The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-25
BUTLER NOW ATTACKS
WAGONER'S PETITION
Makes Charge That Signatures to
Nomination Papers Were He
gally Obtained.
SAY FRAUDS WERE PRACTICED.
One Witness Declares His Name
Was Affixed to Document of
Which He Did Not Have
Any knowledge.
SAY FRAUDS WERE PRACTICED.

The legality Of the petition by which
George G. r. Wagner was declared the
nominee of the Republican party for the
short term in Congress from the Twelfth
Congressional District of Missouri Is now
being attacked by the counsel for James ].
Butler. contestee.
This is the latest move IN the Wagner
Butler election contest. and it Wa stared
late yesterday afternoon, when several wit
nesses were placed upon the stand to testify
regarding the circumstances under which
they signed the petition or to tell whether
they had affixed their signatures to the doc
ument.
The purpose Of introducing suah testi-
mony. according to the counsel for Butter.
is to show that the signatures. or at least
a part, were obtained on the petition
through fraud or Misrepresentation.
I'VE expect to show said Attorney
Walsh, one of the coutestee's counsel, that
many persons who signed the petition were
prompted in doing SO by gross misTepre-
sensations having been made to them by
persons presenting the paper: also. That
many of the signatures appearing thereon
were forged, which fact We intend 10 prove
By the persons who are alleged TO nave
signed the petition. and. further. We VIII
show that very few. if any, of those who
signed the document did 50 IN the presence
of a notary public. The claim that their
signatures were subscribed and sworn 10
before the Notary Public whose name ap-
pears at the bottom Of the petition Is alb
%Solutely false
More than Jo subpoenas have been SCI we'd
upon persons whose names appear on the
petition of Wagner, citing them to appear
and testify regarding the validity OF their
signatures.
DIFFERENCE IN WRITING.
Several witnesses Were examined yester-
day afternoon on this point. Thomas p:
Kenney of No. 1901 LaWton avenue testified
that the signature on the petition was not
in his handwriting, and that he had never
heard of such a document. He was asked
by counsel for contestant to write his name
on a slip of paper. ~ difference IN the writ
r.. r. Belle OF No. 9G9 Hickory street testi-
fled that he mad signed the petition, but at
the time he did so it was represented to
him that 1t was for the nomination of Con-
stable. and that the lame of George c.. r.
Wagner was never mentioned.
Edward +. Howard of No. 2S01 Laclede
avenue, Thomas NJ. Whalen of No. 2SiG La
clede avenue and j. z. s. Barrett Of No.
3l2s Manchester avenue stated that they
had signed a petition, but it had never been
represented to them as having been for the
nomination of Wagner for Congress. They
testified that they were not sworn by a
Harry B. Halves. president of the Board
of Police Commissioners. was a witness yes
instructions given the members of the po-
lice force on election day. MI. Halves stated
that he had nothing to do with the instruc-
lions. that they were given the men by
Chief Kiely. and that they were told to en-
force the law and preserve order Mr..
Halves said that no citizen had ever COM
planned to him that any member of the
force had failed to obey the orders. and
that SO far as he knew the election was
quiet.
The counsel for contestant questioned Mr..
Halves regarding the police force and the
Jefferson Club. but nothing bearing upon
the contest was developed by the testimony.
James McCaffery. chairman OF the BOARD
of Election commissioners. was a witness.
His examination was relative to the meth
DDS used by the board In appointing Judges
and clerks of election. which. he said. was
done upon the recommendation of the va
rious Central Committeeman. He said the
Democratic members of the board appnint-
ed the Democratic officials as suggested by
the Democratic committeeman. ard that
the Republican member of the board named
the officials nominated by the Republican
committeeman.
SOUGHT LEGAL ADVICE.
John NJ, Wood, also a member of the
Board of Election Commissioners, testified
to about the same as Mr.. McCaffery, Mr.,
Wood was asked regarding the petition of
Mr.. Wagner. and he stated that the petit
ton was accepted on the representation that
all those who signed It were Republicans,
He declared there was some difference
among the members of the board regarding
the Legality of the petition and that the
board finally sought the opinion of the City
Counselor before the name Of Mr.. Wagner
was placed upon the Republican ticket.
Louis kunz. secretary of the Election
Board. identified the petition as the original
one filed with him by Mr.. Wagner for the