The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-26
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.
Second Days Proceedings.
Looking Into the Work of the
Returning Board.
Ole Feel Eliminates and Brings
His Cause to Grief.
WellS's Sensational Narrative.
He ExpOunds Law and Details
Horrors.
Wells's Sensational Narrative.
Gov. McEnery's Proposition.

The Committee met at half-past 10 O'Clock
The business Of the morning was opened b.
calling VIM. r. Whitaker to the stand, who
after stating his calling and place of resi-
dence, related that he was employed a
one of the counsel before the board in the in
terest Of the Conservatives during the can
wasting of the returns of the election of 1874
The Chairman instructed the witness tina
it was unnecessary to testify upon points upor
which Mr.. Zacharie and Mr.. Cavanac had
given evidence, and accordingly Mr.. Whitaker
first related and pointed out decisions of the
Supreme Court, showing that decisions o,
the Returning Board are held as final, and
cannot be questioned by the courts.
Witness testified to the fact of packages in
the possession of the board having been
opened, and that important testimony favor
ing Conservative candidates was distracted.
He also mentioned what the President of the
board (Wells) at one time SAID during dis
cussion on some point with Conservative
counsel, which was "You are trying to
make out a case for some committee but we
will beat you yet.
Witness affirmed that Thomas Anderson, a
member of the board, admitted, during the
sitting, that the Conservatives had elected a
majority to the House. There was ruling
of the board that counsel should have the
privilege of inspecting packages in the cases
of contested parishes. This ruling was not
adhered to by the board, and despite remon-
strances the board would not allow this in
spection to be made.
In consequence, important evidence was
distracted, which had been filed by Conser-
vative counsel There was also q great deal
of evidence fled by Republican counsel
which was not submitted to the Conservative
counsel in accordance with previous agree
ment, hence the Conservative counsel were
thus deprived OF the opportunity of Offering
rebutting testimony upon such points
The board canvassed and compiled the re-
turns of the whole State, with, probably, the.
exception OF DeSoto parish, when they (the
board) went into secret session.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Ray-Cannot desig-
nate the parishes of which packages were
opened; knows that there were several;
knows that there were written protests filed
by the Republican counsel of which Conserva-
tive counsel had no knowledge, although the
board had ruled that it should be
done in every instance. Was not
paid for services rendered as counsel, but
only acted as one of the committee in the
how the packages were opened, but GER |
tainly they were opened after going into the |
possession of the board, if the evidence of |
clerks who made affidavits to that effect is |
correct.
To question from Col. Field, if during
the session of the board threats had not al |
most daily appeared in the newspapers that |
the members of the board would be hung, if |
a fair count was not made, the witness re-
piled that he had not seen such; saw the ar
ticle in the Shreveport Times, of November |
20, and knows that the advice there given was |
generally condemned by Democrats in the |
city.
Knows General Anderson; has known him
q long time as a man reputed to be wealthy. |
He is said to be Democrat; witness only
knows him as an Anderson Democrat Knows
Mr.. Arroyo, who was member Of the Re-
burning Board. Mr. Arroyo did not accept
The position to act as Democrat, but to act
The part of an honest man and serve the peo-
pie as far as he could.
Knows that the article referred to, which
appeared in the Shreveport Times. created a
general feeling of condemnation with almost
Ill the Democrats. Witness was Liberal
Republican up to two years ago. Is not
Democrat now. Came here in the Federal
lrmy as private. Witness related what DO
'itiOns he has held under the Federal Govern
nent, and said If there was q carpet Dagger in
he community, he was one. Voted IN the
asst election mixed ticket, for the best men, !
md did the same in the election of 1872
OSCAR ARROYO
vas summoned to the stand by Mr.. Zacharie,
o testify to some points in connection with !
he case of jackson parish. The canvass was ,
'egun in alphabetical order as regards par
shes, after the canvass of the city and the q
,arishes composing the First and Second 1
Congressional Districts. a
In the case of jackson parish, the Super 1t
isor of the parish made affidavit that the
lection had been fair and without disturb +
nee. There were two candidates for the '
louise from that parish-Kidd and Hood. I
'efore witnesses withdrawal from the board, +
he parish had been canvassed and Kidd was O
eclared elected, all members certifying to Q
nat fact. l
After witnesses withdrawal, the other four
.adical members returned Hood. The d0- v
licate of the statement on file with the
ecretary of State was produced and Mr..
rroyo said that the original of this was not i
le statement made out by the board when he il
as present, showing that after his departure v
10 board changed the result. p
The witness stated the number of parishes
le returns from which he had refused to "
gn. Never consulted with any one as to Il
hat he should and what he should not sign.
Mr.. Zacharie stated, touching the case of Il
arroll parish, that all testimony in the case CT
rs closed on Q certain date, and that in the b,
lpers now before the committee, brought W
ON the Secretary of State, he has found to
fled by the Republican counsel, di
Importing to contain an abstract of afida- in
Is which they Republican counseD had in
st. This document was first seen by Mr.. sa
lcharie this day. This paper was filed after cl
testimony had been closed. ",
Mr.. Arroyo was called to state whether he CO
lew anything of this document. Never of
W it. Touching these papers, they are
ted December q, whereas all testimony be- VII
10 the board was closed ON the Sd of De- in
mber, and all briefs were fled on the 5th of re-
,camhnr. The said d0cunAnf il will be de