Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-11-25
ELECTION FRAUD
PUNISHED BY SUPREME COURT
Denver Election Officials Sentenced to
imprisonment and Heavy Fines
Found Guilty Of Contempt Of Court.


imprisonment and Heavy Fines.-
Denver. Nov. 2o.-The Colorado su-
preme Court yesterday decrced jail
sentences and heavy lines for three
Denver election officers for violations
OF the Injunction Of tho court In regard
to the recent election.
Michael Dowd acted n Democratic
constable on election day in Ward Z.
Precinct s. He was convicted of vio-
la,ing the Supreme Courts injunction
with respect to the appointment OF an
election clerk. His sentence was sixty
days In tho Denver county jail and ho
was fined In addition $3.50. To stand
committed until the fine II paid
Thomas Shcpardson and Peter Miller
clerk and judge OF election In the samo
ward and precinct. respectively. were
sentenced to one year In tho Denver
county Jail and fined 81 200 each. to
stand committed until the fine Is paid.
Following IL tho report Of the case ns
given In the Denver Post:
'The frauds for which threo men
wcrc sentenced yesterday were commit
ted In the pollin. place In tho Seventh
ward OF precinct eight nj 1880 Jose
phine street. II was testified at tho
trial that the trcnblc had begun before
the polls opened on election day In
mIx-up over the swearing In Of tho
clerks Of the election. Before z o'clock
the Republican judge. Frank Newton.
appeared with Samuel Lucas. whom he
offered Ms his candidate for tho possi-
lion OF clerk. as provided by the stat
ute. Peter Miller and his brother.
william. who were tho Democratic
Judges. did not pay any attention tn
him except to say that he was too lntc-
They announced that n Republican
clerk had already appeared and intro
duced Thomas Shcpardson. one of the
defendants. who was to serve as thu
Republican clerk. Miller sworo In
shcpardEon and Patrick Pitt AZ the
clerks, although Lucas was stnniiLe
Inside the guard rail when tho oath
was administered and had his hand
raised. Michael Doud. the constable
then took hold Of Lucas by the shoui-
dcrS aId hustled him from the polling
place.
when the polls were closed election
night the Judges proceeded to take tho
ballots out Of the box. When they
were all strengthened out on tho table.
ShcpardHon and another man placed
their hands on the baiiota. IN II to
keep them from biowin. away. Sud
denly the iight wnR turned out and
scramble cnNucd. In which the bailois
WcEc taken from the table and spirited
away. From pile of several hupdrsd
Republican ballots they d~indlcd Go
only nineteen when tho tnnl count vas
made.
While tho light was oct tho Supreme
court watchers. Chiidcrs and ncgwcr.
attempted tn light matches To hco what
was being donc with the bniiotn. The
matches were blown cut as soon as
they wcro struck. Childcfn rushed out
nf tho front door to head ou n man
whom he saw Eoin. out ot y rear door
with ballots In his hands. lie was IN
able to catch him.
Al the trial Of the case tho RepubiI-
can attorneys offered af'ldaylta Of more
than sixty persons who had voted tho
Republican ticket In the precinct. Tho
ailldayl,s were not admitted In CYL
dcnec. The Republicans aiso called for
the production OF tho ballot box. tn
which the attorneys for the accused
objected.
There are three other mca who ~cse
accused with Miller. Dowd and Shcp-
ardNon. They are William Miller.
Frank Atkins and Patrick Pitt Neither
of these men have been arrested In con-
ncction with the contempt cnscr. BE-
cause Attorney Beiford promised to
have them In court when they were
wanted. They failed to answer and
have not been seen since.