The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-03
RETURNING BOARD REVELATIONS.

are finding that "Jordan is nara roau 10
trabbleo since they have been summoned DC
fore the house at Washington to answer ques-
lions like men or go to the lookup. All
four were brought before the bar Of the house
on Saturday and asked what reasons they
had for refusing to obey the mandates OF the
house They put in a long statement in writ
ing, and were remanded back to prison
While before the Louisiana Committee
however, on the same day, kenner, one OF
the board, was asked if he could recognize
any of the Louisiana parish returns if shown
him. He thought he could. Congressman
Field then showed him the return from Yer
non parish, which Wells had instructed LIT
tlefeld to falsify and then destroy. kenner,
with evident surprise, admitted that the re-
tarn was genuine, and that 1t bore an indorse'
ment in his own hand writing on the back.
When asked how this return, which showed
majority of over 500 for Tilden was replac.
ed by forged one showing 800 majority for
Hayes, he pretended to be wholly unable to
account for it. Littleneld's evidence, howev-
er, fully explained the mystery. He was one
of the clerks of the returning board and init
mate with much of its deviltry. His account
OF the parish return Is, that as sent in 1t gave
the democratic candidates 800 ma. GRITTY, thus
defeating sundry candidates whom Wells was
anxious to see elected. He therefore instruct
ed Littlefield to make new return, reversing
the majorities, forge the signatures to 1t, ana
destroy the original return. Lttlefield did
as directed except to destroy the original re-
turn, which he pocketed and now, to Wells
confusion and dismay, he produces.
Another choice bit of Wells sublime ras,
cality came to the surface on Wednesday.
The witnesses were Col j. J. Pickett a repu-
table lawyer of washington, and special
agent Maddox, OF the treasury department.
Both Pickett and Maddox are well acqualnt.
ed in New Orleans and intimate with
the members of the returning board. Pickett
testfies boldly, and produces original letters
and kilograms to confirm his statement, that
about week after the November election a
letter was brought to him at Washington by
Maddox from Wells, at New Orleans, stating
that Louisiana had undoubtedly gone for Til.
den by from 5000 to 10000 majority, but that
the Hayes men were offering the returning
board large sums and were using otherwise
tremendous pressure to have the state counted
J in for Hayes Wells, therefore, proposed
that Pickett, as democrat and personal
friend, should make these facts known to the
| friends Of Tilden IN New York and offer in
his tells y behalf, that If they would pay
the returning board 100000 they would
count the state Tor Tilden. Pickett stated
that as an attorney and in the interest of the
right, for he believed Tilden to be honestly
elected he consented to go to New York and
see what could be done. The first man he
met was John Morrssey, to whom he stated
the case John said he had no particular
computations about paying man to do
what was right, but he didn't think 1t was
necessary. He would buy these fellows as
readily as he would buy hogs, but he was
satisfied Tilden was elected anyhow and
didn't need their help. Pickett also saw IIew-
1T, who, 20 his SURPRISE stated that there was
nothing new in the offer, rs this was the
third time it had been made within twenty
four hours; but that under no circumstances
would he entertain any such proposition. If
we bought these rascals once, we should have
to buy them over and over. Besides, he was
satisfied that Tllden was elected without
Louisiana. But the worst surprised man in
bp ~ woc MnIAny vhan oil
before the committee. He had acted as
Weiss pimp and go-betwcen, and had no
idea that this lovely business transaction had
been blowed. At first he was profoundly ig
norant Then, when confronted with his
own handwriting and that of Wells, he
acknowledged it, bu. when asked to explain,
positively declined to answer
On Thursday Maddox was again before
the committee, and apparently not liking the
taste OF Imprisonment he had had, concluded
to make a clean breast of 1t, ana testified
without reserve. He confirmed every part
of Pckett's statement, and went further. His
mission to Washington was first to make the
offer TO Grant, Chandler and Cameron 20 sell
to the republicans. He thought the job
would be worth million He must have AT
least 100000 each tor himself and Anderson,
and smaller sum for the "two niggers" on
the board; and there would be others that
would want hand In. AS the republicans
showed no disposition TO be bled, he next
applied to Morrissev and Hewitt, as detailed
by Pickett.
Maddox disposed Of doubtless Mr.. Hewitt |
will next be called upon TO cas-, a food of
light on the subject.
narInu &, ",