The New York herald., 1877-02-08
THE LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION.

WAsuiSGrox, Feb Z, 1871.
The Committee on tho Powers Privileges aud Duties
the House In counting tho electoral recalled
Louis ~ Kcnucr, OF the members OF the Louisiana
Returning Board, who. being intcrrogatcd by Mr. Law
renee. denied all knowledge OF any paper having
destroyed or OF any proposition for receiving money
for any In with the electoral
the abstraction OF papers He never heard any
conversation between Ex-Governor Wells and Little
field. On bong examined by Mr. Field wtncss
said tho Board iet unsafe, and required protection
by troops; he voted to throw out more than 5000
Tiden votes on account OF intimidation aud irregu-
larity; thought more than l. 900 votes were cast by
persons against their will did know that the
other members OF tho Board committed frauds, but he
knew that no 1id not. Mr. Fied pressed tho witness
to know I'm did not appear that something grossly
fraudulent done with the Vernon Witness
replied "Yas." Mr.. Lawrence then asked, "Doos
appear that person made alteration OF tho
turns without the knowledge OF tho Board and then
stole the paper and carried away order throw
suspicion ON tho Boardy" Witness answered IN tho
aflr rmattve.
Mr.. Washington, an expert bcng called pointed
out what ho considered alterations the Vernon
turn, tho figures being written over crasurcs Mr..
Green, Minute Clerk OF tho Returning Board was
called, but account Of tho inability OF Governor
Wells TO attend he heing sick in bed his nation
was postponed q. L. Davis, another Returning Board
clerk testified that he had heard OF alteration of
returns; had made no examination Of tho Vernon
MTs
Llttciieid, inquiry informed him II had been lost.
Witness did rccoIlect seeing Governor Wells taking
or whispering with l.ittcfcid and did that
Wols instructed Littiencid to alter tho returns
Tho senate subcommittee on the Louisiana election
ScS"p'c1 Sa; sne aay ~ ,ne exam'ns.on o. Woodward
State Returning Board, IN reference to the alleged al
teration OF returns from Vernon parish swcrn 10
by the winess Littleneld These witnesses oil testified
to having bcen present with Littlcheld at the dinner
o the sd Of December. and subsequently tho offices
0t tho Board till late IN the night covering time
whom he stated that President Wells Instructed HIM
while ut dinncr to make the change, and later when
he swears he employed cfasng and altering tho
figures Neither OF them able corroborato hts
testimony on those points, aud In general they contra
dictcd his assertions thereon.
A CARD FROM Mr.. PIcKErr-DKFENCE OF HIS
ACTION IN THE LOUISIANA MArrLR
WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. Q. 1877.
To THE EDITOR HERALD:-
You have, unadvisedy, trust done injustice In
your OF last Friday, TO which my attention Is
just now called You refer, IN editorial tho Rc.
turning Board, 10 ''the Testimony Of Itctcd, their
Secretary, and OF Pickett and Maddox. ther accom-.
pl;ces." have never been acquainted with nor held
any communication with any member OF the Return.
lug Board, and tho term ''accomplice, which you
apply TO me, sgniaes neiarious association. Little.
heid the Secretary stands sell confessed larger Of
retarns, and Maddox, confidential agent Of tho gov.
crnEent iniormcr against tho iniquitous pur.
TO thwart thcr purposes II Is strange confusion
ideas which would place la tho same re.
ia,ion TO that Board Us either Of thcse
Official pcrsonaecs. They arc republicans;
IN .ns as r.a1 an
upon tho constitution and laws Of his country tho
OBJECT of which was to deprive tho people OF their
choice OF President Maddox was sent 10 New Orleans
| BY tho administration as an agent Of It's secret
service. osensi0iy on revenue matters but
with collateral Instructions to look into and report
gono learned tho fact incidentally, and nasmuch
were aroused ana so warned my democratic frienas
IN New Orleans TO beware OF him. as know that
former high standing In that would secure
hIm the efree 10 democratic circles. and. perhaps the
! unRuardcd confidence OF many with regard TO political
movements.
When he returned to Washington he com planned that
had iupcdcd hrs work; but he also Informed Of
the TACT that rildcn had carried the state by than
5000 majority, and that the Returning Board IN
the aud would not relieve suspense OF the
country until the last day the law allowed-namely,
Wells letter, which authorized him to (as seemed
to mel tor that individually he named his wels price,
and said that II were not forthcoming the vote OF
the State would bo declared for Hayes. He asked mo
become the Of these iacls the gers
tho. democratic party in New YORK. and under
took to do SO. not with the slightest expccta-
ton that they would consent TO buy such rascals
at any agurc, but In order 70 bc able when
ihoy were willing to do Had ia,icd 10 lay Tho facts
| before Messrs. Hewitt and Morrissoy should Eave
lost the connection with the authorities OF tho party
necessary TO sustain the case, aud nothing
renamed beyond Mr.. Maddox's statement of what
they wished him 10 do. He has given his reasons
for not aiding tho Returning Board to consrmmate
villany, and need not repent them he gavo INC
tho opportunity Of doing service TO tho country
sacrInco to myself and OF establishing tho gull,
Of tho Louisiana Returning Board. For hs | a:n
rouniy abused by the press, even by the hypocrtca
and cowardy portion OF tho democratic press, which
Is quite Wiling avail itself OF tho advantages oil
| my movement but exceedingly anxious TO AVOID all
responsibility Tor II. My past lie is reviewed with
harshness, but am not ashamed Of II any Of its
| features JOHN +. PICKETT.