that 13,541 were "minor," leaving only 4,031 on "declarations of intention" and for "soldiers." It is not possible that there could have been any such number of minor applications. 99 18 There was a republican naturalization committee, with an office at 25 Chambers street, organized "for the purpose of aiding applicants for naturalization in getting their papers, to which the various ward clubs and associations" sent parties, and for whom applications were made." "The whole business of naturalization of the republican party" was transacted through that office. This committee refused to employ any "professional witness," 19 and they kept a careful record of all persons naturalized. The total number was... Of these there were "minor applications" On previous declaration of intention.. Soldier applications.... 2,085 1,237 549 299 Less than 60 per cent. of these were "minor applications." Mr. Jarvis, the clerk of the common pleas, testifies that of the naturalizations in that court in 1868, "about one-half were minors”—he "made that estimate."20 But assuming that 60 per cent, is a legitimate proportion, then, of the 10,093 applications admitted to be in the supreme court, only 6,056 would be "minors," showing 3,655 fraudulent; and of the 17,572 applications examined in the superior court only 10,543 would be "minors," showing 3,000 fraudulent; making an aggregate of 6,655 fraudulent, on this ground alone, in the naturalizations of 24 days !21 4.-Extensive preparations. Although in every county of New York there is a county court in permanent session22 authorized to naturalize aliens, yet for some reason many naturalizations for various counties were effected in the courts of New York city. The supreme court for the first time in its history engaged in the work.23 Notwithstanding the fact that the annual average number of naturalizations in the city in all the State courts was only 9,207, yet there was printed by the New York Printing Company, on the order of the clerks of these two courts, or their deputies, between September 16 and October 23, 105,000 blank applications 18 Evidence, 4880. 19 Evidence, 4824-4880. For democratic professional witnesses see tables in preceding notes, and 93, 7606, 7648, 4664, 1369, 1425. 20 Evidence, 2012. He accounts for many minor applications of prior years by reason of the registry law of 1865, requiring the production of a certificate of naturalization even of persons who were citizens by the naturalization of their parents during their minority. But this cannot well be deemed the true construction of the law. Evidence, page 326. As three years elapsed since this law was passed, it could not materially increase the "minor applications" of 1868. And see Evidence, 4172, 7504, 7523, 7557, 7550. Judge Garvin swears : 4484. Q. How did the number of minors who applied for naturalization this year compare with the number who applied the previous year? A. I do not know that there was any larger proportion of minors this year than other years. 21 Henry Lyle testifies : 4769. Q. State, if you can, what proportion of persons for whom you procured certificates of naturalization was on blanks for applicants who came to the United States under 18 years of age.-A. They were all, except two or three. 4770. Q. State whether any persons for whom you made out applications did really come to the United States under 18 years of age.-A. Perhaps a few of them did. 4773. Q. Among the applicants for whom you procured certificates of naturalization on the ground that they came to this country under 18 years of age, were there any very old men?-A. Yes, sir; a great many. 22 Evidence, 7555. 23 Evidence, 1952. 1 BY THE QUANTITY. The existence or distribution of thousands in "bundles"32 and " quantities" was proved in like manner, until it was found impracticable to go further. A naturalization office at No. 6 Centre street procured from the supreme court and sold certificates on an extensive scale—the “red tickets,"33 to pay clerk's fees, being supplied by Tammany Hall. This office was superintended by Benjamin B. Rosenberg, afterwards indicted in the United States circuit court for some of his naturalization frauds. Wm. T. Simms called on Rosenberg on Monday, October 19, and he describes what occurred thus: Rosen Rosenberg asked me what I wanted of him. I told him that I was from Yonkers; that I had 20 or 30 friends at Yonkers who wanted naturalization papers, and that I had no witIf nesses or principals. Said I, Can you or can you not get me papers for those men? you cannot, say it, because I do not wish to begin it and then fail. If you cannot, I will seek elsewhere." He asked me what party I was from, and I told him the democratic party. He said, "I can get them, without fail. I have sold 7,000 of them." I told him I would return later in the afternoon with the names, as they were then incomplete. I did return in the afternoon, but without the memorandum of names, telling him that I was still unable to complete the names, but that I would return in the morning. On Tuesday morning I went back with a list of these five names: Patrick O'Brien, John J. Mercer, Antonio Gomez, Alex. N. McCann, and Adolph Slechelseine. I handed him the memorandum, and asked him to let me have the papers that afternoon, if he could. He said that was impossible, but hat I could have them by 6 o'clock. I left the office and went about my business, and at 6 witak rued. As I went into the saloon he immediately arose. I walked directly the saloon, where there was a dark room, which I entered. 