Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1889 — Bribery in Rhode Island. [ARTICLE]

Bribery in Rhode Island.

In the Rhode Island General Assembly Friday morning a report from the Committee on Elections concerning the Block Island election cases was read. The report stated that seventy-five to one hundred men were bribed to vote for John C. Sheffield, Jr,, (Republican) who holds the seat, and that $25 to SIOO were paid for Votes. The corruption revealed by the report was almost impossible to believe. The Republicans made counter charges against the Democrats of similar proceedings. With the report was a resolution that Sheffield was not legally elected and not entitled to his seat in the House, and that Christopher E. Champlin was entitled to the seat held by Sheffield. The House voted 40 to 21 to continue the matter to the January session.