The daily gazette., 1876-12-23
Gov. Wells on the Stand.
HE SHOWS HIS IGNORANCE OR
KNOWING DISREGARD OF
THE LAW.
A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO COUNT
LOUISIANA IN FOR HAYES AND
WHEELER.

A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO COUNT
LOUISIANA IN FOR HAYES AND
WHEELER.
Special Despatch to the World
New ORLEANS, December 21.-Gov-
ernOr Wells app cared this morning in
answer to the summons of the committee,
but he did not produce the original re-
turns and other documents called for by
the subpoena duces tecu,n, and he repeated
lis refusal to produce them. He did not
however, adhere to hisformer declarations
not to answer any questions relating to
his official action. 1t is supposed that he
has been instructed that persistent refusal
to answer would injure the Hayes pro-
gramme. Wells's examination is regarded
as extremely damaging to the Republican
case. His testimony was full of contra
dictions, and it was developed that he
was either ignorant of the law or that he
determined to override its provisions.
The law distinctly says that the returns
shall be complied from the Commission
ers' statements. In East Baton Rouge
| and Grant and in certain polls in New
| Orleans, Lafayette and Tangipahoa the
Supervisors omitted certain polls. The
board refusedi to compel them from the
| Commissioners statements. These polls
were all Democratic. In Concordia, they
sent for the boxes from certain omitted
Republican polls and counted the votes
all in: so in Natchtoches they sent 70 the
boxes and counted in about 800 votes for
five Hayes electors. There no means of
knowing whether or not the ballots bore
Hayes's names, or whether or not the
votes were changed and the box stuffed.
The Democrats had no chance fbringing
TESTIMONY on these points.
Oells admitted that he had claim of
$4,000 for property destroyed during
the war, ane that his nephew and nieces
had claim of the same kind for over
100000. He said that when he read
Mr.. Tilden's letter he thought they would
have very slim chance to get their claims
through if the Democrats should come in
He thought, however, that Mr.. Tilden's
! letter did not prevent him from doing his
duty.
Mr.. D. NJ. Lange, q well-known colored
Republican, testified before the BatoI
Rouge subcommittee to-day. He was g
member of the Constitutional Conven
ton and of the Legislature, and can
vassed 1.-THE parish for the Republican
|party. He swore that neither at the
election nor before it was there was any
: intimidatioc or violence towards coloreC
| voters. The troubles Isome months ago
had nothing to do with politics, bu
were caused by stealing and robbery. HI
was at Ward 3. The election there wa
, fair and free and properly returned, bu
Glover excluded the poll. Mr.. Lang,
said that large numbers of colored mel
l had become Democrats, and many o
2 them were the most active workers il
{ the party.
, | The Senate Committee are still a
work on Ouchita parish. Cora Williams
the woman who testified yesterday, is tn,
person who played nurse and guardian
: to Eliza Pinkston before the Returning
Board, and threw handkerchief ovel
: Elizas face to conceal her laughter whil
pretending that she was about to faint.
During the investigation this morning
Mr.. jerks put lthe following question,t t.
Governor Wells: "If the Supervise
was knave enough not to forward the re
turns and you had returns made by the
Commissioners of Election, did you can
yass such vote?
vassed no votes received through super
2 visorS.
5 The attention of Governor Wells wa
1 here called to the fact that the boXe
from Concordia did not come through
T the supervisors, and Mr.. Wells rephe,
! eXcitedly "No, sir; how could they ?
The House Committee to-day decided
to ask the House to issue warrant t.
1 bring Gov. Wells to Washington.
In reference to the absence ofa Demo
4 crat on the Returning Board. Governo
Wells testified as follows II believe TIL
| law says there be Democrat on tn
board l think it is the duty of the boart
to fill vacancies, but it did not fill tn
, vacancy in 1876, because the board coul'
4 not agree. DIR. Hugh Kennedy, the gen
tleman proposed for the vacant position
on the board is a gentleman of high stand
ing, tirreproachable character, and
a friend of mine ; but the board could nc
agree on his appointment, and no othe
name was presented. l did not vote o
/, the question, and do not think any men
1 Der of the board was much opposed t
DR.. Kennedy ; but in talking over tn
= question we found that we could nc
4 agree.