The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-22

spected yesterday for readings of the public and protective counters. .., Shield Removal
 The Democrat learned that one of the charges would be based on what appeared to be removal of one of the shields over the T" lever of a machine. 1nasmuch as the 1T" lever was at the bottom of the list and only A, B and 0, Democratic, Republican and Independent Demo- cratic, respectively, were used, this would fail to substantiate the alle- gation of Domenic Santora, Repub- lican inspector of the machines, that the D lever of machines was tam. pered with and unlocked Ito con- fuse the Independent Democrats.
 Further, the other two machines said to have been basis of tam pering" rumors are understood to be the machines used for, demon- stration and the "tampering" allega- ton is said to derive from the fact that labels of the merit system" either remained on the machines during the October 9th election, or had been marked off without the label being entirely obliterated.
 As in the instance of much of the other searching for proof of al- legations, conducted by the plain tiff counsel in relation to examina. ton of the election sheets. these further allegations are expected to add little to the proof" the Fusion candidates lawyers have promised for presentation in court to make case for their mandamus action seeking to obtain re-canvassing of the voting machines.
 Mechanical Differences
 So far nothing has been shown to indicate that Irregularities which would change the election results, as declared by General Moderator James R. McMahon, have been un- earthed. It is conceded by many lawyers who are in attendance st the mandamus hearings, that the discrepancies pointed thus far in the allegations of the plaintiffs counsel are merely mechanical dif- ferences of variety understandable to those familiar with the operation Of voting machines and the check work of moderators and their dis- trict election workers.
 When Corporation Counsel O'Con- nor expressed the opinion in court that the plaintiffs counsel were on fishing" expedition, this view was shared by majority of the lawyers observing the case. It was obvious they said, that the Repub- lican and Independent Democratic counsel had little knowledge of the workings of the election mechanics and were out to get as much po- tential evidence as the court would allow from the exhibits.
 This view was substantiated yes. terday when the four attorneys, Averill. McLinden, Guastaferri, and Bronson, spent two hours before opening of court at 10 o'clock, when the corporation counsel changed the entire process of the action by his unexpected move on request of Mayor Hayes, checking tally sheets and nnoderators' reports in the jury room of the superior court. For the first time since they entered their complaint with its more than score of allegations of irregulari. ties and vote discrepancies, the Fu. sion lawyers had recourse to the material which they had sought ac- cess to from the opening of their court action.
 Busy Scene
 It was a busy scene in the fury room from until 10 o'clock yes. terday. The four lawyers were en- gagged in copying figures from all the numerous election reports from the 20 districts and, as MT. Bron. son told the court later, they had only completed third of their check when court opened.
 While the count of the machine tabulators proceeded in the base. ment, half of the plaintiffs lawyers continued this copying of figures yesterday, preparatory to the inter- rogation of about 30 witnesses who will be called by their side should there be no change in the process of the action before this is indi-, cated as necessary to their writing of testimony into record of the case. On the other side of the picture IS the likelihood that the defense will call almost as many witnesses, should the case go along as it has been tending during the two first days of court hearings.
 Desire Expediency
 Both sides told the court yester- day that they wanted to expedite the matter and the opposing coIn- sel predicted that the case would continue for possibly two weeks un- lees fhern fa n eh0rk nllk hv aIifa \