Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-19
SPENCER.
4 Repeating, Rirling and Radical Ala.
bama Senator on Trial for Bril-
berry and Corruption.
A Strong Array Of EVldence-A Cut
Throat Barber Of M8rtOn's Per.
suaSiOn TO the Fr0nt.
The Letters of sour Friend Spence ~
Prove Too Much for Him-A "Bad
LOt''-He is a "Dead Duek.''

COMMITTEES on privileges snd election
this evening continued its Investigation
cf The charges concerning Senate
Spsncer's election by the Al&bama leg
islature. Robert Barber, a clerk Of tht
house of delegates ot the so lied court
! hou'e legislature, which elected Mr.
Spencer, testified that the latte
promised to have him appointed mar
shal when General gealeF's term should
texpi;e. This Promise vas made Ions
after he had began to labor for Spen-
GERS Interests, and was g voluntary
offer q. The night before Spencer's elec,
ton witness kept guard over two ooloTed
Republican members, named C9Tsor
and Muar, who we're feared TO be dlsaf
feeted, aid not unlikely to go over tC
the so-called capitol Democratic legsla-
ture, and break the quorum at the court
house. He staid at their boarding.
house sll night and in tie morning
| too6 them to Spencer's room at the
hotel, where, in Spencsr's presence, he
! told them that Spencer had made UP
lis mind to give them al office. Spen-
Ger said be rOnltn't tnake q direct
promise, but there was q route agency
vacant in the wei tern railway, and they
should be provided for.
Question-Was anything said about
how they should vote2
AusWer-TheYe WAS no conversation
on that point. They subsequently went
tc the courthouse and voted for General
| spencef, but they had been instructed
to do this by the conventions which
nominated them. Witness had under
stood that they bad been offered twenty
five hundred dollars to abandon the
courthouse legislature and go to the
capitol.
Witness was asked if Spencer gave
him any c1on5y TO use for the journey
he took to Lowndes county.
To this question Ex-senator Caypen-
ter, counsel for Senator Spencer, object
ed, taking the ground that no proof can
be given before the committee showing
that any one had been bTibed; tha
bribery was punishable by the State.
The witness was directed by the chair
msn FSenator MortoD1 to answer the
question, and he did SO by stating that
Senator spencer furnished one of the
party tares hundred dollars for expenses.
The II ason they went there was TO de-
feat man nsmed Stanwood, who was
an enemy Of Spencer's. Moore, the col
ored man who was elected in his place,
waI also intTusted to go into other Coun-
ties and induce persons to run as inde-
pendent candidates. The expsnsss of
ihe canvass were to be paid by Spencer,
or the STATE committee, he forgot which !;
remembers that Spencer told him to go.
A number OF letters written by Spencer
and Kinds in relation TO the Office men,
ton were then identified by the witness,
and an offsr made to put them in as ev-
idence.
Mr.. Carpenter objected TO the letters
arguing that 10 conspiracy has as yet
been shown between Messrs. Spencer
and Kinds
Senator Morton said the committee
had decided to allow the letters to go in
as evidence after reading them:
Mr. Carpenter said he would make an
other objeetion-that tie letters We're ir-
relevant.
The first letter from Kinds to Barber,
dated May 6, 1873, sets forth that he
would take care OF his friends first, and
that "mstters looked cheerful for all ex-
pectiug appointments, and think 1t in
my power to put out Healey." The
next letter was similar in respect, ad-
ding that he would like to get the full
name ard address of every Republican
member Of the legislature. He desired
to send them some Important docu-
ments, e'c. Toe next letter iuclosed
temporary appointment for Barber in
the customhouse at Mobile, and telling
him the Republicans were sure to carry
the State, and that they were going TO
realize q big role.
Mr.. Carpenter again objected to the
letter..
General Morgan sad he would show
that the temporary sppoin tment was
given to Barber to support him until he
received q better one, and that 1t wRs
that he was to render no SER
vices to the government whatever.
Senator Morton said that for the pres
ent the letters received would lay on the
table, and if they were connected in any
way they would be admitted.
General Morgan to the witnessl Tell
US whether you aiterRsrd asked Senator
Spencer for the Office which he prom.
ised you.
Mr.. Carpsnter-To that I obj CT.
Senator Morton, alter argument, said
tie committee would allow the question
TO be asked.
Question by Mr.. Morgan-After the
election of Spencer did you ask him for
q msrsbalsbip or any other Office?
Answer-Yes. Mr.. Spencer wrote me
that l should have it. l have letter
from him stating that 1 should have the
Witness produced the
letters. They were received by me
: ear after his election. / have tried to
fJrget all about this matter, and l am
here 8gsinst Dry will. 1t is very un-
pleasant for me TO give this testimony,
and although was not ordered to bring
.he letters here, I have brought them for
he purpose CT sustaining my testimony
and character, as / understood that an
attempt would be made to break them |
iown.
One Of the letters from Spencer, dated |
November oath, no year, read, saying: |
'Healey's time coon expires, ana you |
,hsIl have the place, and that the office |
9ould be worth five thousand dollars q |
year" The letter Sdds that in case the |
United States government had a war |
With Spair, Alabama will come ia for a |
rood share Of patronage, as he Tsp sn-
,er) is on the military committee of the |
ierate and can thus get many offices,
.Iso telling Barber that ne could get him |
! good place in the army if he wanted |
me.
Senator Morton said that, for the pres
mt, this letter would also lie on the table |
Ex-senator Carpenter objected to the
etter going in at all.
Tee witness said he Yves appointed as !
of customs at Mobile, at q sal.
Try OF two dollars and fifty cents per
lays; although he never applied Tor it |
le thinks that Senator Spencer got the
for him; never went to
Mobile and never rendered any service,
,ut drew his pay; held the position
or three months.
The witness having mentioned a ru-
nor he had heard "that the Democrats
,ffered 3 member named Jones five huu-
ired dollars 10 leave the SLatehouss
legislature and break its quorum,u was
Isked whether Spencer did not give
Zones money to remain. In reply he
tated that in presence of Spencer he
'nce proposed that It would be well to
'ffer Jones twenty-five hundred dollars
n anything elEes to prevent his going,
,ut Spencer did not consent to aDy such
1t was agreed to send to
LoEndes county for a certain intimate
riend OF Jones, which was done. and
his friends Influence kept Jones quiet.
The witness was then asked whss he
inew about snybody's Offering a Mr..
dsnsel sn inducement to leave the cap
tol Legislature SO as TO break the quo
um. The question wss objected to and
long discussion ensued as to whether
t is competent IN this investigation to
INQUIRE into the organization or non-or-
sanitation Of the ststehouse legislature
which did not elect Spencer.
The committee closed their doors for
onsultstion, and finally, by a strict
'srty vote decided that 1t would not be
When the decision was an
bounced. Ganeral Morpar. cnursel for