Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-12-12
VOTERS IN THE POLLS
AFTER CLOSING TIME
PROMINENT INDEPENDENT ELEC-
TION OFFICIALS TESTIFY RE
GARDING MODE OF CONDUCTING
ELECTION
TESTIMONY BY REAATOR SHOW
FIVE WERE INSIDE AFTER SEV
EN- O'CLOCK. SEVERAL INDEPEN-
DENTS WERE UNABLE TO VOTE.

Nine witnesses were examined in the
municipal election cases yesterday-seyen
at the morning session and two in the
afternoon. Two of the witnesses examined
in the morning were on the stand for
/ the second time.
| The first was Dr. +. Dickson. who
testified that he had voted in the first
ward on April second and had voted
independently of the partisan groups.
| f. c. Pierce. recalled to the stand,
testified that he had acted as tally clerk
in the first ward and that the polls had
closed at seven O'Clock. The election of
| iicerS had agreed upon one watch as a
regulator for closing the polls. He did
not remember to whom the watch be-
longed Judge Hawkins and four MeXl-
cans were in the polls on the time, ac
cording to Mr.. Pierce's testimony.
c. III. More. Independent challenger in
the first ward. recalled to the stand
stated that he had closed the window
blinds III front Of the presiding officers
table at three minutes after seven, that
he looked at Mr. DeBruin's watch, on
the table, and called attention to the
fact that it was after seven o'clock. He
further stated that Judge Hawkins and
four other men were in the polls at
the time.
Mr.. More said he had held commits
sion as special officer for two or three
DAYS prior to the general election in
November.
| CITY Tax Collector and assessor NJ. j.
Garcia, who acted as challenger in the
third ward on April the second, testi-
fed that there were more literate vo-
ters in that ward than in any other in
the city. Mr. Garcia further stated that
the two party groups lined up at the polls
had been exhausted at three o'clock in
the afternoon. He stated that the lit
crate voter was allowed to approach the
polls from any direction and without
reference to the lines.
The following testified that they were
Independent voters in the second ward,
but had been unable to vote
Benigno Munoz, Mateo Villareal +.
Lartigue and Jose Villreal..
v The first witness placed on the stand
at the afternoon session was Lieuten
ant of Police Octaviano NJ. Puig.
Mr.. Puig testified that he with Joe
Garza and Mike Werbiski, ir., acted as
special officers at the fourth ward vot-
ing place on April second. He said that
in the morning. Immediately after the
1n1n SnH
by Judge Seabury challenging Mr.. DIV
ver's right to act as presiding officer,
the delay lasting thirty minutes, and
that r. b. Creager had been called tC
the voting place Mr.. PUG said that the
voters came two at time from the
groups on the south side of the polling
place. and sometimes they would run in
two from one group. that about 80 or -
. came from the direction of the Miller
hotel He gave the names of 10 men all
Of whom were literate voters. who voted
i'm the fourth ward. Mr.. Puig said he
interfered with none of these.
Speaking of the difficulty with Mr..
bennett, Mr.. Puig said there were three
men in the voting place and that the off
ecrs had ordered them not to let any
others in until these had voted and that
as Mr. bennett approached he tPuig)
had laid his hands upon his shoulder
whereupon Mr.. bennett had said: !" Don't
YOU touch me or | will hit YOU with my
cane" Officer Cara. according to Mr.
Puig. then took hold of the cane. Mr.
DIVER at that time told them to let
Mr. bennett into the polls.
Mr. Puig furher testified that in the
afternoon Adjutant General Hutchings
ordered him to let an American come il
between one Red and one Blue: that
George Champion had complained that
more Reds than Blues were being al
lowed to enter the polls and that Gen
eral Hutchings had asked him (Puig)
if il would be all right to put in some
officer from the Blue side. The Blue Off
Ger was Alec Championl that practi
callv every voter in the morning had
been challenged by George Champion
that Mr. Champion complained that Mr.
Dwyer was not putting the question t.
the challenged voter correctly. and II
was necessary several times TO call law
vers. The witness said that the LAWYERS
were sometimes Mr. Seabury and some
times Mr.. Russell
Upon cross examination by Mr.. Dough
erty. Mr. Puig said it was not a fac
! th:H Mr. Scabury's challenge of Mr. Dwy
l