The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-14
CRAGO ACQUITTED
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omen tho ballot box This was done ne
sad. while other election officials went
to supper He said Thompson took inc
other ballots away in sack.
Tho defense did not cross-exaHin' 'oe
witness, but Attorney Ritz moved TO OK
clude this evidence which no said WAS
Irrelevant. The court overruled the mo-
ton.
crago Denies GUILE
Homer G. Crago. tho defendant, was
called 10 the witness stand as mo hrS'
witness for the defense following an
nnuncement at O'Clock that the sAIe
rested.
Mr.. Crago said nc WAS elected CITY
clerk two and one-half years ago mat
in June, 1921. he WAS elected CITY man j.
axer. Mr.. Crago, on questioning by Al
,crney O'Brien. said ne had been In
structed by the halo, commissioners.
Of which commission he was chairman
nv virtue OF being city clerk. TO place an
order for $4,000 ballots as required oy
law Owing To labor troubles, he ealo.
tho contract was awarded tho majority
comnany. MI CraSo said he signed LOT
some OF the ballots when they were &c
liyered on Saturday before tho election
and that on Sunday he was notlheo oy
Arch carp, then chief accountant ina
Tho ramaipder OF the ballots arrived al
his office. Ho said he then went 70
m. clerks office and locked the oallo's
In the vault. l.,
The ballots, Mr.. CraGo said. were IN
packages OF 10000 and 500. THIS wal
done he said. TO prevent counting 'he
ballots II they were put up In larger
Quantities and also that they Wouin NOT
20 into the opening at the top or inc
ballot box. He said that IS ballot BOXES
we're placed in Earl Fotticords once
adjoining his. where on Wednesday the
day previous 20 tho eiecuon' 'he' N'''
secured by the judges.
Mr. Craco said that on Tuesday night
nrec,sding the election. he and George
Abrams former building permit clerk.
v.nt 70 their offices after council ano
nrepared the boxes and supplies. Aora ms
no said. put the ballots in the boxes az
no urragol called the numbers starting
from, ,rc trst precinct In the First Waro
10 said when the work was completed
Abrams check and his tailed ad,oeo
hsIots He said there were no more
ballots left He said the boxes were
locked with two locks with the exception
~ Two boxes which had the Tugs broken
pfr and that the keys were TIED 10 inc
ho,as Ny. CraEo said the lights were
10 burning and the window shades
were LETT up. lie said police headqnar-
tors were notified to keep watch on ths
room.
p,A YOU give Burley Thompson or any
m, else my ballots a5ked Altorhe!
O'Brien.
y did not. replied Crngo.
Crago said ne had charge OF the distri'
hutIon Of the ballot boxes 10 the eIec-
ton ortcials and that his ONCE FORCE
helped. lie said tina; the IS ballot boxes
were in the possession OF the election
officials throughout the night pleceen'
Ing the election.
w.r. no, friendly: that in November.
IH"O nc and Thompson had y few words
a,hou, nurcnasins material for the hre
d.oar.nen, without making an order
out and having 1t signed by tho pur-
chasing agent
Did YOU deliver any keys - Rur'ey
Thoupsor or anyone else" ask ed
Attorney OEDrIcn.
~ did not" replied CTaGo.
Croes- Examination
Prosecuting Attorney Bachmann asked
NJ C-aco on examination. ABOUT
tho alStrihuc OF the ballots as TO
him hcinS in charge OF preserving them
as well "a they keys. rag" said ne
houCh, new locks and keys for some OF
tho pallo. boxes: that each box had two
locks and each we're different so thar
The 81 me KEY could not open two boxes
md that each OF the TWO judges ware
given different keys CnEo said ne did
no. whether there was an old lock or
new .ock on the ballot box in Precinct
No. : o. the Second ward.
'pn ycu know whore Thompson got
III. KEYS" inquired Prosecuting Attor-
nov IIaChmann.
NO. sir replied CraSo.
DO YOU know whether there were
any duolica,e keys for the ballot box