The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-02-07
LOUISIANA MATTERS.
Abel ana Davis, the Notorious Judge
Of East Baton Rouge, on abe stand
How ft was Done.

appointed clerk OF the board on Wells
recommendation. Abel never knew
OF any return from Vernon except the
consolidated statement of the super.
visor, The transfer OF polls and 9 OF
Vernon parish would have no effect
on the election OF any candidate. Wit.
ness never saw the returns from Yer
non parish presented to the secretary
OF state; never showed the returns to
Casanave. Witness furnished the Re-
publican visiting committee with the
face Of returns Ivy request; didn't fur
nish II to the other committee; Gov
ernor Palmer didn't ask for the same
facilieies which were given the Repub.
lican committee; furnished Governor
Palmer all he asked for; the tabulated
statement shown the Republican com.
mittee showed large Democratic ma
jority was at the supper which Little
field described; 1t cost the Republican
committee forty dollars or more; wine
and cocktails were drank; 1t was on
the night before the board began their
sessions.
Judge Davis testified | was chief
clerk OF the returning board, know
Littletield and have not seen him talk
ing with Ex-Governor Wells, or max.
ing erasures; first heard the Vernon
parish returns were altered through
the papers. Investigated tho papers
and saw that the Vernon returns had
been altered could not find the origin.
al; Llttlefield fret said 1t was gone,
then lost, and afterwards said it was
destroyed; Littleheld called of the
| figures could have falsitled that II
desired; IL was no opportunity Ifor
receiving work; change Of votes In
two and nine would effect no candidate
Judge Davis Tcsiihes with ForLed
Tongue.
Judge Davis describes his duties as
general supervi sor of clerks. He look
cd over the work as far as possible to
verify 1t. There was some Irregular
ty about the returns from Vernon par
ish. Witness says II the returns from
Vernon parish had been promulgated,
as received from the supervisors, the
other candidates for the district Judge
and district attorney would have been
elected; the transportation OF the l78
votes would change the result. Witness
knows the Vernon parish aflidavits
were not received with the returns.
Witness does not know how the afii-
davits came there.
Commissioner levitt testified he
was United States commi ssioner and
took the affidavits Of the fourth per-
sons relative to Vernon parish; took
them on the l4th or 18th of November.
The parties to the aflidavits appeared
before him and took the usual oath.
Witness did not personally know afil-
ants; they appeared illiterate, and
were colored. Witness have several
gentlemen assisting him In taking
testimony for the Republicans.
Wells ON HIS Metal, bat Invested by
the Com mittec.
The oss.examina alton Of ]. Madison
Wells was continued.
Questionable you say In the course
of your conversation with f. o. Barrett
that you had determined to make o
statement to Governor Nicholl? An
swer--It 10 a most infamous lie.
Question--Do you mean to say that
the question Is an Infamous lie? An
swer--I say that the substance Of The
question 10 lie.
Mr.. Field--If you would answer my
question in the way witness should
answer, 1t would be better. Answer
| will not ask your advice how shall
answer a question.
Finally the witness answered mo"
He proceeded to deny every thing
touching the Maddox and Littleield
matters, but all questions outside the
Vernon parish question, he refused to
answer.
Questionable you not say to Barrett
or Kennedy you would make clear
breast OF II? Answer-It's an infa.
NOUS lie.
Governor Wells looks weary this
morning.
Among the questions which Gov.
ernor Wells declined to answer were
the following: "Were there any
forged aflidavits before the returning
board % "Did you.advise that forged
aflidavits be prepared ?"
Wells persisted throughout in not
answering questions until released
from duress.
Ksnner Gives the LIE 20 Wells by Tclc-
gram,
Duncan Kenner. OF New Orleans,
telegrsphs In contradiction Of Wells
testimony that Ksnnsr had offered