Year: 1871

Purity Of tho Ballet Box.


Judge Bedford's charge to the Grand Jury


yesterday was timely and judicious Just on


the eve Of an election SO exciting a. that Of
to-day II is well that the rufianly and dishon-


est element In the contest should be reminded


that there is law to punish frauds on the
ballot box and Court firm and independent
enough 10 enforce the penalty Of the law
against all offenders to the utmost limit. All
sorts of rumors have been circulated and very


broad charges have been made, implying that
the people were not to be allowed to have .


fair election and that the inspectors and can
vassers were themselves in conspiracy to
miscount the votes or In some other way


to control the result in favor OF
their own political friends. At one
duplicate boxes were to be procured, the
ballots In one to be prepared beforehand in
such numbers as the inspectors desired, and at
the last moment the fraudulent box to be SUBJ
stituted for the genuine box and the latter
destroyed. To be sure there appear to be
few practical difficulties in the way of this
ingenious trick; but any story is good enough
for political effect. At another time we have
been told that the inspectors were to practise
a neat piece Of prestidigitation, worthy Of
Hermann, aud, by process known as


s'palming," to substitute ballots of their own
for those placed in their hands by the voter.
Now, we have heard that whole armies Of
Philadelphia roughs had made their appear
ance in the city, ready to take part in to-day's
election, and again we have been notified that
the police were ordered to drive all
voters for the republican and democratic union
ticket away from the polls. Of course these
stories are cauards; nevertheless, there is no
doubt that frauds will be attempted in the
shape Of false voting and repeating to-day, as
in all former elections, and Judge Bedford's
charge will probably deter many of those who
are in the habit of practising sach outrages
from taking the risk of punishment.


Nothing is more certain than that the polls
will be vigilautly watched to-day, and it will
be more difficult for repeaters and fraudulent
voters to escape detection now than in ordi-
nary times. It is also sure that Imprisonment
for the longest term allowed by the law will
follow conviction in all cases Of attempted
fraud. Judge Bedford promises to deal
with all such criminals without fear
or favor" and he will be as good
as his word. The police should use their ut
most exertions to detect and arrest any
person offering false vote or attempting to
vote more than once. They should also bear
in mind the fact well known to the force, that
thieves are very frequently found among
those who shout s'stop thief" most Justify,
and they should keep q sharp eye upon the
doings Of Jenny O'Brien, the king of repeat
ers, and his well-organized gang Of shoulder
hitters and rufians. If frauds are contemplated
they will, no doubt, be attempted in the
Seventh Senatorial district, and both sides
will bear watching. Whoever may venture
on such an xperiment-Tammany or anti
Tammany-he may rest assured that he will
meet with prompt and severe punishment If he
should fall into the hands Of Judge Bedford.