Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-30
HOFF And
JOHNSON
INDICTED
Ocean County Republican
Chairman and Former
Policeman.
CHARGED WITH FRAUD
IN MATHIS-LOW FIGHT
Both Men Held in $500 Bonds
for Trial Next
Month.
Especial to the Newark star.l

Especial TO the Newark star.1
TOMS RIVER, March so.-The Ocean
county senatorial scandal, otherwise
known as the Mathis Low fight, came
to the surface again today when the
grand jury returned ballot-box stufhng
indictments against the following:
Joseph B. Hof, of Lakewood, chair
man of the Ocean County RepnbIfcan
Committee.
Charles johnson. yselI-E<nown Lake.
wood politician and former me1nber of
the police force.
Nisdemeanors Charged.
The two politicians are charged with
misde meanor in stuh1ng the second dis
trict of Lakewood baIlot-box after cleo
tion last November, and before the re-
count, which was asked for by former
Senator Thomas A. Mathis, the Repssb-
iican candidate for reelection. who was
defeated by George c. Low.
Both Hoff and johnson were in court,
the news of the voting of the indict-
ments at the session on Monday hay
ing leaked out. and had their bonds
men with them. Matthew r. Nickel
vey, Lakewood plumber, Went on
Hoff's bond. johnson was hailed ont
by Howard Applegate, the Republican
nominee for assemblyman last fall. and
Charles r. LIE Compte, one of the big
three on the Ocean County Board Of
Freeholders, and one of the grand jury
which found the indictments.
Bail was fixed by Supreme Court JUS
tice Voorhees, at $500, and trial was
set before him on the second Tuesday
in April next
Both Men In Court.
Both Eoff and johnson are close
friends of the defeated Republican cam
didate for senator. Hof was appointed
a member of the ocean County Tax
Board a year ago by Governor Fort
on the insistence of Senator Mathis, it
is alleged, that no one else would be
confirmed by the Senate. This was the
best office in Mathis's gift during his
one year IN the Legislature, Hon get
ting the three-year term
Hoff is the owner of a big automobile
business in Lakewood, and has by far
the largest garage there. He is aasa
lproprietor of 1off's Arcade. skating
rink and public hall. He is one of the
biggest business men in Lakewood.
johnson was a member of the Lake
wood police force, and was on the beat
that covered the town hall where the
ballot boxes We're stored during the
time between election night and tho
recount
He was appointed on the police force
by Hoff. it is alleged, while the lattes
was a member of the Township Conn
mittee. Hoff's term ran out on Janu-
airy l, and Johnson was soon retired
from the force.
In Control of Party.
That Hoff is stin in complete control
of the Repuhlicaa organization seems TO
be shown by the names of the men who
appeared TO go surety for the accused
men.
It is generally considered here that
the grand jlry's action is the strongest
possible backing UP of Justice VooT
heess statement when he refused to
+ issue a certificate of election to Sem
ator Mathis after the recount that the
ballot boxes had been stuffed.
| It is also looked upon as the strong
est possible exoneration Of the local
election board from the charge of max
ing false returns. if any such exonera-
ton was needed, after 245 of the 2sq
voters of Lakewoods second districf
who voted for Low made voluntary
affidavits that they had done SO.
though there were but LIS Low votes
left in the box at the recount
1t is also looked upon as vindica-
ton of Township Clerk Howard B.
Lane, as the grand jury spent many
days scrutinizing carefully every bit of
evidence and called every witness who
it was supposed could throw any light
upon the subject. including Captain
Mathis. his brother-in-law, and Counsel
Judge Berry, and the latter's law part
ner, John A. higgins.
The affidavits each contain three
counts and take up six pages of type
written matter. The men are charged
with misdemeanor in robbing the boxes
of the ballots and substituting others.