New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-16
NEW ORLEANS,


fore going he would state that he had no
specific charge to make against any of the
parties implicated in this matter. His OBJ
ject was to get at the truth, but he was
satisfied that politics made this hard
matter to arrive at.
President Wells expressed the opinion
that politics was certainly doing great
deal to prevent the Returning Board from
finishing its work.
An officer of the police testified, but as he
could not fix the day which his testim ony
had reference to it did not amount to much.
Mr.. Tissant, another officer of the police,
was examined. He said he was relieved by
the officer who had been examined just
before him. He said he was relieved at
twelve o'clock, on the morning of the
twenty-sixth ultimo.
The statements of these officers went to
show that Mr.. Levy, and another man they
did not know by name. were working that
day in the Office of the Returning Board,
with papers taken from the armoir where
the returns from parishes were kept.
Mr.. VOORHEES,, one Of the clerks at present
engaged by the Returning Board, was next
examined. He testified that himself and
Mr.. Beggs had remained in charge of the
Office at night, and that when they left in
the morning they were in the habit of call
ing the attention of the officer who took
charge to the seals on the armoir. for the
purpose of showing that they had not been
broken. The seals, Mr.. VOORHEES, said, were
kept by Messrs. Campbell and Fische.
Mr.. Zacharie said he desired to repeat
that he made no specific charge against
any one in this matter. He simply had
presented testimony for the purpose Of
showing that the returns from st. Helena
had been changed 90 as to elect Floyd in
tives. He thought there was plenty of tes-
timony to establish this fact He further
said that in introducing the afidavits that
were calculated to reflect on the board he
did nothing more than he would have de.
sired done had he been a member Of the
board. He did it for the purpose OF elicit
ing the truth, and giving the board an op-
portunity to investigate the charges and il
possible ferret cut the guilty ones.
This certainly has the appearance of fair.
ness on the part Of Mr.. Zacharie, but in
making these charges and failing to fiji
them On members of the board or any ot
the clerks retained by it. it would look as il
the charges were made for political effect
alone; someth hing that in these times of ex
treme excitement can not be INDUCED in
without endangering the public peace, and
for that reason, if for no other, should moi
be INDUCED in by men who really have the
good Of society in view.
The report Of the experts ia regard to
the altering of the returns from the par
ishes of St. Helena and Sabine was pre-
sented BY Mr.. Zacharie. 1t was read and
ordered to be filed. The report gives the
opinion that these returns have beer tam
pered with, fact that did not require
experts to discover. The report would have
been more satisfactory if it could have
pointed out where these changes were
made and who made them.
Mr.. Arroyo said he was not fully satisfied
in regard to the testimony introduced to
shew that the changes had been made since
the returns came into the hands of the
board, and asked that Mr.. Campbell, one o,
the discharged clerks, be sent for. Mr.
Arroy0's request was granted.
The board then went into secret session to
consider the Carroll parish contest. 1t re.
maided in secret session about three hours,
and adjourned about four o'clock TO meet
again this morning at eleven o'clock. It was
understood the board had not concluded
upon judgment in the Carroll case.
The following certificates were read to
the board yesterday:
New ORLEANS, December l5 1874
hereby certify that Charles S. Abell,
assistant secretary to the Returning Board,
never did, to my knowledge, withdraw any
package from this Office.
j. ". DEMAREST,
Auditors Office.
NEW ORLEANS. December Is, 1874.
hereby certify that Charles s. Abel,
assistant secretary of the Returning Board,
never did, to my knowledge, withdraw any
package from this office.
F.N. SCHOLTZ, Auditors Office.