Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-02-16
HOW THE DEMOCRACY TRIED tt
CAPTURE LOUISIANA.
Testimony of A. Il. Levisee.


Testimony of A. u. Levisee.
To the Western Associated Press
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 9.-The
Senate Sub. Committee on Louisiana
Affairs had A. i. Levisee, an alleged
ineligible Hayes Elector, before
them to-day. In the course of his
examination the witness said that
proposition was made for a consider
alton to cast his Electoral vote for
Samuel J. Tilden. On the 4th of
December the witness was at the
residence of Mrs. Barlow, on Con
stantinople street, New Orleaus;
had dined out, and was returning
home. Mrs. Barlow and her daueh-
ter being present, one of them gave
the witness a note, asking him to
meet G. w. Johnston at Cassidy's
Hotel on important business. John
ston wrote the note at Mrs Barlow's.
The ladies asked witness what it
meant; he replied he had no idea.
The ladies thought Johnston wanted
witness to vote for Tilden. Mr.
Johnston, an active Democrat, came
next morning and asked the witness
to meet S. NJ. Ashur, whom the wit
ness had known as a banker of
Shreveport, at Cassidy's. The wit
ness did SO, first informing Marshal
Pitkin Of his suspicious. Ashur and
the witness walked to retired part
Of the town. Ashur said he had i'm
portant business to propose. and
would make fair proposition as
broker. He then presented his offer,
whether witness would be willing to
receive certain sum of money-say
$50, 900 or $4O,OOO-and refuse his
certificate as Elector. Witness gave
no direct answer, as he had arranged
to do with Pitkin, and asked several
questions, and finally said the price
was too small; that he might as well
receive 100000 as $4,000; that it
was big chance to make big
thing; that it only happened once in
hundred yeats that one man had an
opportunity to make a President;
and finally that Johnston might say
to his friends that Levisee was not
unwilling to listen to the proposition,
but that they had not got up to his
price yet, and left HIM, after appoint
ing another meeting that night. At
the second meeting Ashur said the
witness would be required to cast
his vote for Tilden. Witness replied
this was new question, and put
him off, and stuck to his price of
100000. Finally, after more close
inquiry, witness wanted to know
who his hackers were. Then he
went off to see his friend or promp-
ter, and was back in half an hour.
Witness asked whom he had seen,
and he gave the name of Walter
Pugh. Ashur said 100000 was the
utmost that could be raised for Pugh
or his hackers, and asked the witness
to go with him next morning to the
Common, and they would meet two
men, Pugh and the moneyed man.
Witness and Ashur went to the
place appointed, and met the two
men as described. The man said to
be the moneyed man the witness rec
ognlzed as Hernandez, a prominent
New Orleans broker. Hernandez
spoke to witness and witness intro
duced Ashur to HIM. Hernandez
wished to talk and witness declined,
saying Hernandez could talk to Ash
ur, as he was the party to talk to.
Witness then went home after max
ing All appointment for the next
morning at the St. Charles Hotel.
Met Ashur next day at IL o'clock,
and made an appointment for noon,
when they again met and Ashur
said that 100000 was all that could
be raised. Witness stuck to his
100000, and said it was not worth
while to talk about it any more.
Ashur Is Jew, fine business man,
and good neighbor. Witness re-
grets to have to expose his name.
Witness reported all these proceed
ings to Pitkin as they took place,
and Pitkin was we'll satisfied with
what witness had done. He had new
err seen Johnston since.
During the cross-examination Lev
isee stated that when Johnston came
to Mrs. Barlow's he remarked that
he would like to be in witness shoes.
as he could make 100000 in two
days,
Witness named 100000 as a
more proper consideration for so big
thing. Never suggested he would
accede to their PROF osition and make
speech to the Returning Board
placing his action for not voting for
Hayes on high moral grounds. Such
suggestion was made by Ashur, but
didn't agree to it. AT the last inter
view land all took place within twenty
four hours) Ashur stated the $780,
900 was waiting tor him. At the
meeting OF the Electors, witness an
nounced that he had been offered
100000 to cast his vote tor Tilden.