The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-02-08
A FIELD DAY.
David Dudley in Hot Pursuit Of the
Louisiana Returning Boarders,
But Fails Most SignaIIy to Discover
the Signs Of Fraud Looked for.
Gov. Wells Upon His MsttIe, and the
Scene Consequent Thereon.
LittIs6eId's Testimony Being Broken
Down by Reliable Witnesses.
GOV. WELLS.

| GOV. WELLS.
WASHINGTON, d. C., February 6.-The
committee on the powers, privileges and
duties OF the house in counting the eiecto-
raj vote, this morning, recalled Gov. Wells,
and his cross-examinaiion was contin ued
by Mr.. Field, who asked the witness
whether just before he left New Orleans if
he had discussion with A. J. Barrett, a
member of the Packard Legislature, about
the action of the returning board, and Gov
Wells replied that he had not.
sPIcY TINE.
Q. Was anything said by him as TO hav-
ing an interview with Gov. Nichols?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you say in the course of your con-
versation with Barrett, that you had deter
mined 10 make a statement 10 Governor
Nichols?
! A 1t is most infamous lie
q Do you mean to cay the question is an
infamous lie?
A. ! say the substance Of the question is
lie.
q. II You would answer my question in
the way witness should answer, it would
De better.
A. | will not ask your advice as to how
| shall answer question.
The Chairman. You must answer in re-
spouse TO questions. Ibis is no place for
personal explanations.
| A. l can defend myself elsewhere.
q Did You state you had determined to
make a stateme. { TO Gov. Wells?
A. No, cir.
@ Did you say anything about the inter-
vention Of J. P. Kennedy?
A. did not, sir. Mr.. Barrett had asked
me whether l would have an interview
with Gov. Nichols. i replied would, as
Gov. Nichols
WAS A GENTLEMAN.
Barrett made an explanation in the Legis-
lature refuting the false charges against
him.
The witness, in further response to ques-
tions, said he had a Conversation with J,
z. Kennedy, who a-ked him whether he
had any objections to an interview with
Gov. icholls, and he replied in language
similar to that in his CONVERSATION with
Barrett Kennedy suggested an intervieS
with Gov. Nichols about Stale matters.
Both Barrett and Kennedy were his politi- |
cal friends.
Odd you not state that you would |
make a clean breast OF il?
Alt is a most infamous lie |
Q-Do you mean to say that You never |
said to any body with whom you converted |
that you intended to make a clean breast |
of il?
A.-Nothing of the kind.
Mr.. Field read a letter dated New Or
leans, January l4th, 1877, and signed by
Gov Wells as follnxs.
81 am quite unwell; too much to fill our
engagement today. Will inform you to-
morrow relative to is ful6llment"
Witness said he wrote that, and Kennedy
was to have been present At the proposed
interview with Gov. Nichols. Wines was
asked whether he did not, an hour after h.
wrote the above note, send another, marked
confidential" as follows:
''Dear Sir-After our friend Barrett had
feft our room, there was placed Immediate
ly in nv hands, matters requiri my alb
sence from New Orlearns."
Witness said he expected to be back in
few days, and then related that he had been
to Washington.
Mr.. Field asked an explanation of the
manner OF proceeding TO canvass the vote
in Louisiana.
oBDURATE.
Witness said that Saturday he had sent
a note to the committee asking to be heard
only with reference TO Maddox and Vernon
parish, and he did not intend to throw
away his rights as an American citizen,
and be forced TO answer questions on other
subjects. He desired to answer no other
questions whatever, until the house should
relieve him from the charge of contempt of
it's authority When thus renewed he
would feel tree TO answer.
The Charms an reminded the witness that
If he thus persisted he would again be in
and such would be the opinion
Of the committee and OF the public.
Mr.. Field followed this reminder BY ask
ing a number of questions regarding irregu-
aritles, forged aiiidavi,s, adding votes 10
Hayes and taking votes from Tilden, etc,
but witness was obdurate, only responding,
Il decline to answer"
Mr. Field called The attention of the wit
ness to the note which he addressed to
Maddox on the Goth of November, as fol-
ows:
"You fully understand the situation,
cannot YOU advise with me relative
hereto?"
MI rleiU asked why ne WrOte THIS mole |
% Maddox.
Alt was intended to be shown to the
President and other Republican friends
hat Maddox might have entree t. such
riends to explain the political condition in
Louisiana, Maddox being public officer
md having been sent to Louisiana for that ;
purpose. Witness also sent BY Maddox a {
etter 10 the President on the came subject. !
lrswing his attention TO the fact of the ex-
sperated condition of the people of the
state, SO he might be prepared to arrest any
movement initiating against the returning
BOARD, and to prevent any destruction OF
,apers.
YET RECALCIrRANT.
by Mr.. Field-You have stated that YOU {
lever altered a return or destroyed paper
A decline to answer. .
Witness declined to answer any question
the action of the board until
he house gave him his liberty and relieved
lin OF his disability. He wanted to know !
whether he was the peer of any member of
he committee or a vaseal.
Mr.. Knott reminded him that the obi
.ation Of his oath required the witness TO '
answer every question put to him unless ,
UGH answer would criminate him.
Gov Wells said there was no question he I
night answer which would subject him to
but he reserved his construc-
ion as to what were his right, and the
,ou m itfoo had m piuht IN uusssiou hin, |