The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-01
SlNEWS OF WAX
Which the Returning Board
EXaCted
But Failed to Get from
Hewitt.
More Inlamles of the L0uis1-
ana Crew.

WASHINGTON, January 3l.-Tbe Com
mittee on powers, privileges and duties
of the House in counting the electoral
vote, called John p. Pickett, who pro.
duced the following letters:
NEW ORLEANS, LA Nov. ~, '76.
To John II. Maddox, New Orleans, La:
My DEAR SIR:-You fully understand
the situation. Can you Lot advise with
me in relation thereto?
[Signed] Respectfully,
j. MADISON WELLS.
Witness began the narrative of the
circu instances under which he re-
ceived the letter, but was inter-
rupted on the ground that he
was reciting what had been told
him by others. Maddox was called
and identified the letter rs written by
Wells, He Rad known Well, and
Anderson % years. In conversation
with Wells he said he had confidence
in TIE witness and instructed him what
TO do. He had frequent interviews with
Wells and Anderson and conversed with
Wells on the subject, bu: declined to
dclose it.
Several papers were shown the wit
ness which he recognized as genuine, in-
cludlng the correspondent on his part.
The following mem orandum was read:
For one million dollars the vote OF
Louisiana can be secured TO Tilden and
Hendricks. The manipulation mus. be
done by me, and as lar ss possible TO pro.
tect the members of the Returning
Beard, who may favor such result. 1t
may Denecesssry to elect two or three
members of the Board TO reach what
we want; details TO be agreed upon !;
money to be paid in installments, say
one. fourth when the fifth member is
elected, oRe-fourth when one member re-
signs and another is elected in his place,
and one-fourth when another resigns and
another is elected IN his place, the bal
ance o; one fourth to be paid when the
certificates are given.
Question by Mr.. Field-Wss that the
proposition that Governor Wells wanted
you 10 carry out. Answer-1 decline 10
answer.
MIR. Field showed witness telegram
signed by j. II. Pickett, and addres.'i to
John Hancock, meaning (MadduNJ rs
follows:
photographed As desired; damn my in
terests; Jnlnk of the interests Of iorty
millions of people"
Question-Is that the answer which
came 10 you. Answer decline /" an
swer.
Mr.. Marsh-Hsd ycu All interview
with the Secretary of War. Answer-l
decline TO answer.
Witness having been asked whether
he would now answer questions pro-
pounded, replied that he would not.
Mr.. Spsrks-Do you know the cOnse'
quences of not answering? \. do.
Mr.. Marsh suggested tha, The witness
have one hour TO consider whether he
would answer.
The witness said that it WAS useless 10
waste time, as be would decline TO answer
ut the end vi AL hour.
The witness was informed that he
would be required TO answer 1T that
time.
He replied that be would not answer;
he would return to his room.
| WASHINGTON, January 3..-The Sc
lect Committee on Privileges OF the
House had before it today two witnesses
who gave testimony OF q highly import
ant character concerning the integrity
of the louisiana Returning, Board. The
following is the most important of the
testimony:
J. +. Pickett being sworn said.-.l am
an attorney st-lsw and n resident OF
Washington, ID. c.;
Q.-Hsve you in your possession u
letter from Mr.. Wells, of the Louisiana
Returning BosrdH Al have.
Q. Will you produce it2 A. (Hsnd-
ing it to Mr.. Field 1t is what pur-
ports to be his handwriting. i am not
familiar with it.
The letter reads "a follows:
NEw ORLEANS, Nov. 20, 1876.
Ny DEAR SIR-You fully understand d
the situation. Can you not advise me
relative thereto?
Yours, very truly,
[Signed] j. MADISON WELLS.
| y. State the circumstance of your re
ceiyin z this letter, and what was said in
relation to it. A. On Thursday preceding
the last Sunday of Nov, this gentleman,
with whom have been acquainted more
than q quarter OF y century, came to my
office. be having just arrived from Louis
lana, where / had known him quite init
mately q quarter Of century ago, and
gave me full history OF the state OF
affairs there arising out of the last
presidential election. He said be had
been spending 8 week or ten days
| in New Orleans. Tins man then de-
| livered 10 me that letter. lie said ne hsd
! been some days Ia New Orleans. |
knew that for l hsd notified my Demo
! cratic friends down there Of the fact OF
/ his having come thither, and that he Sss
al exceedingly dangerous man 70 oUT
! party, meaning the Democratic party.
! inssmuch a. be hsd been = resident Of
! New Orleans in former years and had
held nigh positions there socially and
otherwise, and they might not have
| known be wss now = member OF tue
Republican party, and was sn emisssry,
~ l believed, from the government
there 70 ascertain how the vote OF Louis!-
sna should be counted, and stating thA:
| from nv personal friendship for him o!
! long standing, hoped ths: If there should
be . disturbance there, IS hsd occurred on
| previous occasions no harm shoaid eeiAll
MIN. By some means he obtained infor-
nation Of nv having written such let
ter, and when be came back TO Wash
i.g,on he repaired TO my orhce a.!
stated - me fully the condition Of az, ?.
| in Louisiana he said he believed zr4
tha, others believed Louisiana wAs Dem
ocratic By from 5000 70 II coo majority,
bu, noaey would decide how her e!ec-
,cral vote would be thrown; tHs: his
symps,hies were with the South, ani
] with Whist was right, and ths: hc had IL
his possession, which be exhibited 70 NE,
. sealed letter, purporting 10 Be irom Mr.
Wells TO Senstor West Ny informant
said, Il have this letter. II is sealed. |
ealno; open IL OF course, nor wcaid