The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-30
Clerk Of Louisiana Returning Board
Refuses 10 Answer.

WAsuINGToS, January .29.-Mr. Lit.
tlefeld, one OF the clerks of the Louisi-
ana Returning Board, was examined to-
day by Mr.. Morrison'S committee, and
was asked the following questions: Did
the Board, or any member thereof, give
directions to the clerks other than by
written memoranda concerning the re.
turns? Did any member OF the Board
ask you TO perform any duty in relation
to the returns from any parlsh2 Do you
know of your own knowledge or intor-
nation of any instruction from MEM
Der or members of the Returning Board
concerning the alteration Of the
records as they originally came
to the Returning Board? Did
you tabulate or perform any duty in con-
nection with the returns from Vernon
parish? Did not somebody direct you
to change the vote from Vernon parish?
The witness refused to answer all of the
above questions, and be also refused to
answer the question whether the paper
shown him was the original of the Ie.
turns from Vernon parish.
Odd you not abstract this paper
from the flies of the Returning Board at
New Orleans? Al did not.
Q-Do you know how this paper came
here? Al do not.
The witness refused to answer the
question whether the change was directed
by any member Of the Returning Board
transferring Democratic votes to the Re-
publican side, and whether, The change
was not made before the paper passed
cut of the hands of the Returning Board.
other Witnesses,
J.H. Murphy, of Davenport, Iowa,
testified that having received q tele.
gram in December, he went In pursu-
ance OF the request contained therein to
St. Louis and there met Stearlng and
Liulefeld Liitlefeld showed 10
him the return from Vernon parish for
inspection, when the witness handed
i: back. subsequently SLearlng handed
the same paper TO witness. No money
consideration was paid by the latter for
the paper. Littlefeld made statement
10 witness about this return and witness
repaired to Springfield to consult with
Governor Palmer on the subject. Lit
tlefield's statement was, that while the
Returning Board was in secret session,
Gov. Weils came into the clerks room,
Littlefeld being at his own desk, with
the returns from Vernon parish
before him. Gov. Wells requested
Lit.lefed 10 trsnspose the vote OF the
second and ninth precincts to the other
aide and the reason assigned by him was
tina. such transportation would elect Re
publican candidates for District
judge and District Attorney; that
Littleheld told witness that such
transrosition was accordingly made
by hun. Alter Molri.on's Comni-
tee had called Gov. Wells to testify,
Wells said TO Littlefelt that there being
some annoyance about The parish OF
Vernon there would have to be some
change, and asked Litt!etield whether
he could not figure up and see whether
he could not make l7S votes for those
candidates Littlefeld said he could do
it BY altering three other precincts, one
seven and ten. "Very well" said Gov.
Wells, make up the record and we will
have sffidsvits prepared" Wells told
him to make copy, and certain tally
sheets were then destroyed by Gov.
Wells. Witness went 10 New Orleans
to verify the statement, which was re-
pested by witness to Governor
Palmer. Witness said he was pres-
ent in the committee room during the
tine Littlefeld was there, and that
Littletield testified that he never re-
ceived any instructions from Governor
Wells, but he informed witness 10 the
contrary, saying that Governor Wells
did so instruct hun. The Committee on
Powers Privileges and Duties of the
House in counting the electoral vote
were present during the exsmi-
nation, and when they returned
70 their room, they called Littlefeld be-
fore them. They asked him questions
conserving the precincts in question, but
he declin ed 10 answer He also declined
10 answer as to whether he had any con-
ference with any Democrats concerning
the papers containing the returns.
He stated in reply to question
that nc went to New Or
leans eIgnt years ago, and latterly
held = position under the Kellogg gov
ernment The committee agreed thst
Littlefeld should be reported to the
House Tor not answering various ques-
tions propounded 10 him.
Mr.. Lawrence moved that the tele-
graph operators, DeBsrry sRd Brush, be
also reported for similar reasons, bot this
motion was postponed uutii the next
meeting of The mmittea