Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-10
NAME FORGED
\ TO AFFIDAVIT,
SAYS MILLER
Signature on Commission Gov
ernment Petition Not His,
He Declares.
WROTE NAMES, BUT DID
NOT SIGN THE OATH
Fettinger Claims Miller's State
ment Is Wrong and That He
Did Sign Affidavit.

Following the announcement that
Aaron w. Miller signed about half a
dozen names to the Commission Gov
ernment Leagues petitions, plans
were made today to proceed against
Others who also engaged in the prac-
tise of signing other persons's names
to the lists. Although City Clerk
James F. Connolly will not talk
about his proposed method of proceed
ure, yet he did say that the law will
take its course. Mr. Miller is super
visor of construction for the Board
of Education.
OF the number of names scrutinized
by investigators yesterday 509 were
placed in the doubtful list while Ais
were approved. 1t Is believed that if
this average is maintained the league
hackers have but little chance of
calling special election. as they
will not have the required number of
signatures.
The bank clerks at work last night
positively decided that twenty-five
signatures were no good, six doubt
ful and eighty-five were placed on the
approved list.
Members of the Commission Gov
erDment League are now at odds
among themselves. Theodore S. Fet-
finger assured the Evening Star to-
day in very strong terms that Mr..
Miller signed an affidavit to the peti-
tion which contained the names which
Miller signed.
Mr.. Miller is just as strong in his
denial that he signed the affidavit.
He. declares that If his name is signed
to the affidavit 4 is a forg ry. He
also declared his purpose to prosecute
the person who attached hi. (Miller's)
name TO the affidavit.
Had to Sign Oath.
Mr.. Fettinger declares that Mr.
Miller had to sign the affidavit in
order to have the list of names ac-
cepted.
You know that every petition that
came through the Commission Cow
ernment League had attached to it
an affidavit telling that the sigma
lures were genuine. Mr.. Miller Sc
cured the signatures and did sign the
accompanying affidavit of good
faith said Mr.. Fettinger.
We would not take a chance on
names which could not be beS he'd
for continued Mr.. Fettinger. 1T
was an understood fact that every
name must be vouched for. This Mr..
Miller perfectely understood. If he
has committed wrong he can not place
any blame on the league. He will
have to stand by his own actions"
Mr.. Miller was very frank in his
statements. He said: II have ac-
knowledged that l have signed other
peoples names on my petition. This
l did in good faith, as they were there
with me when / signed and gave me
their power to do so. But as far as
signing an affidavit is concerned that
is q lie.
II have never done a dishonorable
thing IN Iifa OF raPnrd il
clean and open for investigation. If
the report that my name is signed TO
an affidavit is true then you can rest
assured that [ shall do all in my
power to land the guilty ones in Jail"
Although it could not be learned
definitely, it is stated on good author
ity that Joseph NJ. Hauber, local
notary public, attested to the Miller
affidavit Mr.. Hauber could not be
seen today.
From present indications, the pc
tition will be lost If anywhere near
the present percentage of names
thrown out continues, the list will
fall short by a thousand or more
names.
Yesterdays work was a record
breaker. More than 800 names were
examined. There were more names
placed in the doubtful list than ap-
proved. From the attitude or tne
Commission League hackers, 1t is
known they are fretful and are wor-
ried over the ultimate outcome.
Tables Have Turned.
When Mr.. Connolly announced yes
terday that he would prosecute all
offenders, it was accepted by some or
the leaguers as an idle threat To-
day the tables were turned. The
league hackers are willing to give out
all information and are trying to vim
dicate themselves in the actions.
Many duplicate names have been
found. Almost so per cent. of the
names passed upon have been placed
doubtful, as the addresses could not
be found in the poll books.
..This looks bad for the league"
said prominent official today. "Ac-
cording to investigation it seems as
If so per cent. of the signers have
moved since the last general election
This does not seem to be plausible"