Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1918 — ALLEGED ILLEGAL VOTE CAST [ARTICLE]

ALLEGED ILLEGAL VOTE CAST

Harry Watson Arrested For Voting In Third Precinct. While there has been for many 'years dozens of votes cast in Jasper county by Republicans who had forfeited their right to vote and no prosecutions followed, some of the Democrats, at least, have made up their mind that this thing must 'Stop, and they will insist that no 'one. Democrat or Republican, snail 'be allowed to vote in their pre|cincts unless he possesses the legal 1 qualifications of a voter on election day. These qualifications are: 11st, that he is over the age of 21 I years; 2nd, that he has duly registered in the precinct in which he 'desires to vote; 3rd, that he is an | actual bonaflde resident of the 'state for six months, the township I Sixty days and the precinct or ward thirty days Immediately pre- ! ceeding the election. 1 Several months ago Harry Watson, the plumber, who last year built a new house on Park avenue but has never moved into same, registered as residing in the said house, while continuing to reside at the Mrs. Henry Randle property on North Cullen street, where he has lived ever since he was married. At the time of fuct reuisi tration Mr. Watson no doubt expected to .move Into his property on Park avenue and be an actual I

resident of the third precinct for 30 days proceeding the election, as the law requires. lie did not do so, however, but continued to reside at the Randle place, Which is in the first precinct, and, not having re-registered,he had forfeited his right to vote at all in the election last Tuesday. On Monday evening proceeding the election Mr. Watson said that he was going to vote in the third precinct, and offered to bet a. dollar that he would vote in said twice warned that if he voted there ihe would have to swear his vote in—that his vote would be challenged. On election day he went to the polls in the third •precinct a’ <1 wanted to vote and the vote was challenged on instructions of F. E. Babcock, who is the Democratic precinct chairman of said voting district, Mr. subscribed o the following oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I am a citizen of the United States; that I am now over the age of twentyone years to the best of my information and belief; that I have been a bonafide resident of thS ( State for six months immediately | proceeding this election; that 1 have resided in the township sixty days and in the precinct thirty days, and that I am a bonafide resident of this precinct; that 1 am generally known by the name in which I now desire to vote, which is Henry H. Watson; that 1 have not voted and will not vote in any other precinct in this election; that my occupation is a plumber; that my residence is No Park avenue, Rensselaer, Indiana, and that during the last six months of this election 1 have resided at I have moved fromto on the following date and that' anr l have personal knowledge of my residence in the precinct thirty days and the township sixty days. The above is the form of affidavit one is required to make when shig vote is challenged, if he desires to swear in said vote, and as Mr. Watson is alleged to have signed the prescribed form of affidavit, it is presumed that this is what he swore to.

And his vote was taken. Before the closing of the polls, the aforesaid precinct committeeman went before the election board, as the law provides, and swore out an affidavit that Mr. Watson was an illegal voter, and the inspector sent the election Sheriffs out and they phoned to the Randle ■property—not to Mr. Watson’s "home” on Park avenue, understand —and he came down and was taken before the inspector, who then turned the matter over to Squire Irwin, as the law requires. When making this affidavit of alleged illegal voting before the inspector, Mayor Charles G. Spitler, the Republican Judge, who had taken an oath as such judge and peace officer, to impartially discharge his duties "and not knowingly permit any person to vote who is not qualified,” took occasion to insult the committeeman who was performing his duty as a citizen and precinct chairman, and said, "Well, it won’t do you any good; youl will not get far with it,” whicll shows the attitude of some of Ithe Republicans toward such and to ‘ Insult and attempt to Bulldoze anyone who has the temer/ty to protest against it. The preliminary hearing was set by Squire Irwin for 1 p. m., Wednesday, but on agreement was postponed to 7:30 last evening. Jf the evidence at such hearing justifies, it is the duty of the justice to bind the alleged illegal voter

over to the circuit court or grand jury. The penalty for illegal voting is as follows: Whoever, not having the legal qualifications of a voter at any election authorized by law to be held in this State for any officer whatever, Votes or offers to vote at such election, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars nor less than ten dollars, Imprisoned in the county jail not more than one year nor less than one month, and disfranchised and rendered incapable of holding any office or trust or profit for any indeterminate period. In filing this affidavit the committeeman had no personal feeling against Mr. Watson whatever, in fact regretted very 'much that he would have been remiss in his duty I'committeeman had he failed to make the affidavit.