The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-27
Third Days Proceedings.
Wells Gives More Testimony.
He Talks Of An Attempt Made tt
Assassinate Him.
Tom Anderson has His Say.
E. L. PiersOm to the Front.

ueslre 70 make q statement IN reply to tina
part OF the Sub Committees report, which
had reference to him individually. Hugh J.
1 Campbell read that part Of the report referred
to, where, after Wells arose to explain and
1 thus endeavored to make matters clear:
He says that on the Goth Of December be
instructed the board that he would leave fol
his home on Dec. "a. Accordingly took
passage on the evening Of the oath and wenl
as far as the mouth of Red River, where he
took the stage and proceeded to his home
Remained there until the Sth of January and
arrived in New Orleans On the 18th of Janu.
airy. Saw through the newspapers that the
committee was in New Orleans, and was
anxious to appear before it.
Thought that the committee intended to
remain longer. No proposition whatever was
made to him to appear before the committee.
The committee refused to issue subpoena
for his appearances; that is, his attorney af-
firmed that the subpoena was refused. Con-
corning the breaking of the seals of packages,
the witness proposed to explain, and said that
he came to Nav Orleans before the election,
in order to receive the returns and see to their
4 security
Did receive them and saw that they were
properly secured continued to look after the
returns until the day upon which the board
inaugurated its sessions; as the packages were
opened by the board for the first inspection
IN the Office of the State Treasurer.
Relative to statement Of Mr.. Whitaker
that sealed package was broken open, the
witness said it was evident the package had
been broken in transportation.
Touching the parish Of Sabine, wherein
| poll was thrown out, the witness explained
that in session he alone of all the members
/ present opposed it. Mr.. Arroyo would never
sign report unless he had first consulted
with the Conservative counsel. Witness had
no preference for either of the candidates in
| the parish of Sabine, but acted in the matter
according to the best evidence before him.
In the case of Carroll there had been
numerous informalities. The board threw
out those votes which were held to have been
improperly inserted in the returns. The evil
dence Of the United States Supervisor, one
Blunt, was all before the board that was at all
to the point, and it was upon this testimony
that the case Of Carroll parish was deter
mined.
Concerning the breaking of seals, the
affidavit Of Mr.. Levy, who had been a clerk
in the employ Of the board, set forth that the
armoir containing the papers had been broken
open. The armor stood il. the room wherein
the board held it's meetings.
An investigation was made touching this
charge, and the board from the evidence ar.
rived at the conclusion that Mr.. Levy himself
opened the armOir. In relation to Jackson
parish Mr.. Arroyo stated that he did not sign
for the return of Hood. but had signed for the
return of Kidd. Mr.. Arroyo is mistaken and
has confounded Sabine and jackson parishes
Mr.. Arroyo signed in the case of Sabine par
ish but not in the case Of jackson.
The board in throwing out the five polls in
Rapides parish acted upon witness own state
ment This statement was filed on the 14th
of December, just as the board was going into
secret session. The counsel would have seen
this statement if they had remained long
enough. The Supervisor made no statement,
because it was worth his life to do so. Hence,
witness being cognizant of this general intim-
idation, had to make statement regarding
this condition of things
Judge Manning, one of the worst White
Leaguers in the country, but very nice gen.
tleman withal, forced the Supervisor to make
the certificate setting forth that the election
had been fair. Offices of the parish are now
held by men commissioned by McEnery.
The Recorders Office is held by McEnery-
lite. Was not in the parish on the day of cleo
ton. When he returned to the parish in De-
cember heard that number of men intended
to wait on him, and drive him from the par
ish.
A letter was produced and read to the COM
mittee, which witness had received while in |
the parish. from Mr.. Burgess. advising him |
of his danger. Was only assaulted once, and
that was IN the City Hotel.
Canvassed the parishes of Rapides and |
Avoyelles very thoroughly. Did not make
any speeches, because he feared being killed. |
Only heard through other parties that he
would be suddenly cut down some day. Was
never threatened to his face, and could not
name any one who had made threats
Has lived in the parish sixty seven years,
and held various offices; during the war was
in the parish, but had to stay in the woods;
was styled jayhawker; would rather be a
jayhawker than a traitor; frequently while
jayhawking had as many as one hundred and
fifty men with him; raised seven companies
for Gen. Banks during the war.
Was elected Governor, and filled the
Office until removed by Sheridan After the
war, he felt kindly toward his people, and
endeavored to put his people in line with the
government. Was elected Governor by the
Democrats and Republicans. Appointed
good many Confederates to office. Legisla-
ture broke with him.
A serious trouble grew out of the fact that
witness vetoed au appropriation OF s20,O 200,
appropriated to pay the expenses OF Messrs
Hunt and Gibson, who went to Washington
to test the constitutionality of the reconstruc-
ton laws Is now quite poor. Has made no
money since the war. in fact has lost money.
Was friendly with all his neighbors from the
close of the war until the campaign of 1872.
Trouble now is of political nature.
Before the Returning Board no distinction
was made between counsel The Democratic
counsel was accorded all the privileges
granted to Republican counsel.
The reason of so much time being con-
sumed by the board in the canvass is attribu-
table mainly to the fact that Democratic
counsel were allowed to discuss questions at
too great length. If it had to be done again,
witness would not allow lawyer in the !
room.
were to leave Washington for the purpose of
investigating the Louisiana question how !
ever, did not know but that it might only :
have been newspaper report, and generally !
newspaper reports can not be relied upon.
The witness endeavored to explain why he
did not appear before the Congressional Com