New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-25
KOEN|C FEARS FRAUD
Hears Roosevelt "GueriIIaS"
Have Been Held for Primary.
WILL SEE WHITMAN TO-DAY
SAYS He Has Name of Man Who
Got $500 to Furnish Twenty
Italian Reporters.

Information came 10 Republican county
headquarters yesterday that wholesale at
tempts to vote "guerllas" for the Roose-
welt ticket would he made in the eth, 2+th
| 26th, 33d and oath Assembly districts at to-
morrows primary election.
Samuel s Koenig president Of the coun-
~ committee, retained the Burns Detective
Agency last night to follow up the attempt
ed primary frauds, and announced that ne
would lay his information before District
Attorney Whitman this morning. The
scheme was to import the "guerillas' from
the lower West side to vote the Roosevelt
ticket under the names Of enrolled Repuoli-
cans who have either moved out OF the
district since last Election Day or who did
not come To the polls or who came late
IN the day In the latter case they would
find their names had been voted. and would
have the greatest difficulty in getting their
ballots in.
In one district the chairman learned $500
was offered to a man who could furnish
twenty Italians who were to vote the
Roosevelt ticket in the SD Assembly Dis
trirt, in The Bronx.
Mr.. KoeniC has the name Of the man
who got the $50 upon his promise to fur
nish the twenty "guerillas." and the de-
tails Of the time and place when the final
arrangements for the deal were made.
With this specific information he will turn
over 10 the District Attorney this morning
two men who overheard the conversation
at which the arrangements were made.
Edward II Healy IS the candidate for the
district leadership NJ the I'D Assembly Dis
trict on the Roosevelt tick and Alfred
Smonds, the present leader, is the candt-
date Of the regular organization for re-
election SimOnds ousted Healy after a
bitter primary fight last year
The story Of the deal by which the 'guer-
Has" were to be imported 10 vote the
Roosevelt Healy ticket came To light be-
cause the Roosevelt men sought out man
who has not been allied with either Re-
publican or Democratic organizations in
The Bronx and wanted TO know IL he
could put them in touch with an Italian Of
some influence who would he able to get
and deliver a bunch Of "guerillas."
This independent said he would see, and
was told to call the Roosevelt headquarters
on the telephone on Friday night and re-
port II he had found the right man. He
was told 70 say that he was Billy Bronx"
and ask for Fred Melrose" when he called
up. and when a man came to the telephone
who said. This is Fred Melrose," he
should deliver his message.
on Friday night billy Bronx" called the
Roosevelt headquarters In the district, but
ne did II I'm the presence OF two men In
close touch with the regular Republican
organization of the district. after having
told them the whole story.
He told Fred Marose" that he could
meet the man on Saturday night in GER
tain saloon on Third avenue north Of l75th
street. and on that night. when the final
arrangements were made with the Italian
who waz 10 furnish the "guerrillas.' two
men from the regular Republican district
organization were I'm an adjoining booth in
the saloon and overheard the conversation.
on Friday night when billy Bronx
toIephoned to Fred Melrose" at the Roose-
Welt headquarters Of the district his mes
sage was simply: Il have the man who
gets US the twenty guerillas You meet
him in rs saloon tomorrow rssht."
Mr.. Kocng said last night that he was
not surprised at tho information Of the pro-
posed tactics Of the district leaders who are
running on the Roosevelt ticket.
Anticipating some such action By the
Progressiyes who are on the Roosevelt
tickets as contestants for district leader
ships. | have taken every possible precau-
ton 10 protect the regular Republican vot-
ers from losing their chance TO vote at this
primary because OF any such work as this"
Mr.. Koenig said, and II for nothing more
than the moral effect, we will institute
prosecution on this case Immediately"
Il was announced last night at the
Roosevelt headquarters that a committee
of thirty lawyers. with Hugh Gordon NIL
Ter as chairman, had volunteered 10 be at
the different police courts during the hours
that the polls are open tomorrow TO look
into any cases that may be brought in
from the different districts. and II the
voters arrested have a good case they Will