The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-02-01
IN A TIGHT PLACE.
Determination to ." Have Lou
isiana, South Carolina, and Florida by
Fair Means or Otherwise,"
THE USE OF MONEY AND TROOPS.

, L fa1f means OF Ot0erWf8e,
, THE USE OF MONEY AND TROOPS.
WASHINGTON, January -Th,
COMMITTEES on the Powers, Privilege
r and Duties of the House Counting tn.
Electoral Vote examined to-day }. Il
Deberry, telegraphic operator at tn,
railroad depot. Tallahassee.
Question by Field-Do you remem
ber any kilograms passing between u
Chandler and Governor Stearns, be
tween the Sth and 18th of November
Lawrence and Burchard objected to
the question, but the objection was
overruied.
The witness then answered that til.
fist telegram of which he knew was
from u. Chandler to Governor Stearns
in substance "a follows: We are now
absolutely sure of so many Electoral
votes for Hayes witness did not re-
member the number-and we must
have Louisiana, South Carolina, and
Florida, by fair means or otherwise.
| He could not give the exact language.
Il Chandler telegraphed Governor
Stearns: VIM. +. Chandler leaves
Tonight for Philadelphia on important
business" Between the Sth and 18th
of November Frank II. Sherman, en-
gagged with Governor Stearns, handed
him telegram for transmission, sign
ed by the latter and addressed to II.
! Chandler, in which mention was made
of "a train containing cOuriers sent out
! for returns being Ku-Kluxed, followed
by the remark, I'VE can not carry the
! State for Hayes unless we have troops
and money Immediately" These were
not the exact words, but the substance
Question-Did you see any telegram
from II. Chandler to Governor Stearns
in answer to that?
Answer Il remember a telegram
from u. Chandler to Governor Stearns,
saying that he had seen the President
and Secretary of War, and was author
lied by them to say that troops and
money would be furnished.
QuestiOn-Do you know of any troops
arriving shortly after:
Answer-Yes they arrived Sunday,
the 18th of November. VIM. Z. Chan
little in advance of the troops, which
arrived at Tallahassee on a special train
The witness had voted the Demo-
cratic ticket-his first vote.
Questionable you communicate the
knowledge OF these kilograms before
your appearance here, to any persons +?
Answer decline to answer on the
ground that to do so might tend to
criminate me. .tts q
Mr.. Burchard-Is the first time you
have claimed the privilege of not an
swering such questions for fear it might
tend to criminate you:
Answer-I decline to answer.
Mr.. Lawrence-Had you any con-
versation with anybody about Your
knowledge of the contents Of the tele-
grams before you were called to testify
here?
Answer-I also decline to answer
that question. aIsFl- sH
Question-Have any inquiries been
made of you concerning your knOwl-
edge of these telegrams-I do not mean
by members of this Committee?
Answer decline to answer.
QuestiOn-Can you give ME the con-
tents of any other messages received
from any persons other than Chandler
and Stearns?
Answer can not remember.
The witness first had heard of u tel
egram from Chandler to Stearns, say
ing the Republicans must have Lou
isiana, South Carolina, and Florida,
by fair means or otherwise, 1t was
communicated to him in confidence hy
Republican telegraph operator, but
he declined giving the name of his in
fUrmant, aud also declined to say 10
whom he first mentioned the contents
TO answer the question whether he had
taken counsel as to his examination
before the Committee. The declina-
tions were Oh the ground that the an
swer might tend To crimlnate him,
Witness did not especially remember
any messages to leading Democrats,
and did not remember that any one of
the m relate Il To the use of money.
Gilbert ID. Mills, telegraph operator
at Tallahassee during the election, tes-
tilted that William Il. Chandler, after
his arrival there, sent off kilograms in
cipher. He remembered II telegram
from Governor Stearns to President
Grant 10 this effect: II think it adj
visabIe to- have counsel of eminent men
of our own party" There was more
in it, but this was all he could remem-
her. Committee adjourned till to NOR
row.
THE JOINT CoMsIIssIoN.---The fol-
lowing are the members of the Com
mission for counting the electoral
votes: On the part of the Senate, Ed
munds, FreliDghuysen, Morton, Thur
man and Blyard On the part of the
House Payne, iiunton, Abbott, Gar
field and lIoar; Supreme Court Judg-
es, Clifford, Strong, Miller. Fled and,
probably, Bradley, though at the time
we go TO press the fifth Judge is not
known here.
WARAroTu, made speech the other
day in the Packard Bump Legislature
OF Louisians, in which, among other
things, he said, that on the face of the
official returns to the ResurningB lard
it appeared That Nichols received
about ten thousand majority. The
Board reported a majority of ) 500 for
Packard. lie did not know by what
means the Board arrived at the result.
lie was not prepared to admit the