New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-11
SCRUGHAM'S AFFIDAVIT
REFERS TO BALLOTS ONLY
alleged Explanation Says Nothing
of "DOctOred" Envelopes.

| A copy was obtained yesterday of the mys-
| terious affidavit which George r. Scrugham de-
clares he signed and had placed in a sealed box
containing l. 100-odd perfected" international
votes deposited at the offices of the New York
| Life on election day Mr.. Scrugham, with
| Charles F. Darlington and Charles Stirrup is
under arrest for conspiracy to crcumvent a
proper election in the New York Life. Both the
New York Life inspector and Darlington. who
say they saw the opening of every international
ballot box, declare that they any
such affidavit In any of the ballot boxes.
In the eyes of the District Attorney the
stranges feature of this strange affidavit is that
It refers plainly to envelopeless ballots, where
as according to the stenographers record of
Mr. Scrugham's conversation with Nathan A.
Smyth. according, also. to Mr.. Scrugham's own
statements, this mysterious affidavit called at
tention 10 ballots enclosed within the "doctored"
envelopes. This, according TO the District At
torney's office II is said, makes the affidavit
virtually stultify Its own purpose besides maxi
ing highly improbable the deposit of any such
affidavit with any of the ballot boxes
The alleged affidavit peoples Exhibit No. l.
May 81. which is here published for the first
time is follows:
state of New York, County of New York:
tho OF t H. Scrngharn being duly sworn says that
the international polcyholders committee without
to place his name. address and policy number
Every effort has been made by 10 secure these
envelopes, but without success, and the ballots
are herewith e%ItI delivered as received by us,
December IS. 1906.
According TO the stenographer's verbatim re-
port of one of Mr.. Scrugham's conversations
with Mr. Smyth Mr.. Scrugham said this affi-
davt was a correct copy of the american bal
lot affidavit. The conversation, according TO
the same stenographic notes, continued:
Q.-YOu made the affidavit did you? A-well,
those are the copies found the files.
remember them The copy does not show who
signed the affidavit. One Of them purports to be
Odd you dictate II TO your own stenographer?
AE,No; dictated to the stenographer in Guggen-
heimer, Untermyer Marshalrs office.
Q-~Was any representative of that firm there?
Odd you show the affidavit to any member OF
the firm? A.-Well. 1 don't know whether those
afldayts were sent to Mr.. Untermyer or not.
Odd you take the advice Of Mr. Untermyer7
A-No; my purpose was to cover the envelopes
that were previously IN there may have pre-
vtously talked to them, but 1 do not now recall
consulting with Mr. Marshall and (sic) Mr. Inter
myer from time TO time
Q-Where did you swear to that? A-As re-
We did not have any notaries In office do
not remember who the notary was.
According TO the inspectors. not only no
such affidavit ever found. but no box contained
/ .1O0-odd exclusively perfected" envelopes. the
perfected envelopes" and ballots also being
distributed among at least four boxes-the
'RalstOn affidavit 1876 foreign ballot cardboard
boxes. OF course. excepted. 1t is understood that
the notary before whom Ralston swore to his
affidavit has no recollection OF Mr.. Scrugham |
swearing to any affidavit before him.