The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-04

mcut eDtutotritfs from hMytnR
Him Wells to go before the Committee.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. An interesting
scene was enacted In tho committee room of
The Committee on Privileges and Powers of tho
House to-day. Tho witness Maddox on taking
he chair was asked to produce the scaled let
Ter from Wells to Senator West. which he did
The accompanying letter. tho ono addressed to
himself, was read and placed on the record. fur
nishing another link in the chain OF circum-
stantia evidence tending TO show that an effort
WIS made to obtain money from the Admins
ration to secure the return OF the vote OF Louis
lana for Hayes. The letter is consistent with
Everything that has been testified to
with reference to the conspiracy on the part OF
HE Louisiana Returning Board to sell out n re-
turn TO whichever party made the most liberal
offers Of money. The question then arose as TO
The manner Of getting at the contents Of the
sealed letter. and 1t was finally decided that
Senator West himself should be invited to open
i In the presence OF the committee.
1t appears that the distinguished gentleman
bad anticipated the proceedings OF the commit
zee to-day. for before the Chairman could ad-
trcss communication TO him he briskly enter
ed tho room anu advanced TO the head OF tho
liable around which the committee were seated.
The testimony oil tho witness then
pended. and Mr.. West was asked If he would
have the kindness 70 open and rcad the letter
twt'hing with excitement. he was on the point
Of saying that he would use his own pleasure as
quest in all courtesy, withdrew the letter which
b. was about to hand to Mr.. West and threw it
down violently upon the table. us much 10
say, Tie ,yitcr Is IN the ossion 81 the COM
mIttec, and II you decline to reveal It's contents
which have bearing upon this Investigation
q so much mportan'e 10 the whole country at
THIS time, the committee itself Will assume the
responsibility OF doing So" Tho senator then
changed his tactics. lie consented to read the
letter. which was thcrcupon handed him. TAX
lng II iiut"ringly, he tore N the end Of the m
yelope and pulled out tho letter He hastily
glanced over the contents. as though To- az,
b agrceably disappointed in finding that
they did not confirm tho infamous
Story already corroboratod under oath
but his disappointment was not apparent. and
q statement in reference to the character of
Maddox. as though, 10y assailing 1t. he could ex-
he Infamous blot upon ihn charncter of he Re-
turning Board. Tho Committee however.
would not allow him to go on except under oath
lhen on the stand had been completed Mr.
West then retired from the table. and. after a
brief consultation with Jere Wilson. LETT the
The contents Of the tho letter addressed to
Mr.. West fulfilled the expectation Of every one
who had been following up the previous testi-
remarked. that can be placed upon them il this:
We have large offers to return the State for
Tllden, and unless the Republicans come down
more ha ,t we VIII declare the result
In tho date OF the letters as well us its
wording. 1t was written on the 2ist Of Novem-
ber, fourteen days after the election. The
votes had been poled, the returns sent up. and
the board was in the midst Of the canvass as
money possibly be used except with the Return
ing Boardf There was but one result and the
deermnation and declaration of that result
were. at the time the letter was written. in the
hands Of the returning Board. How could IA
different result be dcclaredf And II II was de-
clared 1t must have been done through fraud
and CtrruUlol. Inp only possible View
consistent with the fgcts that can be taken,
II that the Returning Board was for sale. and
the most money. Mr.. Wells has expressed u
desire 10 be heard before the committee. and
will be permitted 10 take the chair on Monday
J ,Xt. II he does his cause no more good than
his fellow members on the board. Kcnner and
testimony is looked forward to with much in
terest as he is the head and front Of the Offend
Mir. Maddox testified as follows:
se M, cFy S You The Letter; Of which you have
would Therefore ahk To he excused until Monday.
Nr ficId-i!aye You NE le, ,I,. A-Ihave
Tho witness handed to Mr.. Field an open on
70 by him.
M Ella grs;sntins one Of ne ift,ersI, ni; the
lnston D. G, 20 whom you have reerrodf A-Nes,
81 Field prc,cnuns iic other lciierr. hi. the open
ktier % which you have spokeni A-ies the one al
Mr.. Field then read the open letter as follows:
NV oRlrASs, nov. 70, ls76.
j. VI J " Mthl,y, Me- Orians;
ltAR SIR. Understanding the political condition OF
matters here from association with both POLITICAL parties
And friend OF the President and GO,ernncn officer
would IL not be considered part OF your - 10 20 AT
once 20 Washington with a. ht. delay possible. and
pace before the President the condition and the pending
dancers 81 Tie stuatlunf should You conclude upon
prompt acton IN The premises allow 10 commend sou
Il senator Wet who my friend, aud with whom you
VI! freely communicates. iours very truly,
j. MADISON xKLLs.
MolIox eoil Ia rocofvoI .bo lo,,ore II, is NOM
IT,, 49,, ~, - - W, ~, 'I' i u
ll- i4'Ii Nv Oli,'dilS' rom MHlti place th'y
were sent W clnfsuay night Inc JOstlnurk on
tle envelope Oh which tn. letters cam" was New
Orleans Jan. 81. The address Joseph II. Mad
could not say ia whose hanlwrting the dircc-
Lon No. M Fourteenth street WAS. Witness
wrote his portion OF the address after his re-
tlrn 70 Now Orleans. lie d"llNcred the letter 70
tol. JACK wharton, AdluAnt- General Of the
fhiate under the kellogg GGyernment; Witness
tncn produced two d spatch-s from \. Walker
NV orleans. dated fsn. ,, one saying, Dlrpu-
ca envelope sent you by mai last Wednesday,
ma inc other Name OF party sending envelope
MOTTO be mentioned.
QIs this the Judge walker You have spokcn Of the
parry, 70 whom you maze proposition To seA cut lie
Nv Mr. Burc6ard-Whcn di1 Won ,ci.yra,h H., ,bcs.
let,rsf A-Om tuesday nielf wa. ~ IT,, tins a. be
theInn ~ 7 S anu N'N'' se''' 'oi