Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1880 — A Bribe Sold. [ARTICLE]

A Bribe Sold.

The following actual occurrence, says an exchauge, took place in a town close by Hartford: A Democrat was approached by a zealous Repuqlicau storekeeper who offered to pay him for staying away from the polls. This merchant was only a buyer and seller of produce, but at every election was a purchaser of votes. He made no secret of his unholy work, aud the Democaat alludod to above was made afiberal offer if he would stay at home and not vote. Ho was to have a barrel of flour and a half barrel of maekeral, besides some ready money. The flour and maekeral was to be delivered before the el tetiou, and the money wu3 to be paid after the election. “Now,” said the Democrat, “Iwill agree to get two more to stay at home and not vote if you will give me twLe as much more.” This was agreed to, and the merchant was chuckling in anticipation of a handsome reduction in the Democratic vote. The Democrat then went to a Republican friend aud told him that he wasn’t going to vote, and asked him to “pair off” with him. The Republican agreed to it. The Democrat themwent to another Republican and agreed to give him a half-barrel of maekeral if he would not vote. This was agreed to, and these contracts all round wore carried out to the letter. When the merchant found out that his mackerel had been buying up Republican votes, he gavs vent to language that ought to impair his standing in the Congregational Church. The Democrat has never asked him for the mony.

”An attorney from a neighboring town was in attendance at our court last week. Said attorney sports a tiu6 watchsaid to be worth sfioo. He isalsooneof the b’hoys and takes his “Dips” with them. One night he tarried to long at his cuds and the next morning when he consulted his watch to got his “mean time” and longitudinal bearing, discovered that instead of his fine valuable watch he was in possession of a very inferior silver watch. How or when the exchange was made, he was entirely ignorant. But little was said about it that day but a considereble amount of detective work was done. By ap

plying to the jewelry establishments the ownership of the silver watch was determined. That night a demand was made upon the gentleman supposed to be in possession of IhefbQO j watch and without much ceremony j he delivered it up and received j in return his silver watch. It is ruther a singular circumstance, but fortunately for all parties concerned, but ilttle noise has been made about it.—Rochester Sentinel, Dec, 4. The Astor family hold $6,476,806 of the State debt of Ohio.

Married.— On Monday evening of lust week, at the residence of th£ bride’s parents, in Heiipselaer, by Eld. B. F. Ferguson, ls\r. Hubert Randle and Miss Ida, youngest daughter of David Nowels, Sr., till of Jasper county, lnd. The kind wishes of hosts of iriends are tendered the bride and groom. Tom Hiner is acting conductor this week. Undo Eli Yeoman, and other excursionists to Kansas, returned Wednesday . Levi F. Clouse, of Kansas, is visiting old friends and rdati res in this locality. Victims to Constipation ami its untold miseries can keep in good condition, by a moderate use of Ayer’s Pills, the surest, safest and most reliable Cathartic.