Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-05-14
FRANK S. REvELL MAKES
AN EMPHATIC DENIAL
Swears He Knew None Of Alleged
Election Conspirators.
MAY FINISH TRIAL TODAY.
Former Official on the Stand As the
Last Witness in His Own De-
fense

Taking the stand as the last witness
in his own defense. Frank S. Revell,
political leader and former sheriff of
this county. and now member of the
Shellfish Commission, who has been on
trial in the Criminal Court. Part 2.
Baltimore. since Monday. charged with
conspiracy to procure the illegal reg
istration of voters in the Third district
last fall. entered sweeping denial of
any connection with the alleged fraud.
He swore he did not know any one of
the men who are alleged to have reg
istered fraudulently and had never
spoken about politics to Edward j. ST.
mond. with whom he is alleged to
have formed the conspiracy
The first time ever heard of the
fraudulent registration. said Mr.
ReveIl, was on the night before the
election last fall. when reporter call
ed me up on the phone and asked me
what had to say about it. I told him
then that / had never heard of it and
did not know any of the men whom
he mentioned"
Revell's denial was clear and en-
phatic. and severe cross -examina-
tion by Deputy States Attorney Mar
chant failed to shake him in any par
ticular lie said he had known ST.
mond for several years, but had not
seen him more than twice year dur
ing that time end had never conversed
with him over the phone. He denied
ever having seen any of the men who
testified that they had gone to the
county and registered
He also said he did not know Si-
mond's brother-in-law, Albert Jeffer-
son, who. the States officers claim,
was the man who took the party over
the creek and acted as go-between for
Simond and Reve.l Jefferson has
never been found, although four de-
tectiyes have secured the State for him
during the past north.
The witness denied emphatically the
conversation with Howard Treakle,
the star witness for the State, claims
he had with him at the registration
booth. Treakle sail that Eevell asked
him where he came from, and on be-
ing informed that lie came from ST.
mond's. asked why Simond did not go
and register.
Revell admitted shaking hands with
him and asking where he came from.
He said Treakle told him he was from
Stoney creek and had been in the pre-
cinct since February Revell's YER
sion of the conversation was corrob-
GRATED by H. C. Linstead. Jr.. who was
with Revell when Treakle reached the
polls.
| Linstead said he picked Trea-
kle up on the road and drove him
TO the registration booth and that Rev
ell came over to his buggy and seeing
a strange man in it, spoke to him
Most of the day vas occupied with
character witnesses and men who
were familiar with the methods en-
ployed 10 get people out to register
and to vote. Among the men who ties.
titled to Mr.. Revell,s good character
and rputation were Congressman J
Charles Linthicum, State Senator Car
vile D. Benson, of Baltimore county;
Sheriff John e. Potee, Of Anne Arun.
del courtyard Ridgely P. Melvin.a Law
rrnr 0f As1r,
cross-examination that he had never
heard anyone but chronic critics
speak disparagingly of conditions il
Mr.. RevelTs district
Deputy States Attorney Marchan
endeavored to cut the trial short b,
offering to admit that it was the prac
tice Of both parties to send out wagons
to bring people TO register and vote
and if Attorney A. S. j. Owens. O
counsel for Mr.. Revell, would submit
list of men who would testify to tn,
lpractice he would admit that if pu
on the stand they would testify to tina
practice, but Mr. Owens would no
| agree to it..
We have right to have our wit
nesses come here into court and testi
fy." he said Mr.. Revell lives in Ann,
Arundel county and is known I,
everyone there. while in Baltimore h
knows no one and is not known to thl
members of the jury.
What we expect to do is to brin,
the most prominent people in th,
county and State here to show thi
Jury that the best people in the stat.
know and respect AIr. Revell and tha
they are familiar with political con
ditions-. 1t is not enough to put theil
names on an inanfmate piece of paper
want everyone to see the men whs
stand for Mr ReEell and hear then
speak
Judge Bond said that he would no
curtail the right Of the defense to cal
| its witnesses. but asked that the cas-,
be hurried as much as possible. Tn,
case viii probably be finished today.