New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-18
Evidence Brought Out at
Hearing Said To Be
Damaging to Defence.
WATCHERS TELL OF
ACTION AT POLLS
Inquiry Into Charges Against
State Superintendent AID.
jOurned Until July %.

Evidence which the prosecution con-
siders damaging TO the defence Of State
Superintendent of Elections Noorhis,
who Is facing charges of neglect Of
duty and gross incompetence before
a special commissioner was obtained
yesterday at the hearing at the Bar
Association in West 44th st.
In two instances it was testified that
deputy state superintendent who
served in the last election were cleo
ton district captains. Edward H. SUIT
liff, of 344 1st st, Brooklyn, watcher
at the polls for the Honest Ballot AS
ISOLATION, the organization bringing
the charges against Voorhis, said that
Deputy Superintendent John T. Mullen,
OF Brooklyn, was arrested at election
time.
On Election Day, Sutliff said, Mullen
interfered with him whenever he at
tempted 20 challenge a voter, declaring
that he knew the men to be all right
and that if they were challenged it
would hold up a long line of voters
outside. "He did not offer objections
on legal grounds" the witness asserted
Mullen" he added Eat various times
during the day would look at the reg
istration books and the names of
those who had voted, then he would
send some one out with the names, and
i'm a little while more men would ar
rive TO vote"
81 asked him if he were an election
district captain.
"None of your business was the
reply" The witness testified he later
learned that he was for the Demo
cratic rarty. That Sutliff challenged
Mullen for false registration and
caused his arrest was also brought out
at the hearing yesterday.
Upon registering Mullen gave his adj
dress at $50 Sands St, Brooklyn. Sut
lift went to that address and was told
by the woman who kept lodging
house over a saloon that there was
no Mullen living there. Before leav-
ing Sutliff said he inquired of the
bartender if Mullen lived there
According to Sutlif. the bartender
drew forth a sheet of paper on which
were written several names. scanned it
and answered: Sure, he lives here"
Sutliff. however. said he learned that
Deputy Superintendent Mullen lived at
207 Bridge St He challengedMullen on
Election Day. he said, and threatened TO
arrest him. Then he learned that the
deputy state superintendent was al
ready under arrest on the same charge.
When the ballots were counted at the
close of the polls. Sutlif further tes-
titled, Mullen went behind the rail
and counted the straight Democratic
votes.
The other deputy superintendent,
who was also an election district cap
tain, according to DR.. William 5. Fras-
cola. another Honest Ballot Association
watcher, was Harry Murray. DR.. Fras-
cola was stationed in the lst Election
District Of the 18th Assembly District.
Nathaniel W. Grupper, another
watcher, who testified at a previous
session, was recalled yesterday for
cross-examination. He testified that
while he was engaged in his duty in
the Goth Election District of the l2th
Assembly District. of which Charles
F. Murphy is Democratic leader. he
caused the arrest Of man for Illegal
registration.
When the case was called in court.
he said. the man arrested was defended
bv lawyer whom re (Grupper) after
ward met in the Office of the State
Superintendent of Elections, where he
was employed as deputy. The
deputy" it was learned, was Joseph
D. Kelly, a Deputy Attorney General
assigned to Superintendent Voohis's
Office. Grupper is an employe in the
Office Of the Commissioner Of Accounts.
Tho last witness of the day was
Meyer Goldblum. Of rs East 10th st,
watcher at 225 East both st. last
election. He said that Frank Schaffer.
a deputy superintendent Of elections.
insisted upon using tho form of chal-
lengc on registration days that should
be issued only at election time. and
in other ways used his own methods
in preference 70 those prescribed by
law.
The hearing was adjourned until
Julv % at 10 o'clock.