New-York tribune., 1902-01-08
FRAUD AT POLLS ALLEGED.
TWO REPEATERS ARRESTED AND MAKE
CONFESSIONS

Tammany captains in the Manhattan end OF
the With Congress District made desperate ef-
forts yesterday TO secure the election of Perry
Belmont by purchasing Illegal votes, with the
result that deputies of John McCullagh. State
Superintendent of Elections nabbed about a
dozen men who were trying to vote illegally
early in the day and arrested ex-Alderman
Joseph yelling and John E. Pye the charge
of paying for fraudulent votes The arrests
created CONSERVATION among the repeaters and
their leaders. and probably stopped enough un-
lawful voting to permit the election of Mr.. Less
ler Mr.. McCullagh had information yesterday
that the Tammany captains expected to gain
many 500 illegal votes for Belmont by repeat
ing, and Mr.. Lessler with margin of less
than half that number of votes.
The arrests of yelling and Pye followed the
arrests Of James Murphy and William Hartrick,
two hired repeaters. who made confessions as
soon as they were caught trying to vote in the
names OF other presons registered in the lid
Assembly Distorict. Hartrck, who is hard
character and an ex-convict. made an interest
ing confession when he was taken to Superin-
tendent McCullagh's office. He said he had
been hired for repeating purposes by Well
ing at the Astor House Monday, and
was told to be at welling's saloon. in West
Houston-st with the bunch" early yesterday
morning. He went there at a. and found
other men there. yelling. according TO Hartrck,
said to him: I'm give you the first jump out of
the box" He took him TO election booth,
says Hartrick and handed TO him slip of paper
with the name Coleman and an address in Hous-
ton-st. written on It. yelling is alleged to have
given him two-dollar bill.
rs this all I'm to make out of it?" Hartrick
asked. Mr.. Belmont has lots Of money. and
YOU seem TO be pretty cheap sports over here
UalIf led.
you go over and see Jack Pye and you can do
more business with him. Maybe you do
eight or ten over there. 1 gave him two hum
dred and fifty. Amt he spending it?'
Hartrck said he saw Pye. who promptly hired
him for more repeating. but Just as the ounch
lined up at election booth Hartrick was
arrested by deputy, and 'Fye got cold feet and
run around the block.
Murphy confessed that he had been hired by
Pye for repeating purposes. When yelling was
arrested he had S151 in small bills and several
Belmont watchers certificates in his pockets
Pye had So in small bills and several watchers
certificates in his pockets. AT the Jefferson
Market court yelling and Eye We're hela IN
$1,000 bail each for examination on Ihursday
on the charge of aiding and abetting Illegal vOt-
ing Several alleged fraudulent voters were
held at the same court by MAGISTRATE Olmste9
Hartrick held for examination. too, but
they may be used witnesses, as they appeared
TO be willing to tell all they knew after they
were caught. yelling and Pye gave bail. They
refused TO talk about their arrest and got out
OF court quickly as possible.
Perry Belmont declined to talk about the ar
rests yesterday afternoon. but his manager,
John Trainor said: Mr.. Belmont is not respOn-
sble for everything that happens in the district
He does know these men, and he did not
control their actions"
Did yelling or Pye visit Mr.. Belmont yes
terday?"
Il don't think yelling was in Mr.. Belmonts
room more than four times during the whole
campaign
Mr.. Belmonts campaign managers issued a
statement last night saying that there was
nothing unusual in the fact that ex-Alderman
Wenng had a number Of watchers certificates
signed by Mr.. Belmont in his pocket at the time
of his arrest as watchers were required by law
to have such certificates signed by the cand1-
date.