Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-16
Each il Paid Two DsllaI Every Time BE
Casts a Ballet
GET PERJURED AFFlOAWTs At CITY HALL
stsry is Verified by Investigation Of the
Official Records.
PARTIES TO THE PLOT TO Be ARRESTED
Just How MERGERS Doodle Fund
Bought His denomination by Cor
ruption of the Ballot Box and
Bribery of voters.

As an outgrowth Of the frauds perpe-
trated In behalf Of Congressman Mercer in
the recent republican primaries held In this
city last month, sworn complaints we're filed
yesterday afternoon with the county at
torney charging one w. s. Esancy with vio-
latins the primary election laws by voting
in the Fourth ward upon a perjured am
davit Of residence vouchsd for by John G.
Kuhn and Frank B. Kennard. The COM
plants were made by former Police Cap
tain d. w. Her
Esancy had procured an afidavit as an
unregistered voter from the city clerk to
the effect thet he resided at 1913 Howard
street, and had failed to register the year
before because he was out of the city His
residence and right to vote were certified
to by affdavit OF Kuhn and Kennard, who
had been detailed by the Mercerite manag-
ers to serve as freeholders In swearing in
voters Of the Fourth ward Deputy County
Attorney Dunn refused for the time to o. X.
the warrants against Kuhn and Kennard
accessories to the fraud, but caused
warrant to be issued against Esancy, charg-
ing him with illegal voting. OF course there
is no such man as Esancy residing at 1913
Howard street and no immediate likelihood
that the officers Will be able to apprehend
the man and serve the warrant.
Kennard Can't Recall Him.
Frank B. Kennard, when seen at his resi-
dence,. 1924 Dodge street, last night by a
reporter for The Bee. said in answer to
questions:
II endorsed q number Of ah1davits on
primary election day, but not one did /
endorse except on the recommendation of
some one whom knew and whose word
could accept.
II do not remember having endorsed the
affidavit Of this man Will Esancy, although
/ may have done So IL did It was on the
recommendation of some friend Of mine
do not remember that John Kuhn was
the sponsor for any such person.
do you know this man, VIII Esancy
was asked Mr.. Kennard.
II really don't know whether know him
or not. do not recall him BY that name.
nor do remember him BY face. great
many OF those fellows know me and I know
some of them when see them, but my ac-
Quaintance with them is not such as would
enable me to recall them by name always"
'Then you have no personal knowledge
or acquaintance with any such man as Will
Esancy?" was asked.
mo, have not" was his reply. ''I'll tell
you" continued Mr.. Kennard, "all this
matter saw In The Bee this afternoon Is
news 10 me. knew nothing Of It until 1
read 1t in The Bee."
Mr.. Kennard was in a very mild huruor
and was somewhat loquacious in his dis
cussion of the matter IN general. He said:
II look upon this affidavit business as
the scapegoat Of the Australian ballot sys-
tenn. think It is the source Of Wholesale
fraud and perjury. 1 really see no good in
It and l think It would be well II 1t was
done away with entirely"
Kuhn Won't Talk mt All.
John q. Kuhn, visited by an interviewer
at his home. 719 South Twenty fifth avenue
responded very promptly and with evident
pre-determination; II decline to be inter
viewed. I have not one word to say"
well, you at least know this man
Esancyg'
II have not one word to say"
perhaps could get an interview tomor-
row or later" suggested the interrogator
Mr.. Kuhn smiled grimly as he answered.
81 don't think you could ever get one-not
II you lived to be 1000 years old
That the Mercer adharents deliberately
planned to capture the republican prima-
ries, held September 10, by unfair means
very few people doubt, but the schemes
that every avenue was carefully guarded
and that nothing that money could procure
was left undone to secure the ends desired.
day or two prior to the primaries in
formation to the effect that the registration
books would not bear a rigid scrutiny was
received by The Bee. Incidentally infor-
nation was received that Mercer confidently
expected to carry all the city wards but the
Second and Third, and the result OF the bal
loting shows how well the plans OF those in
charge we're carried into execution.
where the Doodle Went.
It was also stated that there had been a
big campaign corruption fund raised and
that II would be used II was apparent to
those who have watched the work at pri-
mary elections in past years that some
thing was in the wind." other than the
ordinary. before the polls had been open for
the reception of ballots one hour. Car
riages hlled with voters were driven from
place TO place and In many instances they
stopped at the very door Of the places OF
election aud the occupants OF the vehicles
would hasten into the booths. cast their
ballots quickly and getting into the rigs
were driven rapidly away.
With the declaration Of the result OF the
election eaVe the report that about 1.00C
persons nAo voted on dmuaNlu aionei tnal
men we're imported into the city to vote on
the names Of parties who had either moved
out OF town or removed from one ward tC
another. as we'll as by afhdsvits. and that
money had been used freely in the purchase
OF votes. With the statement that importa.
tion had been resorted TO was a we'll defined
rumor that among this class were a lot o.
grading hands from the various camps along
the line OF the new railway now under con,
struetion between Fort Dodge and Omaha
Practically the entire line Is now undel
construction ana there are numerous
camps along the route. particularly be
tween Harlan and the city OF Council Bluffs
A Bee representative was directed to sscer
tain the extent OF the voting done from thi
source. and. attired in a suit OF overalls. h,
footed it 20 the Mcclellan camp, located
short distance from the Bluns. and applies