24 Charles E. Wilbur testifies me the five papers which I now hold in my hand, and I 2168. I am president of the New York Printing Company I give you five papers.' at a prior interview he said to me, "I do not three years ago. We printed naturalization blanks for the variou rior court: October 2, 10,000 certificates of naturalization; October October 15, 10,000 certificates of naturalization; October 3, 10,000 aphich are filled into these papers, tions of four or five different kinds. I believe they were delivered to the custom. We printed for the supreme court: October 6, 5,000 certificates of natas to certificates of naturalization; October 15, 10,000 certificates of naturalization; Octo of naturalization; October 6, 25,000 applications-5,000 each of five different kinds; cations; October 13, 10,000 applications; October 16, 5,000 applications; October 19, 5,000ter in a cas- at the ber 22, 5,000 applications. They were delivered, I believe, to the officers of the court. The was a crever for the superior court, 30,000 certificates of naturalization and 30,000 applications; for the su one of 30,000 certificates of naturalization and 60,000 applications. I know no reason why there shou applications in the supreme court than in the superior. I should suppose there would be two or three mine the many applications needed as certificates. I do not recollect our having printed naturalization certifica. the supreme court prior to this time. There may be many blanks on hand in the offices of the clerks ol?courts; there are none in our office. The company is a stock company. them. That is, in k 4138. I wish to state that in addition to the number of certificates of naturalization and applications printed by the New York Printing Company, of which I gave evidence before, I have found that on the 16th of September we furnished to the supreme court 10,000 applications and 9,000 certificates, and on the 19th of Sep. tember 10,000 applications. We did not furnish blank applications to any other parties than the clerks of the court. We did not furnish any to the Tammany committee. 25 Evidence, 3331, 3355, 3362. Moses D. Gale, chairman of the Tammany Hall naturalization committee, testifies : We had an office at the corner of Centre street and Tryon Row, in the basement. It was in a lager-beer * * * * at Tammany. 3362. Q. How many sets of naturalization blanks did you procure and furnish?-A. That I cannot say; I certified to Mr. Pickford's bill and referred it to the finance committee. Blanks were ordered as they were wanted. I should think there were several thousand of them. 26 Gale says: A. My impression is that there were over 40,000 tickets furnished to the committee. How many were left I do not know."-Evidence, 3361-3377. that 13,541 were "minor," leaving only 4,031 on "declarations of intention" and for "soldiers." It is not possible that there could have been any such number of minor applications. There was a republican naturalization committee, with an office at 25 Chambers street, organized "for the purpose of aiding applicants for naturalization in getting their papers, to which the various ward clubs and associations" sent parties, and for whom applications were made." 18 "The whole business of naturalization of the republican party" was transacted through that office. This committee refused to employ any "professional witness," 19 and they kept a careful record of all persons naturalized. "19 The total number was.. Of these there were "minor applications" On previous declaration of intention. Soldier applications..... 2,085 1,237 549 299 Less than 60 per cent. of these were "minor applications." Mr. Jarvis, the clerk of the common pleas, testifies that of the naturalizations in that court in 1868, "about one-half were minors"-he "made that estimate."20 But assuming that 60 per cent. is a legitimate proportion, then, of the 10,093 applications admitted to be in the supreme court, only 6,056 would be "minors," showing 3,655 fraudulent; and of the 17,572 applications examined in the superior court only 10,543 would be "minors," showing 3,000 fraudulent; making an aggregate 6,655 fraudulent, on this ground alone, in the naturalizations 10,000 10,000 39,000 28 Evidence, 413, 425, 1085, 2103, 1364. 