The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-01
TELEGRAP1HIC.
Photographed to the Rock Island Argue. !
Beauties of the Louisiana Returning
Board

Beauries or the Louisiana Returning
Board
WASHINGTON, Feb. The committee
on the powers and privileges of the house
to-day recalled Maddox, who had read an
explanation of his refusal to respond to
questions yesterday. The refusal was be
cause OF a Discrimination to commit breach
of faith. He asked for delay that Coy.
Wells might make full statement, but as
the governor did not do so the witness was
now ready to answer and said: Before
Gov. Wells wrote the letter to him be had
a conversation with the governor with re-
gard to the political situation and the diff
culties with the returning board The
governor proposed to witness that he
should go to Washington ana explain the
situation. He concluded he would write
general letter to witness, as confidential,
and he also wrote another letter to a friend
in Washington. When witness arrived at
Weiss office the next morning, one letter
was finished and he was writing another.
The witness brought away the letter to
him, and the other, sealed, was addressed
| to Senator West but had never been de
livered. Wells said his life was in danger
as he had a very difficult job on hand aud
didn't see how he could get through with it.
Wells stated that he would like to serve his
party in making return in favor OF Hayes,
but would not take the risk unless paid for
| it; the majority was very heavy, too much
| for him to handle, and he did not know
where to commence to throw out. lie
said probably he would have to throw out
the vote of New Orleans on the ground,
witness thought he meant. of necessity.
| Wells asked him TO go to Washington and
see Influential men and obtain protection
for him and also to see whether he could
not get the required money to satisfy him.
Wells said he ought to haye $1,000,000.
Witness showed the president and Secre-
tary Cameron the two letters addressed to
him by Wells and he told the secretary
that Wells wanted money. but the secre-
tary declined to have anything to do with
the matter. The money Wells required
was to protect him. The programme was
that the vacancy on the returning board
should be filed and Wells should resign
in anger on that account. Witness did
not know that there was any special ar
rangement between him and Wells about
the details but witness was required to
submit plan which would be acceptable.
Witness having been Intercepted rela-
tive to telegram sent Gov West, under
the assumed name of Q. NJ. Calvert,
said it was understood between
him and Wells that if the rep
reseutations at Washington failed to
bring the money then the witness was tt
use his own judgement in the negotiation
and to give the returns as they were mace
in New Orleans and that he should
commence the second negotiation, The
word hold" in the telegram TO Wells
! signifed that he was to hold the. returns
f ia such situation as to make them avail
able at will. The first negotiation failed
Wells stated Ito witness that he wanted
at least 100000 apiece and a smaller
: sum tor the daTkies or negroes of the re
3 turning board. When the witness return
: ed to New Orleans, he had a conversation
! with Wells about the failure Of negOtia
9 ton. Witness received a despatch frou
+ Col. Pickett saying negotiation had failed
il when Wells suggested that witness en-
e deavored to make some arrangement wit
y the Democrats Witness made an effor
in that direction but did not succeed
The idea Of the witness was, from wha
y Wells said, that he would throw out vote
r to the best advantage in order to produc
s. a certain result. which would depend o
=, circumstances,
IN On cross examination witness testihe
that secretary Cameron had refused
Is have anything to do with the Wells pre-
position.
Mr.. Field remarked that he saw Wei
present and the latter replied that he on
wanted to hear the truth and then retire
Witness said Wells didn't say anythir
to him about visiting New York or Picke
or any Democrats. Wells didn't speak
'ts necessity for mourning expenses to sho
ot electoral frauds but said he must ha7
- money and said he would have it as it W
- his last chance Had no conversation wi
lte Anderson about selling out board. II
to to discussion with Wells was held Nov. l6t
as He had testified that he was sure U
49, Casey said Chandler wanted hi
~ witness, to see about the p
itical situation in Louisiana: Il
was before he left for New Orleans
. revenue officer; he was satisfied tt
y Pickett had written Col. ZachaIie sayi
md that witness was a dangerous m;
Witness testified to his continued bu
.o,r ness relations with Pickett. Mr.. Lawrer
,ssl explained that he asked these questions
zee show how there had been variety of ira
"" actions between them and that this '
D. part of a general conspiracy to "a
- money regardless of means. Witness v
in the secret service during the war 6
frequently gave President Lincoln inf
nation which he got from Jefferson Da
s and other confederates.