[Newspaper]
Publication: The Ohio Democrat
New Philadelphia, OH, United States
vol. 50, no. 43, p. 1, col. 5-6
NOW READ THIS!
Mr. Halstead Retracts
His Statement
In Regard to the Ballot-Box
Business
And Says That He is Now Satisfied
That Mr. Campbell's
Signatures Are Substantial,
Forgeries.
(From the Commercial Gazette, Oct 11.)
Upon testimony believed to be conclusive, and upon my own responsibility, I addressed Mr. James E. Campbell a letter and published it in the editorial columns of the Commercial Gazette, stating I had the proof that he had secured a money interest in the ballot-box on behalf of which as a member of the House of Representatives, he had introduced a bill, and upon his denial I caused to be engraved and published what purported to be a facsimile of his signature appended to a paper subscribing for three-twentieths of the interest in, the Ballot-Box job. In yesterday's paper I made the announcement that the original documents were in my possession, They consist of Mr. Campbell's bill, the contract numbered 1,000, and the subscription paper to which names are written, beginning with that of Mr. Campbell, as has been represented.
Testimony was placed before me last night proving that the names, including that of Mr. Campbell, are, with two exceptions traced from detached signatures, and are substantially forgeries. The exceptions were written without a copy. That there may be no shade of doubt upon my exact meaning, I have to say that Mr. Campbell's signature as it has been used is fradulent. The proof of this came to me in conclusive form at a late hour, and it is my duty at once to declare the truth. This leaves Mr. Campbell, where the Governor left him with the ballot-box bill, in his Music Hall speech. The papers that seemed to show the business behind the bill, are as published, but the signatures, of which I have given that of the author of the bill, are fabricated.
M. HALSTEAD.
