Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-16
OUT AS
ELECTION OFFICER
Judge Martin Removes Seventh
District Official on Complaint
of John Rhodabeck.


Judge William P. Martin today re-
moved James L. Coghlan, of 244
North Seventh street, as Judge Il
elections in the Seventh district of
the Eleventh ward.
John M. Rhodabeck, a deputy COM
missioner of motor vehicles, he'd for
mally charged Coghlan with per
nicious political activity" as well as
with neglect of duty in not properly
the first registry day on Septem-
Der Q.
In announcing his decision Judge
Martin said that on the first two
counts-those dealing with the al
legged failure of the election officer TO
write up the registry book-it would
be impossible to find Coghlan guilty,
since the other three officers were
equally responsible for the condition
of the books. He pointed out that in
order to obtain conviction on that
d new petition and complaint He
intimated that it might be the duty
VI the court to do so
On the third count, which charged
Coghlan with having left the polling
place during the primary election,
Judge Martin said that the weight of
evidence was clearly against the cleo
ton officer and that, therefore, 1t was
necessary to remove him.
Mr.. Rhodabeck complained that be-
side allowing the primary registry list
to remain open in the time inter-
vening between the first registration
day and primary day. September %,
that Coghlan on primary day spent
the greater part of his time outside
the election booth, electioneering for
Moses Reichman for a position as
county committeeman and also in
working for his brother, Charles
Coghlan, who was seeking a position
as Democratic committeeman from
the district.
On the witness stand today Mr.
Rhodabeck testified that he had seen
Coghlan in the Second and Fifth dis
tricts of the Eleventh ward on pr.-
mary day when he was supposed to
be in his own district at work as an
election official When Coghlan took
the stand he gave fiat denial to this
statement, and said Mr.. Rhodabecl1
was mistaken as to the date. Mr..
Coghlan admitted visiting the Second
u
the first registry day, but said he did
so for the purpose of comforting with
the other election officers over matters
pertaining to the registra ton. He de-
MED that he had left the election
booth on primary days except for his
meals and once at about $3.50 o'clock
in the morning, when he called up
Judge William P. Martin to find out
what the RULING Of the cort had
been on Republicans voting in Pro-
gressive boxes. All the remainder of
the time the polls were open lie had
been in the booth, he said.
The Seventh district of the Eleventh
ward happens to be Judge Martins
voting district and before the hearing
was started the judge commented on
that fact and stated that he had voted
there on primary day and had also
had some conversation with Coghlan
about election matters. Judge Martin
said If Coghlan desired he could have
the hearing held before Judge Os-
borne, but Coghlan said he was will
ing to go ahead before Judge Martin.
Testimony that Coghlan had been
out of the polling place during the
hour of voting was given by r. A..
Winner, of 20S North Seventh street,
as well as Mr. Rhodabeck, but Mr..
number of times Coghlan is alleged to
have left the polling place and how
long he remained away when he did
leave.
William j. Mooney, of rs North
Thirteenth street, told of visiting
Coghlan's tailoring shop In Orange
street after the first registration day
in company with Mr.. WINNER and
obtained from Coghlan copies of the
registration list. No testimony was
brought out to show whether the book
had been closed at that time or not.
but Mr. Coghlan admitted in his testi-
mony that the books had not been
finally closed. as the election board
had not gotten together between the
first registration day and primary day
for the purpose of doing that work.
Frederick r. Lehlbach argued for
Mr.. Rhodabeck and John P. Manning
for Coghlan.