Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-23


time O'Connor had the key To the
box.
Senator Thombs-Were you in the
ward room from the time these bal
lots were counted until they were
placed in the box and sealed:
F'laherty-I was.
Senator Ihombs-Do you know
anything about the condition of the
unused ballots when they were put
in the box:
Fiaherty-I do not
Senator Thombs-Who put them
in the box?
Flaherty-Mr. OConnor and Mr..
Morrison.
. City Clerk Bumpus
George W. Bumpus of Auburn de-
scribed the manner in which ballots
were delivered to Ward four on cleo
ton day. He did not recall who it was
took the ballots and the box at that
time Later he gave the box key 10
a stranger. who said that he had
come after it. About noon he went to
the ward room and secured receipt
for the ballots This was given him
by MI la merry. " (ollnoF Was MOI
present at the time.
1t was abo.t . o'clock that night
that OConnor gave him the KEY.
The ballot box was in the hall of the
City building. outside his office. IT
was there when he left the office
about 10 O'Clock and went home. Had
only reached his house when he was
called back by a telephone message.
Found "A number Of strangers in the
hall. They were acting strangely,
City Marshal and Mayor Burnham
was alsothcre Was told these men
had been sent over from Lewiston 10
watch the boxes. Then put all boxes
inside his office.
City Clerk Bumpus showed the CHECK
list used at the primary election June
H. and then in reply to a question by
Judge Rrann gave the vote in Ward
Four, Auburn, at the state election.
Sept, H. Mr. Parent cS9. DIR. Irish lia.
The record book. he stated. goes back
to the State election in 1912. and Mr..
Brann asked him at his leisure to make
a copy Of the relative vote for Gov
ernor at the eiectionM
Croas-examined by Judge Marser, he
stated that he would be - years old in
another week and that ne had been ci!:-
clerk IS years. Nothing was called to
his attention TO distinguish the proceed
ure from other elections. Mr. Brann,
he testified called his attention the
next morning TO the insecure way in
which the ballots were Put up.
when Attorney Leigh said:
1T would be we'll to let witness testify
al least pert of the time.
Il would be glad to abide by tina,
with respect TO Brother Brann. =,
promptly came back Judge Manser
Continuing the cross-examination. NJ.
Bumpus testified that all other boxes
OF ballots were sealed about the same
way as those from Ward Four.
Following the election day witness
was waited upon by Russell, tine DEM
ocratic candidate for sheriff, and Ci:t
ford. Democratic candidate for county
attorney, and the request for the checn
list was made. It was not delivered 10
them, but was later delivered to depui.
SHERIFF. and was returned in about an
hour. In reply 10 question by Judge
Brann, Mr.. Bumpus stated that he did
not let anyone have the list until rep
resentatives OF both parties were pres
emit He never heard that the check
lists were muti.ated Or marks rubbe
out. Oh cross-examination he testified
that he delivered the list to Mr.. Cliff
ford and he went upstairs with it.
William Qunby OF Auburn was next
called. but was not then questioned.
Theodore Rackleff. a young man of Is.
testified to being employed on election
day by O'Conror as outside checker on
list for Republicans. returning the list
after completing his work TO O'Conn.r
and receiving So. which was paid by
Mr.. Manser. chairman Of the Ecpubli
can city committee. He testified that
he did not touch or handle the ballots
Witness testified that he did not vote.
nor did his brother vote. nor did he
check the name of the latter on his
list. He testified that he or anyone
else could see into the ante-room. Fur
Their testimony was to the effect that
his list and that kept by one Dyer. an
outside checker employed by the Dem
ocrats. His list and Dyers came ont
even up to 80 in the morning.
William e. Quimby
William f. Quimby. Democrat bal
lot clerk in Ward four of Auburn, was
called and said that he had lived IN
that ward for 81 years. He had been
ballot clerk for five years. The polls
opened. Sept. ., at 6 A. NJ. He reached
the ward room at about els. O'Con-
nor and John Morrison were there
Was out of the room about 10 min
utes during the day. Requested Nor
rison to check his list during the time
and supposed he did so. Did not know
who did this before he arrived in the
morning.
Asked to. identify check list used by
him he said the one displayed and
marked Exhibit No. 3. was this. Felt
positive of this because there were
names marked on the other list shown
which were not checked by him.
There were 395 names checked on
his list. At 5 o'clock, or about that.
in the afternoon he and Morrison
compared notes and found that 3i1
ballots had been given out. At 5
o'clock they compared and again they
agreed: that is they had to agree. be-
cause Morrison had given out the bal
lots as he called the names.
He did not know who opened the
ballot box when the polls closed. but
O'Conner dumped it upon the table
used for counting.
Rep. Rrann--Did you notice any