Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-17
Men Who swore to fraudulent Affidavit
Cant Recall Him.
MANY MORE ILLEGAL vsTES UNCOVERED
Flagrant Visitation Of Election Laws 10
Force Mercers Nomination.
RECORDS VERIFY CORRUPTION FUND STORY
No Question Now that Republican Pri-
mnrie- Were Carried for Mercer
by fraud and Bribery of
VenRl voters.

The deputy sherih commissioned to serve
the warrant for the arrest of w. s. Esancy,
"hrst and real name unknown" charged
with unlawful voting at the recent repub-
lican primaries, began his search early yes
terday morning. but yet seems no nearer
the accomplishment of his mission than he
was at the start.
As Frank b. Kennard and John G. Kuhn
had sworn to an afhdsyit that Esancy was
resident at 1913 Howard street and en-
titled to vote, these gentlemen we're called
upon bY the officer for information as TO
Esancy's whereabouts. The deputy sheriff
states that he was promptly told by Mr..
Kennard that he doesn't know Esancy now
nor where BE lives; that he would not
tell II he could aud that the whole matter
is IAN effort to traduce my character"
also that such effort will act as a boom
erang. the Kennard character cannot
be traduced by anybody"
The deputy assured Mr. Xennard that
he came for information as an officer. not
as an emissary Of anybody. whereupon
Mr.. Kennard cooled down some and re-
voked his previous decision not to tell If
he could.
''The fact is, Mr.. Kennard is quoted by
the deputy as saying, Il don't remember
the man now and don't have any idea OF
who he is or where he lives, but IL l
signed that afidavit l di so on the
recommendation Of some thoroughly repu-
table citizen. To you, as an officer 1
would give any information as to his
whereabouts that l could but / haven't
any"
The deputy called on John G. Kuhn also
and was told by the latter that he has
a faint recollection" of Esancy and also
nf how his wrIfInq IooLpd huf that - rras
ent he doesn't know where he is nor how
one would 60 about finding him.
Law FIagrRntIy Disregarded.
with more than 1000 votes cast upon
certificates issued by the city clerk at the
republican primaries carried for Mercer It
would not be surprising IL some irreguIari-
ties should take place. but an inspection of
the certificates issued by the city cerk
shows that the provisions of the law were
hagrantly disregarded
The law governing these primary elec-
tions provides that persons whose names
are not on the registration books may have
them placed there for certain reasons,
these reasons being given in the act as
follows:
Persons who we're absent from the city
during the entire time of the regular state
registration; persons who were too sick 20
register; persons who, because of sickness
or other calamity in their families could
not be present at the regular registration,
and persons who have removed to the city
since the last registration and are other
wise legally qualified to vote at the cleo
ton succeeding the primary.
The law provides that In case the excuse
offered is sickness the certificate Of ply
sician must accompany the affidavit of the
person who desires registration.
With these points of the law in mind it is
hard to understand how some OF the cer-
tihcates came to be issued upon which men
voted at the recent primaries. Reasons OF
every kind and reasons of kind were
sufficient to secure the affidavit, as is shown
by the records which che law requires tho
city clerk to make and the county central
committee to preserve for a year from tho
date Of the primary.
The worst evasions Of the requirements OF
the statute were carried on In the Sixth
ward, whore at least ten certificates were
issued on excuses not recognized by tho
law list Of these irregular certificates
with the excuse given and the names OF tho
freeholders who signed an afiidayit as to tho
eligibility OF the voter and the truth OF
the excuse follows:
sixth ward irregularities.
Homer White 4O12 North Twenty fifth
street: Failed TO register because the con-
get away" Signed and sworn to by w. G.
Ure and w. II. Elbourn.
Robert G. Watson. 2l20 North Twenty
seventh street: Gould not get away from
work" Signed ana sworn to by Robert
Houghton and Henry s. Mcdonald.
Edward Nelson, 25Os Parker street: "Busi-
ness prevented him from going TO register" Z"
Signed and sworn to by w. s. Askwith and
W. II. Elbourn.
], w. Hood, 4231 Burdette street: "Busi-
ness was too pressing 70 allow me to reg
lister" Signed and sworn to by w. s.
Askwith and II, s, Mcdonald.
F. j. Martis, 242s Bristol street: Moved
from one district TO another" Signed and
sworn to by Perry Hough and W. s, Ask
with.
w. e. johnson, 26Ss Parker street:
"CSnnot md my name" Sworn to and
signed by William White and w. G.
Shriver.
c. L. Bonine, 272s North Twsnty-sixth
street: Forgot to register: therefore,
could not vote last year" Signed and
sworn to by T. l.. Hull and William White.
r. Stevens. 229s Locust street; Positive
was registered mistake on registration
books" W. II. shrlver and William
White.
James Buchanan, 24ls Maple street: 81
have not had time" Signed and sworn 70
by II. e, ostrom and II. S. Mcdonald.
Se:a B. Craddook. 24i5 Templeton ave-
nue.; No reason is assigned whatever, the
lines foI that purpose being blank. Signed
and sworn TO by w. II. shriver and VIII
liam White.
In addition 70 these votes cast contrary
TO the express letter OF the law there were
others OF a more aggravated type and il Is
said on the authority Of one who voted
illegally that he was led into his action
through Ignorance and the action OF the
Mereerite fFeeholders who were stationed
at the city hall for the purpose OF testify
ing as TO the eligibility OF those who
wanted to vote on certificates.
Typical Cases of Fraud.
The most iagrant case is that Of G. J
Spain, who on the books OF the Sixth ware