Election offenses

Advanced search
  • People v. Irving Mendelsohn (Part 1)

    3068: The People of the State of New York v. Irving Mendelsohn, impleaded with Herman Katz, Alex Mandel, and Jacob Teplitz

    Irving Mendelsohn, 28 years old, is indicted under Section 751 of the Penal Code for intentionally making or attempting to make a false canvass of the result of a vote in an election. Mendelsohn was chairman of the Board of County Canvassers of the 6th Election District during the 1920 elections. Joseph Rubenstein, a member of the Democratic Party and an election watcher for the Honest Ballot Association, testifies that he observed Mendelsohn falsify election returns in favor of the Republican Party candidate for governor. Rubenstein also claims that he saw the defendant falsely call some votes for the Republican candidate for the New York State Assembly when those votes had been marked for the Socialist Party candidate. Abraham Cohan, an election watcher for the Socialist Party, testifies that he observed election officials mark void ballots in favor of Morris Reiss, Republican Party candidate for the New York State Assembly. The defendant, Irving Mendelsohn, testifies that he made only two mistakes in tallying the votes, mistakes that occurred as he was threatened during the count by members of the Socialist Party. The jury finds the defendant not guilty.
  • People v. Edward Lawless

    0414: The People of the State of New York v. Edward Lawless

    Edward Lawless, 23, is indicted for falsely registering to vote as James Donnelly on October 10, 1903. Various officials, including members of the Board of Elections, testify to the identity of Lawless. Charles Grabert, 28, chairman of the Board of Inspectors, testifies that he registered an individual calling himself James Donnelly. The judge, John Goff, advises the jury to acquit the defendant on account of insufficient evidence to convict. The defendant is discharged.