Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-29
GUILTY? YES.
Court Trial Of Ohio blibed
Voters Very Informal.
Adams County Resping a AaT-
vest from the Fines.
About 1000 Indictments Great
Numbers Are Self Accused.

West Union, Ohio, Dec. 28.-Two new
features in the line of vote tratticiny
developed at this afternoon session or
the special grand jury investigating
wholesale buying OF votes in Adams
county. One was that of WomanS
sale Of her sons vote and the other
concerned voter who vas bought
three times at one election. The
woman is a widow living at PEBBLES.
She is accused of having accepted 50
for hc~ sons franchise. Both mother
ana son were indicted, Dut neither
have heen arrested.
A farmer today told the jury he
WIS bought three times election day.
BY his promise to vote the straight
Republican ticket he said he received
$3.50, on q contract to vote the
straight democratic ticket he was
paid SO anG the price for aSgrec ing to
vote for certain Democratic candi-
date wus So lie pleaded guilty when
arraigned and was DISTINGUISHED for
tive years. lined s. and costs and given
six months in the work house with
prison sentence suspended.
One hundred and six indictments
were returned today, which brings the
total up to 9SS. There are indications
that the number will reach 1870, as
predicted by Special Prosecutor Will
Eam g. Stephenson.
West Union, Ohio. Dec. 2S.-The
Thought and Sold voters of Adams
county are in panic. The crush mas
Income so great that Judge Blair can
not find time to hear long confessions.
TO-DAY more than 100 men who had not
been indicted and whose names mad
not been mentioned in connection Will
the buying and selling of votes Hooked
into the court room ana confessed u
having sold their franchises.
Tho deputy sheriffs are rcapine
harvest. 1t costs from 81 to $1o to ar
rest men. according to the expenses oi
the deputies who have been instructed
to ret their men regardless of outlay
Tho cxpcrscs of the crusade Will be
about SO per cent. Of the money col
lectcd.
The county commissioners nave
power to transfer the funds and ii
movement has been started to use the
money toward building new court
house.
Thc Adams county grand jury early
"Wednesday reported 145 additional true
bills against citizens accused of selling
their votes at the November election
This makes a total of $50 indictments
already returned.
The procession of penitents vino are
coming to court daily to plead guilty
still keeps w.
Judge Blair's methods in listening to
the pleas of guilty are extremely In
formal He knows d large proportion o.
the voters of the county by their first
names and when they come into court
the scene is rather Il social one. The
Judge sits on ono side of a plain table.
the Indicted man on the other.
How about it. john. are YOU
guilty." asks the judge.
II reckon 1 am, judge" is the usual
reply.
IAN right. John. I'll have to fine YOU
so and you can't vote any more for
five years And I'll just put a six
months workhouse sentence on top OF
that. but I won't enforce it as long As
you behave
"All right, Judge. yous got the goods
on me-"
And say, John, yous been keeping
LIQUOR in your house and inviting YOU
friends in. haven't you?" the judge will
sometimes ask.
Adams county is dry
That's right. judge says the ac-
clsed man.
"Well. you'll have to cut that out.
John. Remember there is a Workhouse
sentence hanging over you If you don't
walk straight
"All right. judge. Good bye" and the
rvnitent gees over to the clerk and
pays his fine.