The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-17
WACONER-bUTLE
CONTEST DISPOSITIONS
Four Witnesses Are Examined
Concerning fractional Fights
In the Twelfth District.
POLLING PLACE ASSAULTS.
Republicans Are Questioned About
the Conflict on Sixteenth
STREET.-THE Resume the
Hearing To-Day.
POLLING PLACE ASSAULTS.

Four witnesses were examined yesterday
In the contest proceedings brought by
George D.. Reynolds against James J. Butter
as Representative in Congress from the
Twelfth Missouri District.
The entire time was taken up with q con-
sheraton Of the election as conducted In
the Ninth Precinct OF the Fourth Ward.
where The Republican judges were beaten
by a gang of Indians.
| The examination of witnesses did not De-
gin until 1920 o'clock, owing to the delay
occasiored by the failure of Frank .
Ritchey, attorney for Wagner. 10 appear.
James ]. Butler. with his counsel. Judse
Henry w. Bond and Harry Walsh. was on
time. Charles w. Holtcamp and l.. g.
Peery essistei Mr.. Ritchey. Mr.. Wagner
did not appear during the day. leaving the
conduct of his case to his attorneys.
Several politicians called in the course
of the day, and at times the room on the
third floor of the kincaid building. Broad
b. Teasdale. chairman of the Twelfth Dis
trtct Republican Committee. and George +.
We!nbrenner, Republican Central Commit
tesman for the Twenty-fifth Ward. were on
hand part of the time.
James H. Smith of No. 1925 Franklin ave
nue. was the first witness whose deposition
was taken After being sworn by me no,
tary; J. T Sanders. he told in detail OF the
trouble at the psliins place. which a,r was 10
@A'eu PoILISG.PLAcE FIGHT.
We got along all right Until about ,Sa, h 1ime
eight men came into the booth TO vote. Au-
gust Schmidt. one OF the Republican judges,
asked the police TO arrest one or the men,
but the request was not granted. All OF the
eight men were then ordered out OF the
polling place. as the rule required that only
three men be allowed to vote at the same
time.
After the eight men had stepped outside
three others came IN and voted. While they
were there he Sergeant n La fdy S came II aR Wea sp-
ons. I do not think that he went through
everybody's pockets, as one of the Demo-
cratic Observation-Disclosures -four
ished a revolver.
"Lally found nothing on US. As he stepped
to the door he told those on the outside
that 1t was all right and that We had no
weapons. In a few minutes about thirty
men rushed into the room and came at US.
/ was pushed over int a corner i1gsss on v .ns
beaten. Schmidt and Merz went home and
cid not return.
James Cox and C. F. Boys acted as Re-
publican judges during the rest of the day:
I saw them vote the Democratic ticket l
did no work during the afternoon, and when
watched them. 1 felt that 1 had no interest
in the work r,o,or.,
from No. 1886 Franklin avenue, Reardon &
Grifiin's saloon. Griffin was a Democratic
candidate for Justice OF the Peace. When
Herernan. the Democratic clerk. and I can
vassed the district we tried to strike off all
but three of the names at this number. but
were compelled TO take It before the Board
promise was effected whereby forty names
were left on the polling books. That was
the best We could do. 80 We were informed.
BUTLER OFFERS SUGGESTIONS.
"a man named Kinney voted more than
from No. 1886 Franklin as Thomas Mckln
ney. C. Clapp. John Frank and Charles
Brent. A negro voted as Frank Miller of
No. 1921 Linden street. J. Brown of No:
1867 Morgan street. c. Bass of No. 1923
Morgan street and Charles Scott of No.
Why did you sign the returns If all this
fraud occurred?' asked Judge Bond on
Because 1 was afraid that 1 might be
killed II l did not. ! had Seen what oc-
CURED earlier in the day. did not SO with
the ballot boxes to the Board Of Election
commissioners Office
During the examination Of Smith. Butler
gave many suggestions to Judge Bond.
Smith testified that he knew nothing Of the
fractional fight concerning the Republican
City Central Committee and could not en-
plain the trouble about the Republican
nominations for Congress in the Twelfth
District.
August Schmidt of No; 1916 Franklin ave
nue. was a Republican judge in the Ninth
Precinct. He was badly beaten by the In
His graphic tale of the fight t. whlsh oes
and 80 exaggerated the witness that he
turned to the counsel and informed them
that 1t was a serious .,, mater ,hr t to sn be t6 hais
was nothing Iaughable about IT,"
According to Schmtdt's story. he gave no
provocation for the assault; except to warn
II asked the policeman four times to ar
rest men. but he would not do it, explained
Schmidt. Just before the crowd rushed in
the policeman stepped out of the room: |
called to him. but 1t did no good. am sure
that he went away In order to give the
gang a chance to beat US up. / managed TO
walk home with him. and spent the next
twenty-four hours in bed: I don't know
what occurred after / left
COMPROMISE REGISTRATION.
Asked concerning his signature to the reg |
istration lists after the compromise ON forty
names from No: 1886 RANKIN TX Avenue ne, haa
mental reservation. He testified that he |
knew nothing about the fractional fight
among the Republicans. as he cared very
Judge Bond. in his cross-examina;ion.
worried Mr.. schmidt who could see only
one side Of the proD9sitton; the 6eat On,
which he had received having made MIN
imperviouS to argument: |
At the afternoon session Paul Mertz. one !
of the Republican judges, tesuted- he told
witnesses. though he added the detail that
les names had been voted when the fight
occurred and that the 100 were all right as
far as he knew. |
He said that ne had been cut in the fight
and had then ~drcanfpcA. He returned for a |
short S while n ih1 al at'f ha1io, b %ne to nj his ae suc-
cessors. whom he did not know. Asked why
he had not prosecuted the men VINO as.
sauited him, he replied hat when ne got
the worst in a light pc was willing to let |
1t rest. 1
The last witness of the day was Captain
F. H.; Loffhasen. V s:o wa: NOMINATED by
Club.
Il was coming down Morgan street from
Eighteenth. when IL man came toward me
and told mn IN Cfnv nWHv from ina n0ltn3 l