The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-08

tent Of the corruption and strong arm
methods to which the Democrats re-
sorted will be known but the story
of what occurred at two precincts in
this city is sufficient to show that the
election in Marion county was DELHI.
erately stolen.
Eearly in the day it became evident
that the Gang had centered its effort
upon the polling places near the juno.
ture of Quincy street and Maple ave.
nue., the Miller school and the Hamil-
ton Warehouse and the Court House.
These are so situated that one gang
of thugs and corruptionists can oper-
ate at all Of them at the same time
without much trouble.
The general manager of the political
infamy was United States Marshal c..
E. Smith and he was actively. not to
soy ably. assisted by an Italian petit
logger named Abbaticcllio, an individ
ual named. Caldara who at one time
was some sort Of a representative OF
the Italian; government in this neigh.
borhood, and now is located some
where in"the east, and Arthur D.
Simon. A small mob Of crude, but
willing workers. which included J. H.
Abbott and. Frank Fisher, a former Re.
publican. and some black thugs who
were armed with sawed off billiard
cues and other weapons Of that sort
served TO fill up the ranks and help
to ovcrawe the poor dupes who were
INAn ,YtNf ntSI k4l \, IL
we're SO many chattels. Finally there
was Justice Of the Peace Musgrove.
Musgrove was one of the important
links in the chain Of election crime.
At tho beginning he set up an Office
under the roof OF the Miller school
where he did business of administ.
ering oaths to men whom he admits
he knew perjuring themselves. He
was finally driven from that point
OF vantage by Republicans who insist
cd that the law be enforced. at least
to that extent, and then he placed his
table on the porch Of the home OF a.
D. Simon. which Is near by and the
busy traffic in perjury and worse went
merrily on while the polls remained
open.
Abbaticchio was not SO particular
either as to his location or the way
in which he operated. One Italian
went to him as countryman and as
a art Of the routine OF getting his
election papers fixed up handed over
bis naturalization papers. After max
ing out the residence affidavit Abba.
ticchto sought to tell the man how he
should vote and when he found out
that the voter intended to support the
Republican candidates he tore up the
affldavit-and the naturalization pa.
pers. Nor was this the only raw per.
Torrance OF this creature who does
not seem to respect any law. All day
his place Of business was surrounded
with a gang Of falsihers who have
been well trained by him and are will.
ing to perform practically any service
he may require.
At the polls mentioned between 100
and $50 illegal votes were cast and
there Is evidence to warrant the asser.
ton that there was scarcely a precinct
in Fairmont district at which some Il.
legal votes were not placed in the bal.
lot box, indicating clearly that there
was q deliberate and thoroughly or.
ganized plan to steal the election in
this county.
How well the conspirators under
stood each other and were able, to
employ team work was shown many
times during the day at the polling
place in the court house. The princi.
pie offense there was the open pur.
chase OF votes by Tom Deveny and
Deputy Sheriff Buckley who acted as
paymaster during the intervals when
the bulky frame Of Tom became wear.
led with the ardous task. But from
time to time colored workers at these
polls were seen to hand transfers to
colored voters after they had already
deposited ballots in the court house
ballot box. It Is a fair assumption
that the blacks 30 heeled went to
some other polling place and voted
again. It Is q fact that up to noon
Monday County Clerk Martin had Is.
sued hundreds Of these transfers. II
they were all used ipsthis way, they
Of themselves would Zave been enough
to turn the election. -
One OF the Incidents Of the election