New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-02
II. D. Patton Charged With
Trying to Deceive
Soldier Voters
Stickers Had Mitchell
Republican Nominee
Mayors Name Appeared
by Error, Says Accused
Bronx Politician

Henry d. Patton. secretary of the
Citizens Non-Partisan Committee of
The Bronx, WAS indicted yesterday by
The Bronx County Grand Jury. charged
with "duress and intimidation OF vot-
ers,7 for having caused to be dis
tributed among soldiers at the mill
tary camp at Spartanburg, S. C., paster
ballots alleged TO have been fraudulent.
Testimony was given that Patton had
caused to be printed 1000 paster bal
lots; that the ballots were marked with
the Republican emblem; that they pur-
ported to give the names of the regu-
lar Republican nominees; that Mr..
Mitchel's name appeared as the Re-
publican nominee for Mayor. ard that
the purpose of the ballots was TO mis-
lead soldier voters by giving them the
impression that Mr.. Mitchell, Fusion
candidate for reelection. and not Mr..
Bennett, the Republican nominee. had
the backing of the Republican organiza-
ton.
II was explained that soldier, whose
vote cannot be invalidated, had only
10 attach the paster ballot on the REG
ular ballot. and thus without having
70 use any marks he would vote for
Mr. Mitchell, thinking him TO be the
Republican nominee, instead of Mr..
Bennett.
Due to Error, Says Patton
Mr.. Patton, lawyer. with Offices at
81 Cedar Street, explained to the grand
jurors that in causing the paster bal
lots to be printed he had no intention
of committing a fraud. He said the
appearance of Mr.. Mitchels name on
the ballot. with the Republican emblem,
was due TO an error. He asserted he
was working for the election OF Thomas
W, white. whose name appears on
both the Republican and Fusion ballots
as candidate for Borough President OF
The Bronx.
Mr.. Patton said he sent TO Abraham
s. Gilbert. counsel for Mayor Mitchell s
campaign committee. for copy OF the
Fusion ballot. and, before sending the
ballot'to the printer. changed the word
"Fusion" to Republican" and the
bull's-eye emblem 10 the eagle emblem,
but through an oversight forgot TO sub
stitute Mr.. Mitchel's name for Mr. Ben
nett's.
The explanation did not satisfy Dis
trict Attorney Francis Martin. who IS
the Tammany candidate for reelection.
He subpoenaed the officials of the Citl-
.zens' Non Partisan Committee, which is
supporting Mr.. White.
MIR Bennett himself appeared as the
complaining witness. he referred 10
"the contemplate patriotism OF Mayor
Mitchell, who wears soldiers UNIFORM
on billposters, but does not dare 70
wear il in the streets. .
he insisted that the appearance OF
Mr. Mitche's name under the hepup-
liean emblem, instead OF his own, was
n palpable plot "to rob him of votes"
and raised a question whether thou
sands Of the fraudulent ballots had not
been distributed among the soldiers at
Camp Upton, Camp Mills and IN
France"
Edward l.. O'Connor. proprietor OF
the fremont Printing Company, 42l5
Third Avenue. testified that on DC
tober IS "a red-headed German named
Greimer, an employe Of the Depart
rent of Parks" called upon him with
An order for 1000 of the ballots, the
sample being signed by Mr.. Patton and
approved by Charles ". Festherall
Other witnesses subppnaed were Adolf
Hupfel. wealthy brewer; Monroe
Goldwater. George p. Zipf, DR.. William
Swami and DIN J. Stephens, all ofl-
Gals Of the Non-Partisan Committee.
Patton Freed in $1,000 Bail
Mr.. Patton lives at 247O Webb Ave
nue.. The Bronx. lie was once APP
pointed by Mayor Mitchell as tempo
rary magistrate When the Indictment
was returned against him he was taken
before Supreme Court Justice Il. II.
Mitchell and placed under 81 900 osil.
The indictment charges that Patton
did "by fraudulent devices and con-
trivances, impede, prevent and other
wise interfere with the free exercise
Of the elective franchise by the voters
of the City OF New York"
Emory r. Buckner, chairman of the
Fusion campaign committee, yesterday
declared that only during rhe day had
the Fusion committee learned OF the
sending OF the paster ballots to Spar
tanburg BY the Citizens NonPartisan
Committee OF The Bronx. No one
connected With the Fusion committee
ever saw these pastors or knew any
thing about them, he said.
Mr. Buckner said that the Fusion
committee has regular Fusion psster,
which is being sent 10 the camps, just
as the Democratic committee has sent
Democratic pastors and just as the New
YORK Republican County Committee
has sent Republican pastors. The
Bronx pastrr, as sent, he said, was Of
course erroneous.