New-York tribune., 1911-01-03
VOTE SELLERS JAM TOWN
Judue Blair Holds Court Even
While Eating Breakfast.
CRY FOR W0MEN'S SUFFRAGE
I've Wouldn't Have Sold Out,
Assert Wives, Sisters and
Daughters.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]


West Union. Ohio. Jan. Judge Blair
held court late tonight in order 10 receive
confessions Of those corrupted in election
persons indicted had been arraigned. AS
the town was filed with offenders anxious
10 get in their pleas, IL was decided 10 con-
tinue the court session as late as possible.
All hotel, boarding and rooming house
space was taxed. and many private homes
were thrown open 10 visitors.
Although Prosecutor Shively and Sheriff
J. P. Williams. both newly elected, as
surned Office to-day. there was no cessation
in the remarkable activity displayed in the
bribery cases. The grand jury tonight re-
ported Is3 new indictments, new record
for one day, which brings the total indict-
ed 10 l,43l
Judge Blair again was called upon 10 dis
franchise a boyhood playmate, the son of
a man who had befriended him N his
youth.
The women Of West Union say that If
they had been allowed to vote there would
have been no frauds. and those OF them
who are surragists have taken up the cry
to allow the women 10 vote, in order 70
drive the bribers out.
Mrs. William Wright, whose husband Is
serving on the jury, says that he was az
| preached by a politician in 1877 to vote
certain way, but refused an offer OF money.
Almost the entire community OF Man
| chester was in West Union to-day 70 either
| confess 70 Judge Blair Of having given or
received money for votes or 70 witness
| their neighbors' discontinue. All the OF
| hcials Of the town were present, and the
active political workers, guilty or innocent
we're on hand 70 observe the trend Of the
! investigation
| A story that The lives Of Judge Blair and
the grand Jurors had been threatened by
| some men OF Manchester was sent olt
| from here last night. but II has been I'M
! possible 70 confirm the report. which re-
| ceives denial from official sources.
! Judge Blair said this evening that the
work was barely half over and that ne
was Just getting into trim for the real
work which he supposed would last for
several months
| He has talked with the two iurynen who
wished 70 withdraw and obtained their
promise 10 remain with that body for a
couple Of weeks at least
AS he was about to have breakfast before
coming 70 West Union from his home in
! Portsmouth this forenoon Judge Blair was
approached by a spokesman for party OF
| fifteen men az PEBBLES and asked II ne
| would hear their cases AT that time The
| fudge led the way into the dining room OF
the hotel, ordered his cakes and coffee and
| then heard the cases. Each one OF the
| fifteen pleaded guilty. and Judge Blair
! took down the names OF all the men Who
! had brtbed them He gave them the usual
fine. Acknowledgement and suspended i'm
! prisonment
When the Judges reached West Union a.
N o'clock to-day there was a crowd Of more
than two hundred men in line awaiting the
opening of the court. Many Of them had
stood there since before dawn this morn
ing and there we're many others waiting
about town for the father confessor' tc
hear their cases.
! The pastors who came here last evening
10 plead to-day were heard separately ano
/ in secret. and left the courthouse early. ir
order that they might return 20 their homes
before everybody learned who they we're.
Three women from the northern part ot
the county pleaded for time TO pay in the
cases of their men folks and were referred
70 the court clerk 70 arrange for the pay
n1ent Of their fines Everybody who has
pleaded has got time 70 procure the money
70 paw. and Judge Blair says that he ex-
pects 70 get every penny Of II.