Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-03

| Anton sagl wilber. democrat banker.
] Il. c. Matrau. Norfolk, democrat coal
-ealer.
Charges Arc Read.
Affidavits charging corruption, four in
number. were read at she opening Of the
hearing by MI harrington, chairman.
Through the allegations OF these affidavits
the charges to be investigated were set
forth These affidavits we're made by II. ].
Pinkett, negro IawyersR. c. Young, en-
ployed In the law offices of Montgomery &
Hall; II. X. Hendee, carpenter, and Horace
II. Jones a travelling salesman These at
fidavits are on file in the office Of Gov
ornor Aldrich. Copies were presented at the
hearing.
General charges are contained in these
sffidavits. That OF Pinkett Is detailed and
/ typical Of the collection submitted.
Plnkett declares in his affidavit that he.
ION November s. 1910. was stationed at the
city hall to do what he could to prevent
illegal registration of voters. That over
the protests Of the affiant John f. Nor
iarty, Morris Milder and J. w. Holmes
and numerous other Political agents, would
call In men who claimed to be freeholders,
who were stationed at the city hall, and
Introduce them to men they did not know
and whom they had never heard u and
these freeholders, so-called, would sign
their affidavits. stating that they had
known the alleged voters for the length of
time required by law
Pinkett's affidavits declares that he per-
sonally saw Dan Better the city clerk,
hand out punches of blank permits or GER
urcates. bearing sesis and signatures OF
! professional freehofders." The lawye err
swears further that Butler continued in
spite of his protests, when attention was
called to it.
'FreehoIdera'' Wear Placards.
r. c. Young in his affidavit. declared that
professional freehoIders were lined up at
the office OF the city clerk and that to
facilitate their work many OF them wore
placards bearing the number Of their wards
and precincts. lie says that some of these
''freeholders" departed when they saw by
Islanders take their names
! II. X Hendee, Judge in the Eleventh
ward on both primary and election day,
swears that voters came In to his polling
place with blank affidavits and that cam
paign workers hustled'to get freehoiders to
sign them. The affidavit of Horace II.
Jones is much the same in effect. He re-
cites that in the Fifth ward Third precinct,
an auto bearing pahlman signs drove up
filled with men. "Affiant heard ali parties
say" the affidavit recltes, ito John Nor
iarty, that Dan Butler had send word that
affidavits could be sworn 10 at the polling
place and further. We ought to have a
couple Of freeholders to swear them in .
This affidavit quotes Moriarty as saying,
1--WE are alright as we are; let well enough
alone Affiant went in said polling place
and found no freeholders TO swear in the
voters"
Here Jones says he made protest and
that while two or three of the men did not
vote, Moriarty and a butcher named
Houska. swore as freeholders for others.
Clerk Butler Takes stand.
Mr.. Butler appeared when subpoenaed.
accompanied by John A. Rine, city at
torney Mr. Rine declared that he was not
/ there as representative OF Mr.. Butler. He
sat through the remainder OF the hear
| ing Examination OF Mr.. Butler was con
Quoted by Mr.. Prince. the lawyer member
OF the committee
! The witness, under questioning, defined
the Third ward OF Omaha in general terms
and set forth something of It's physical
characteristics a. containing a large num-
Der of business houses and hotels. He also
told Of his activities In his office on cleo
tion day, when he, with a number of clerks
and assistants, helped non-registered men
to vote. There were about 600 Of them, he
said.
Prince read a section from the Pinkett
affidavit referring to the lineup Of free
holders at Mr. Buffers office. He then
based a general question on this affidavit
Il don't understand what is meant By
that term professional freeholder.," re
piled Butler. III man came up and
swore he was a freeholder l had to take
his declaration
South Twelfth. frame dwelling 1900.
ibid you hand out amy certificates TO be
filled out later Lon the street or else
wheref"
No. positively replied BupeE with
emphasis. Il am sin IN my right mind
man who would DO. that would be in
sane"
Prince asked about protests that might