29 Evidence, 1783, 368. 30 Evidence, 276, 296, pages 26-28; Evidence, 2847, 3088, 3768. 31 Evidence, 263, 305, (2,) 334, 180, (5,) 413, 425, (14,) 442, (several ;) 468, (12,) 488, 493, 509, (4,) 516, (2,) 630, (9,) 637, (2,) 740, 767, 775, 784, 925, (4,) 1032, 1068, 1080, 1086, 1107, 1122, (5,) 1133, 1252, (3,) 1469, 1783, 1806, 1966, 1978, (20,) 2061, (30,) 2099, 2103, 2264, 2416, 2779, 2805, (14,) 2932, (several;) 3299, 4132, 4163, 4599, (15,) 5543, (5,) 27791, (25,) 2930, 3299. Marshal Murray proves 150 to 175 surrendered and destroyed. Evidence, 12, 604, 607, 614, 617, 624. See Evidence, pages 31, 32, 34, 35, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 85; Evidence, 1846. Theodore Allen, 9171, says: James Goff and his brother were engaged in procuring naturalization certificates. I saw a number of papers that were sent to Connecticut. I saw the two Goffs have 500 naturalization papers that they had sold for 50 cents apiece to send to Connectiut. I suppose 1,000 were sent to Brooklyn that I saw them have. They contracted for these papers, they said, at 50 cents a head. They were to send them to Brooklyn and Hartford, I believe. BY THE QUANTITY. The existence or distribution of thousands in "bundles"32 and “ quantities" was proved in like manner, until it was found impracticable to go further. A naturalization office at No. 6 Centre street procured from the supreme court and sold certificates on an extensive scale-the "red tickets, "33 to pay clerk's fees, being supplied by Tammany Hall. This office was superintended by Benjamin B. Rosenberg, afterwards indicted in the United States circuit court for some of his naturalization frauds. Wm. T. Simms called on Rosenberg on Monday, October 19, and he describes what occurred thus: Rosenberg asked me what I wanted of him. I told him that I was from Yonkers; that I had 20 or 30 friends at Yonkers who wanted naturalization papers, and that I had no witnesses or principals. Said I, "Can you or can you not get me papers for those men? If you cannot, say it, because I do not wish to begin it and then fail. If you cannot, I will seek elsewhere." He asked me what party I was from, and I told him the democratic party. He said, "I can get them, without fail. I have sold 7,000 of them." I told him I would return later in the afternoon with the names, as they were then incomplete. I did return in the afternoon, but without the memorandum of names, telling him that I was still unable to complete the names, but that I would return in the morning. On Tuesday morning I went back with a list of these five names: Patrick O'Brien, John J. Mercer, Antonio Gomez, Alex. N. McCann, and Adolph Slechelseine. I handed him the memorandum, and asked him to let me have the papers that afternoon, if he could. He said that was impossible, but that I could have them by 6 o'clock. I left the office and went about my business, and at 6 o'clock I returned. As I went into the saloon he immediately arose. I walked directly Rosenback to the rear part of the saloon, where there was a dark room, which I entered. berg followed me in. He handed me the five papers which I now hold in my hand, and I handed him a ten-dollar bill. Either then or at a prior interview he said to me, "I do not make this money, but you present me with $10, and I give you five papers." That is, in substance, all I know about these five papers. 904. Q. Were the names which you furnished to him, and which are filled into these papers, real ur or fictitious namesy of these men, but they were to call there. I was to. A on They where they could get the papers. Other parties were to instruct them 95. et All the papers were called for and taken except 14 or 17. 8896. Q. What did you do with the box when it came ?-A. I stuck it behind the counter in a case at the A8897. Q. Was it left open there?-A. Yes, sir. There was a cover on it-on the back. It was a crever ti tar box. Whenever I saw a person coming whom I had reason to suspect was coming to get one of papers, I would get out of the way, so as not to get too closely implicated in the matter. 8898. Q. Were the names already inserted in these papers?-A. I believe they were. whole of them, but they were of such as I looked at. I did not examine the 8899. Q. I understand you to say that they were all taken from the box that stood there except 14 or 17?A. Yes, sir. 8900. Q. What became of those?-A. I burned them. 8901. Q. Would it be possible for you to produce one of that batch of papers?-A. I do not know but that I have one around the house. 8902. Q. Will you endeavor to find it, and let the committee have it before we go away?-A. I have not the slightest objection to giving you the paper if I can find it. 8903. Q. Do you remember whether this letter which came to you was dated in a particular place?