The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-07
Associated Press Reports of Political Inves-
LEGATIONS.
LOUISIANA.

LOUISIANA.
The House committee on powers,
privileges, and duties of the House IN
counting the electoral vote is dragging
along with daily sessions the greater
portion of which are not Of absorbing
public interest. On the 30th ult., one
littlefield, clerk of the Louisiana re-
turning board, testified that on the Sd
of December he altered the returns
from two of the polls in Vernon par.
ish SO as to transpose It's Democratic
votes over to the Republican candi-
dates that he did this by the express
direction Of Gov. j. Madison Wells,
and that after making copies of the al
tered originals and substituting them
for the originals, the latter were
burned, either by himself or Governor
Wells-he did not remember which,
bui at all events with Gov. Wells
knowledge.
Gen. Hurlburt, of Illinois, cross-ex-
amined Littletield, and reading certain
answers from the stenographer's notes
Of yesterday, which witness is record
ed as having then made, he asked him
how tt was that his answers of yester-
. day and to-day did not agree. Witness
said he did not make the answers as
claimed but that he refused to answer
all questions, and he stated here, us he
did ut the beginning Of his direct ex
animation, that he made no such an.
swers on his examination rs were re-
ported.
On the 3lst of January, the commit
tee had John L. Picket, Washington
lawyer before them. The substance
of his testimony was, that Joseph II.
Maddox, an old friend and former res
ident Of New Orleans brought him, on
the 23d of November, the following
letter:
New ORLEANS, Nov. 20, 1876, (name lett out)
My DEAR SIR: You fully understand the
situation. Can you not advise with me rel
alive thereto.
Yours very truly,
J. MADISON WELLS.
Maddox explained verbally that he
had letter from Wells to Senator
West, stating that the Democrats
would have to give million dollars to
secure the count in Louisiana and that
it was necessary Cor the Republicans
to secure similar amount to counter
act it. The witness testified that he
went to New York to see. whether the
Democrats would raise a million dol
lars, and that he consulted with Con
gresham Hewitt and John Morrissey,
both of whom declined the proposition.
Mr.. Maddox was next called but hs
proved a very unwilling witness. Sew
erai papers were shown witness, which
he recognized as genuine, including cor
respondence on his part. The follow
ing memoranda was read:
'sFor one million dollars the vote OF Louisi-
ana can be secured to Tilden and Hendricks.
Manipulate n must be done by me, and as far
as possible to protect members OF the return
ing board who favor such result; it may b.
necessary to elect two or three members OF
the board to reach what We want; details to
ments-say one-tourth when the fifth mem-
Der is elected; one-tourth when one member
resign ana another is elected in his place,
and one-iourth when another resigns, with
one-tonrth to be paid when the certificates are
given"
Witness for a long time declined to
say who wrote him tho letter quoted
above, but finally the following was
elected:
By Mr.. Burchard. @. Did you see Mr.
Wells write the letter to yourself which has
been produced here? A. Yes, dictated it,
and he wrote it.
The witness was then given until
the next day to determine whether he
would answer other questions.
On the I'd inst, the recusent wit
ness, Maddox, was again before the
House committee and consented to
answer the questions which he declin-
ed to answer the previous day. He
then proceeded to detail conversations
which he had with Gov Wells relative
to giving the vote of Louisiana to Til
den for one million dollars. v illness
swore that Gov. Wells told him he
wanted for himself and Anderson at
least $500, 900 apiece, and smaller sum
for the negroes on the returning board
Gov. Wells was present while the wit
ness was present. He denies the tes-
timOny and both he and Anderson ex-
pressed themselves anxious to testify
in rebuttal Of Maddox and Pickett.
Witnesses have also been summoned
from New Orleans to rebut and, it is
claimed, impeach, Littletields testi-
mOny.
Senate committee on Privileges and
Elections is still investigating the mat.
Ter of the money sent to Oregon by the
Democrats. On the Goth ult., VIM. II
Hollister, cashier of the banking house
of Kountz Brothers. New York, testi-
fled: Has known j. II. N. Patrick of
Omaha for several years. He knows
Erwin Davis understands that he is a
man of wealth and leisure F.: on the LIST
of December last $4,000 was deposited