Evening star., 1949-07-06
First Witnesses Due
To Testify Today in
Kentucky Vote Frauds
BY the Asseeiotsd Press

LEXINGTON. KY, July 6.-The
Government yesterday placed the
blame for Bourbon County elec-
tion frauds on a one time aide to
top-fight New Deal officials and
his young law partner.
United States Attorney Claude
P. Stephens charged that E. F.
Prichard, jr., "a. often called the
"boy wonder Of the New Deal" Z"
and his partner, A. E. Funk, jr.,
27, were responsible for the frauds
last fall, whether they actually
did it or it was done through an
intermediate"
His statements came at the
opening of the trial in which the
two are under Federal indictment
on a charge of conspiring to
forge ballots in the November
presidential election. A total Of
254 bogus ballots we're found in
II precincts.
First Witnesses Today.
The defense reserved the right
to make its statement later.
The first of 100 witnesses will
testify today.
A jury of IL men and one
woman-plus two alternates-was
completed in Unexpectedly short
order. The panel was sworn in
five hours after the case was
called.
The Governments prosecutor
charged Mr.. Funk, son IF the
States Attorney General, forged
the signatures of election pre-
cinct officials on many of the
ballots.
He said the prosecution would
prove through testimony of Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation hand
writing expert that Funk signed
a number, large number, in fact.
practically all of the names on
ballots found In these precincts. :"
Then he turned on Mr.. Prich-
ard, once an aide to Chief Justice.
Vinson, Justice Frankfurter of the
Supreme Court and other key Of
ficials during six years of job
holding in Washington.
Former Party Counsel.
He said Mr.. Prichard, also one
time counsel for the National
Democratic Party. was familiar
with operations Of election in
Bourbon County. that he had
access, through his friend County
Attorney William) Baldwin. to the
place where the ballots were
kept"
The indictment charged the two
men conspired and agreed to re-
move a number of blank ballots
from official ballot books, to forge
the names Of precinct officers and
vote the ballots for the Demo-
cratic Party. All but one Of the
254 ballots were marked for the
straight Democratic ticket.
The one scratched ballot was
marked for Democratic candidates
except in the race for Senator.
It gave the vote to John Sherman
Cooper. Republican, who lost the
race to Virgil Chapman. then the
States 9Th district Representa-
tive. Bourbon is Senator Chap
mans home county.
Won't Call Baldwin.
Mr.. Stephens contended Mr..
Baldwin was one of the persons
who had access to the vault In the
county clerks Office where the bal
lots were kept before the election.
He said, however, he had not
planned to call Mr.. Baldwin as a
witness.
Mr.. Prichard, whose home is in
Bourbon County. was an election
officer in the Clintonville precinct
where some Of the forged ballots
were found.
He and Mr.. Funk, an assistant
Lexington city corporation coun-
sci, were charged in a single in
dictment with conspiracy to op-
press citizens Of the United States
by voting and forging illegal bal
lots at an election
A surprise assistant in the
prosecution was Jesse K. Lewis,
crusading Frankfort attorney. He
explained he was retained by a
citizens group.
Wenfher ]