New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-06
ELECTION QU|ETEST CITY
HAS KNOWN IN YEARS
Only Thirty-fiVe Arrests in New
York County Because of
Trouble at Polls.
FEW ATTEMPTS AT FRAUD
Magistrate Herbert Complains
of "Promiscuous" Challeng-
ing of Voters-Burns Says
Watchers Were Beaten.

So far as the courts and the District
Attorneys office were concerned, the cleo
ton yesterday was the quietest in years.
There was some roughness complained
If IN some Of the election districts, but
apparently many Of those for whom war
rants had beeh issued for registering
Illegally did not go to the polls at all.
About half of the few arrests made were
made without warrants. and Magistrate
Herbert in the Tombs police court re-
marked on the "promiscuous challeng-
ing" one woman was arrested charged
with 5riblng a voter. but there was no
evidence against her and she was dis
charged,
The reports from the magistrates court
in New York County were sent to George
T. Medalie, the Assistant District Attor-
ney in charge of the election bureau
Of the District Attorneys office. They
showed that only thirty-fve arrests had
been made in the districts included in
this county. Fourteen of the arrests were
on warrants applied for by the District
Attorney, seventeen arrests were made
without warrants, and four were made on
warrants issued at the request Of the
Attorney General. Only one man was
held for trial in General Sessions. Twen-
ty-six were discharged and the cases Of
eight were adjourned.
Magistrates Had Little to Do.
Many Of the complaints, both of illegal
voting and of Tiolence at the polls, were
made by the Honest Ballot Association.
Members of the Progressive party also
made numerous complaints. Both the
magistrates and the District Attorney
were surprised at the small number Of
arrests and complaints. None of the seven
bench warrants which were issued fol-
lowing the investigation into conditions
in the % Assembly District were served.
Not more than half dozen cases came
before Justices Bischoff, Platzek, Blur
and Hotchkiss. who sat in the Supreme
Court, 10 hear election cases. Justice
Brady was at his home in The Bronx all
day for the accommodation Of voters in
that district Three voters complained
that they were deprived Of their votes by
the careleSsness of the election officials
They found no remedy in the court. One
said that at his polling place the registry
book in which he was enrolled had been
lost. He came so late that the court
could do nothing for him. Two or three
writs Of mandamus were issued instruct
ing the election officials 10 take the votes
Of those presenting them.
Sheriff Hamburger criticised sharply the
officials Of the Progressive party who had
seen NJ to hire William J. Burns and his
detectives, instead of relying upon the
Sheriff. I'VE have always given Mr..
Roosevelt square DEAL" complained the
Sheriff.
Burns Detective Arrested.
The first man TO be brought into the
Tombs police court was Peter ]. Bird, a
Burns detective Joseph Mccoy said that
Bird was unnecessarily aggressive in the
9Th Election District Of the I'd Assembly
District. at No 396 Water street. Magis-
trate Herbert held Bird in $500 ball for
further examination to-day.
Barbara Porges was the only woman
arrested. She is the wife Of Max Porges'
a deputy sheriff and the Tammany leader
OF the Sth Assembly District She was
arrsiened before Magistrate Harris, In
the Essex Market police court, on the
complaint Of Harry Rappaport, Social
list. Rappaport said that some one had
told him Mrs. Porges had handed some
money to a negro soon after the latter
emerged from a polling place in Ludlow
street Rappaport had no evidence TO
substantiate the charge Of bribery ne
wanted 10 make, and Mrs. Porges was
discharged
IN NI-QR
the Progressives and by the Honest Bal
lot Association. said that he had had
many reports of voting on Illegal registra-
ton. especially in the 18th Assembly Dis
trict. Voting occurred there against the
law" said Mr.. Burns, an spite Of pro-
tests and challenges, and in several in
stances our watchers-2,2O0 in number
were badly beaten up. We know the men
rssnonsible for the assaults. but we are
90 he MAN higher uD.