Evening star., 1947-05-28
BY the Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, May 28.-The
City Board of Election Commis-
sioners reported today that It's
vault had been burglarized and
ballots under investigation by
the Jackson County grand jury
had been carried away less than
IL hours after the jury had rec
commended continuation of an
investigation into alleged fraud
In the 1948 primary election.
Ludwick Graves, chairman of the
board, said both doors of the large
storage vault in the county court
house had been pried open and
three ballot boxes containing bal
lots checked by the grand jury have
been opened"
"One of the boxes" he added, "is
definitely empty"
The county grand jury, which
completed It's term last night, re-
turned a total of 81 indictments
against II persons, and recon-
mended a complete recount of all
ballots in the race for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Representa-
tive in Congress from the fifth Mis-
souri, district last August.
Says Fraud Beat Slaughter.
-Tt is our belief" the grand jury
report said, that Roger c. Slaughter
in this race was deprived of the
nomination by a fraudulent mis-
count of votes and other types Of
fraud"
Mr.. Slaughter, running for re-
election, was defeated by Enos
Axtell, who was indorsed both by
President Truman and James M.
Pendergast, head of Kansas City
democratic faction. Mr.. Axtell was
defeated in the general election by
Albert M. Reeves. Republican.
Mr.. Graves said the theft of the
ballots early today apparently was
"the work Of professionals"
He said the burglars had brought
a mattress to the vault, but ap-
parently did not need it. The outer
double door had been pried open
from the top, and the single inner
door had been forced In a similar
manner.
Waiting on Fingerprint Tests.
I'VE have not gone in there yet"
he explained. And are waiting for
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and police to take fingerprints and
>,,aLo floiY- i.1ynctiCn tim y
From what we can see, three
boxes have been opened, and one of
them is definitely empty" he de-
clared.
He explained that the boxes had
been returned by the grand jury to
the board and had been placed in
the vault by two election commits
sioners, one Democrat and one Re-
publican. The boxes, metal ballot
containers, were locked and sealed.
The boxes contained all the
ballots turned over to the jury" Mr.
Graves declared.
Robert Murphy of the Kansas
City Office of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, said Mr.. Graves had
informed his Office of the theft and
added:
We probably will help out some
The Election Board Office, which
handles elections and registrations
for the city precincts, is located on
the first floor of the Jackson County
courthouse. across the street from
City Hall.
Called Premeditated Plan.
In It's report the jury said its in
vestigations disclosed deliberate
calculated and premeditated plan tc
miscount and otherwise steal votes
from certain candidates in the pri-
mary in jackson County.
Evidence collected by Kansas City
Star reporters and investigators was
used by the grand jury. More thar
5000 persons were interviewed By
the newspapers investigators,
Jury Urges FBI Aid.
1--WE strongly urge that tht
United States Department of JUS
tice and the FBI enter this investi'
cation" the report stated.
A week ago in Washington. Sen
stor KEN. Republican, of Missour
charged that Attorney General ClarA
failed to act on the alleged irregu
larities in the fifth district primary
A Senate Judiciary Subcommitte'
began preliminary investigation o
the accusations today.
Senator KEN said Mr.. Clark con
tended an FBI investigation, mad,
at his request. showed no basis 70
prosecution IN connection with tn