New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-01
YESTERDAYS TESTIMONY.

COL. PICKETT REC0UNTS HIS ATTEMPT TO SECURE
100000 FROM THE NORTHERN DEMOCRATS
JOHN H. MADDOX KNOWS SOMETHING But WILL
NOT TELL.
WAsIIINGrOy, Jan. 31.-Testimony was taken by
Proctor KnOtts Committee on the Powers, Pryi-
lcgcs and Duties of the House to-day in regard to
the integrity of the Louisiana Returning Board. The
first witness was John T. Pickett an attorney resi-
dent at Washington, who had some correspondence
with ex-Gov Wells of Louisiana shortly after the
election. He first submitted the following letter.
NEw-ORLEANs, Nov. 20, 1876.
To-fname cut out -NeIc- OfIeditS La.
Ny DEAR SIR: You fully understand ne si'uauoh
Van '0' Yours very truy. j. MADISON WELLS.
He sand the story about this letter was a long one,
but was requested to tell it. His testimony was to
the following effect:
On the Thursday preceding tho last Sunday OF Noyem-
Der Uhe esd a gentleman with whom nave been ac-
quainted for than quarter of century came to
nv office in the cy-be having inst arrived from Lodsi
ana. where had known him quite Intimately quarter
of century ago-and gave full history of the state
of Affairs there arising of the late Presidential cleo
ton lie said
Mr. Lawrence-I object to your stating what this
stranger said.
Tho yitness-Then my story will he nearly at end.
MI Field to winess-I ask you to say how the letter
came into your hands and what you did under it, You
NAV 20 on and state anything of that sort.
The Witness-The person referred to is sUbpenaed and
is now in this building.
Mr. Field-Go on and connect all the circumstances
of your receiving that letter and what you did III relation
to il.
The witness-IIc stated that he had been spending. as
already knew, week ten days i'll Ncw-Orcans tOD-
iccted to by Mr.. LGwrencc)
The room was cleared for consultation, and the
objection was OycTuled.
The witncss-Ths gentleman delivered TO me mat iet-
ter He stated that he had been some days in NewOr-
leans | knew that, for had notified my Democratic
friends down there of the fact OF his having gone thlthcr
and that he was an exceedingly dangerous man TO our
neoule meaning the Democratic party-nasmuch as he
had been resident Of NewOrleans III former years and
had held high position there socially and 0ther"ise,
they might not have known that he was now member
of the Republican party and an cmssary as DeeVed'
from the Government here touching how the VOt5 OF
Iouieiona sbould be counted-and stating that from
NV personal friendship for him OF long stand
ing | hoped that if there should be disturbance
There as had occurred previous occasions, no
harm should befall him. BY some means he
obtained information Of my having written such letter.
,d when he came back TO Washington he repaired TO my
office on Thursday the 23d Of November, ana stacd 10
me fully the condition of affairs in louisiana ne sad
thai he believed and that others believed thal Louisiana
WAS Democratic by from 5000 TO l2OJO nlo.lIy, bu
that money would decide how er eiect9ia YOU ~ou d
be thrown; that ms syhpItleS Were a." ,lc ;,
with what was right and that he had IN MS possession
T.
he from Mr. Wells TO Senator West. MY informant shd
have read this letter. II is scaled. cannot open Ii,
of coursc, nor would / have you DO IL II you
Srould but ii informs Senator west that inc
D,oocrats have put up million Of money, ana thdt We
1eaniug The RepublIcsl would need million down
SLrro IN settle this thing 10 counterfeit thal lie hdlu
NV did moi feel disposed - deliver that letter; that IL
Us NOT obligatory him. and that II ne !O'ioWcu thc
;.nrs of his heart aud the dictates OF MS judgment NC
,,ult endcyOr TO have these gentlemen supplied VAIN
" at t,cV needed 10 determine The result am ~!
asked me whether had any objection 10 cOuPcIte VII.
lin said professionally, cannot Dht III view. VI
H. naynjiIde Of the interest, at sake nave no hcslt
ton to do all that Is III nay niue PoMei -,
MAS that after or TWO long cohN S"'iunS
extending over portion OF inc next Gdy,
and aiier some preliminary REDUCTION oi points
In Whiting # repaired 10 New OK, anu
there had Interviews with several EeHIehsh euI
nrn m the Democratic pary 10 whom iuly feiateu an
those antecedent facts ain not quile eule % ~
am at liber, to their Nance presume lh'tt io
one OF them the Information winch mas c's
me 10 be subpenaed i have not seen mn since my ~
tervieW with him. which the la,t SUNDAY OF thc
,nont of November Now if the committee desires tdl
shonld give full ST tcment OF my interviews WIN
thcse gentlemen and give their Names presume sh
Inc under the obi CATION 10 do So as loon spcci PAINS
10 intimate that under circumstances should cain
nroIcsiOnal privilege and that was mol professionally
employed i'll the matter. ,,,.. ana Io,
teSihat which have already produced 10 The commit
Tee and I'm order conceal the name o1 Inc piI! 10
whom IL was addressed, cut II out but nave WIN
me, properly ldeutincu "'i"hs'" W." "'-' $1,000
preliIninai1es o.-m., raou
o. Did you see the letter to Senator West A. ! saw
called letter did not sec It's c0DIepls nut tns gen
teman voluntarily stated TO It's contents, the ch!eI
portion Of which was that the Democrats hid 10 pay