ballot boxes
] would put stop to it. At the head of
the column l went up the stairs, but
found no money or any signs of vote buy
ing.
Il saw two boys, two beer kegs and
two empty beer bottles in the hail
There was absolutely nothing there to
show that votes had been purchased or
paid for in the place and If there had
been l would have had warrants issued
Immediately for all of the parties con-
cerned in the illegal practice. That was
my only reason for going in the place,
and If there had been any money on
hand l would have seen it, for that was
what l was looking for. l did not see
any votes bought or sold at any place
around the polls"
Mr. Isadore silverberg. who was
an active supporter of Capt. Nc
Init Or.1i Nub
has taken part in more than one political
battle in Chatham county, was ignor-
ant as any of the other witnesses as far
as the purchasing of votes was concerned.
Mr.. Isidore Silverberg was supposed to
know great deal and was the target at
which the Jurors aimed for fully half an
hour. When Foreman Sheldon had put
the questions to the witness. he was
taken up by another juror, and a majori-
ty of the jury asked the McAlpn leader
some pertinent questions without elicit
ing any valuable information. The wit
ness could tell nothing that would go to
show that single vote had been bought
or that the $4,000 alleged to have been
used by his faction, had been used other
than in a legitimate and legal way. The
witness was run through the MILL but
with no more effect than the man who
was in the jury room long enough to give
his name and learn that he was sum
S. T. Fogerty, negro resid-
ing at Isle of Hope and formerly magis-
trate of the Eighth Militia District was
among the number subpoenaed to tell
what he did not know Fogerty was Of
Tended at the manner in which he had
been brought before the jury and consid-
cred that he had been taken advantage
OF.
Day done sumun me fur cum fore EN-
in de case of John Doe what day say been
charge wild tress-pass an when gifts
afore EN- day ask me a whole lot oh fool
questions bout de lection fur ordinary"
Is the way the Isle of Hope witness felt
about IT,
Il dun tell de jurymens dat I neber seen
no money spent round de polls and DAT
FAR as ] wuz aware OBJ day amt been no
votes sold. ] neber seen no whiskev sold
and amt know nutting bout de election,
money or John Doe an him tress-pass
case Dem mems take me unavoidable an
dats all dar Is bout de matter. Day sure
ask me fur why vote fur Capin McAlpin
an / tell EN- he dun me a good turn an
dat sure wish he been lected. Den dav
tell me / kin 80 and i amt do dem no
good nohow."
Several other witnesses who were no.
ticeable Ground the polls on election dav
underwent brief examinations, but knew
nothing Of any crookedness The Nom
"a.