Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-20
BALLOTS JUGGLEO,
SAYS PROSECUTOR
OF OCEAN COUNTY
Will Try to Reach lnstigators
as Well as Perpetrators
of Fraud.
ABUNDANT EVIDENCE OF
CHANGE AFTER ELECTION
Says Mathis's Claim of Being
Counted Out Election Night
Is PreposterOus.
Especial to Tn. Newark start \

TOMS RIVER, Dec. 20.--F'or the first
time since the ballot-box frauds in this
county were unearthed by the recount
of the second district Of Lakewood,
Prosecutor Theodore J. r. Brown SUD-
mitted to an interview today and ex-
pressed the opinion as to the status of
the fraud.
He seems to be convinced beyond all
doubt that the ballot-box was tam
pered with and the votes changed be-
tween election night and ten days later.
when notice of a recount was served
by Judge Berry for his brother-in-law,
Senator Mathis, upon the clerks OF
Lakewood and Dover townships, ana
the ballot-boxs were placed In saser
place than the Lakewood Town Hall.
Prosecutor Brown, when seen this
morning, was asked if he had any
statement to make regarding the Sec
ond district election frauds.
He replied as follows:
"Heretofore I have absolutely refused
TO express an opinion with relation 10
the election frauds. felt that l should
thoroughly investigate the matter be-
fore doing so.'
"Nhat conclusion have you reacneo
as result of your Investigations?
Was Attempt to NuIlify Electorate.
"I am personally convinced that the
ballot-box has been tampered with
since election night, and an attempt
has been made to nullify the will OF the
electorate"
"Then YOU do not place any credence
in the accusation of Senator MATHIS
that the election board counted MIN out
on election night?"
There is absolutely no tangloiy
plausible evidence that indicates that
the election board has been guilty Oh
making a false return; IT would nave
been impossible for part OF the ooaro
to have been guilty of such wrong
doing without the connivance OF the
whole. The ballots taken from the
box on the recount, an accurate record
of which was kept, aside from the
other evidence that has come TO my
attention. and the reputation of the
individual members of the local board
brands such an idea as preposterous.
I'm view of the statement of counsel
for Senator Mathis at the hearing be-
fore Justice Voorhees, on Saturday that
votes could be bought for 81 on election
day. and that afiidavits might be Sc
cured in the same way, what weight do
Won attach to the ESQ affidavits Of vot-
ers that have been secured"
"I have great confidence in the voters
of this district, many of whom l know
personally. I am unwilling to believe
that they would voluntarily commit
an act of perjury. An inspection of the
names subscribed to these aff1dayits
leads me to regard them seriously and
place great credence therein"
what has been accomplished toward
finding the guilty parties?'
Really, l could not tell you about
that. However, I have and will con-
tinue to exert every effort within my
powers to discover the guilty parties
and bring them to their just deserts.
1t will be very gratifying to me If
can not only land the perpetrators of
this outrage, but the instigators as
we'll. 1 have still eighteen months of
my term to make things exceedingly
warm for ballot-box suffers.
"Politics cuts no figure with me in
this matter. A crime has been COM
mitted against the whole people"
what is your opinion in regard to
the right of Justice Voorhees, to with
hold certificate from Senator Mathis?"
THAT is a matter with which 1 have
(oenfsnusa On Hsoena Rexs.s