-A. I could not say. I did not take particular notice. If I remember correctly it was in the same handwriting as that of the signature to the paper. That is my impression. 8904. Q. Do you remember where those papers purported to be issued-whether in New York city or not?A. I could not say. 8905. Q. Did you preserve the letter?-A. I believe I put it in with the naturalization papers, and burnt them all together. 8906. Q. Do you know of any particular persons who received those papers?-A. I do not know as I do; I have seen some parties going in and out of the house, but I could not say whether they took the papers or not. I always walked out of the back door when I saw parties coming whom I suspected of coming to get any of these papers. 8907. Q. Do you know who it was that gave them information, or was to give them information, as to where they were to get the papers and how ?-A. No, sir. 8908. Q. How did the box come?-A. I think it was left at the house by some parties; I think some four or five young men came in one night and left it there. I did not find it until early in the morning. I get up between 5 and 6 o clock in the morning, as a general thing. 8909. Q. Do you know what the politics of these persons were, or supposed to be, who received these papers?-A. I supposed them to be democrats. 42 In Ulster county about 600 aliens received certificates of naturalization, probably twothirds of them furnished by the county clerk or his deputy, on application at his office, without any action or order of a court or judge; one man appearing before the clerk as a witness for between one and two hundred applicants; and in probably more than a hundred cases certificates were granted without production of a copy of the previous declaration of intention, but on affidavit that applicants previously had them.-Evidence, 7434 to 7481. 43 In Monroe county, during 1868, and mostly in October, 1,256 aliens received certifiH. Rep. Com. 31-2 3 or less," for residents of his locality, and Calvin Frost was supplied with 150 in one lot, which were distributed from the democratic clubroom at Peekskill in the same county. He testifies: t I acted with the committee in this town. I took about 60 or 70 men to New York city to get their naturalization papers. I took them down in the steamboat in the morning, and took them to the City Hall. I had their papers properly made out. Another gentleman, whom I did not know, took charge of them. That gentleman told me it was unnecessary bring the men down in the present state of things; that they could procure the papers with out. On that a list of names was furnished, and I delivered them to a person whom I di not know. This gentleman, who spoke to me about it, told me to send the names; whic I did of about-well, I think, somewhere near 150 names Then, as I was passing in th street one evening, another person-different from the one I handed the names to, one I ha never seen before, a stranger to me-came up to me and handed me a roll of papers done u in brown paper, addressed to me. I took it to my office and opened it, and it was thes naturalization papers. On these men calling for them I took them to the club-room, an there they were distributed by several parties. No witnesses sent down as vouch * * * ers only the names of the persons to be naturalized. TO PERSONS WITHOUT REQUEST. In addition to this there is a large class of fraudulent certificates issue to aliens who not only never appeared in court, but who never aske that application should be made for them. They were left at houses stores, and other places, or sold or given away. Individual instance are numerous.3 37 2.-Certificates on fictitious names, to be used by "repeaters." The evidence discloses the fact that certificates of naturalization we procured from the supreme court to fictitious names, and delivered aliens and citizens to enable them to register and vote as "repeaters John McClusky John H. McCunn when he city judge Russel1 del 10, 000 10, City Ju 10, 000 20,000 30,000 30,000 29 Evidence, 1783, 368. 30 Evidence, 276, 296, pages 26-28; Evidence, 2847, 3088, 3768. 31 Evidence, 263, 305, (2,) 334, 180, (5,) 413, 425, (14,) 442, (several ;) 468, (12,) 488, 493, 509, (4,) 516, (2,) 630, (9,) 637, (2,) 740, 767, 775, 784, 925, (4,) 1032, 1068, 1080, 1086, 1107, 1122, (5,) 1133, 1252, (3,) 1469, 1783, 1806, 1966, 1978, (20,) 2061, (30,) 2099, 2103, 2264, 2416, 2779, 2805, (14.) 2932, (several;) 3299, 4132, 4163, 4599, (15,) 5543, (5,) 27794, (25,) 2930, 3299. Marshal Murray proves 150 to 175 surrendered and destroyed. Evidence, 12, 604, 607, 614, 617, 624. See Evidence, pages 31, 32, 34, 35, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 85; Evidence, 1846. Theodore Allen, 9171, says: James Goff and his brother were engaged in procuring naturalization certificates. I saw a number of |