The indicator., 1904-12-03

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attention to the unusual number
of naturalizations which were eff
fected just prior to this election.
The information which the court
has received is that there were
something over 1000 foreigners
naturalized. You should most
carefully investigate this matter
We have received information
that large percentage of these
were undoubtedly fraudulent nat
publications. 1t is to be pre-
sumed that the public officials did
not know of these facts. But un-
doubtedly there must have been
a great deal OF false swearing on
the part of some one in order that
this great number of naturaliza-
tions may have been effected.
"Also, in connection with the
matter of registration, | think it
might be called to your attention
one precinct which was brought
to the attention OF the court. The
number OF this precinct is So.
There was petition filed with
the judges of this court which set
forth that certain construction
cars owned by some railroad com
pany had been temporarily
brought into this precinct for a
few DAYS and that the entire pay
roll of these cars had been regis
tered by the judges of election,
under the law which permits the
judges to register instead of the
county clerk There was peti-
ton presented to this court pray
ing for an order that the names
be stricken from the registration
list. The court possessed no
such power and the petitioners
were informed that upon sworn
complaint, warrant would be is
sued for the arrest of the persons
responsible for the offense. We
are informed that subsequent to
this the judges of election
scratched out those names from
the registration lists. | do not
know whether this is correct or
not, but it is your duty to inves-
tigate. If these names were
stricken off by the judges of cleo
ton, it is confession on their
part of willful violation of the
law or the grossest ignorance. 1t
is for you to determine which.
You should most carefully exam
inc into this matter and if you find
Judge of election has fraudu-
lently registered these persons it
will be your duty to indict him.
If any of those persons whose
names are registered can be dis
covered by you and they were
parties to this registration, it will
be your duty to indict them. If
you can find any person who in
stigated or even advised it, it will
be your duty to indict him, either
as an accessory to this violation
OF the law or as being one of the
members Of the conspiracy for
the purpose OF corrupting the cleo
ton.
"Your attention will also be
called to the conduct of officers
on the day of election. There
were a number of arrests made on
the morning of election and |
think two candidates were ar
rested, and some persons upon
charge OF violence. 1t will be
your duty to determine whether
they were bona fde arrests for
the purpose OF vindicating the
majesty OF the law or for the
purpose interfering with the
election or the rights of citizens.
Some trivial charges of assault
and battery were made against in
dividuals on the morning OF cleo
ton. They were seized and
thrown into jail without any op-
portunity to give bail at the time.
This court was compelled to in
terfere in order to secure their re-
lease. If you find that these ar
rests were made for political pur-
poses or for the purpose of intimi-
dation it will be your duty to in
dict those responsible.
1--WE also call your attention to
any instances of assault made by
these officers on the day of cleo
ton, no matter who they may be,
whether OF the police force or the
sheriff's force. OF course on the
day of election when feeling is
running high it is natural to ex-
pect that private individuals may
sometimes come to blows in the
heat OF passion. But with Off
GERS of the law sworn to uphold
and protect the rights of citizens
it is different, and if you find that
officers have been guilty OF as
saults upon any persons which
are unlawful it will be your duty
to indict them.
81 also desire to call your at
tcntion to precinct So. | think
that the registration lists will
show some 1880 voters were reg
istered in that precinct. We de-
sire you to inquire as to how so
many voters came to be register
ed in precinct So. Also some
time during the day of election a
riot call was turned in and a
squad of police officers with the
patrol wagon appeared in that
precinct. A squad of officers in
vaded the election house and ar