The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-02-01
SlI{l8Ellstia,
: tOulSlANA w
. NJOa1 3 llJul w
Ssts,.asld,s Confession Before the
orrssen House Committee.

in ell substantial points si'nuar !" "'"'
previously given before Morrison's COM
mittee. He said that yesterday when he
appeared before the committee he had
taken no legal advice, but since that time
he had conference with an attorney
who informed him that he could tell TIE
whole truth, IL he did so under protest.
otherwise he would have TO hear the bur
den Of suspicion in abstraeting the origi-
nal returns of Vernon parish.
Mr.. Field asked witness to look al The
paper marked :. and he answered, after
slight inspection, that il WAS the sSaAe
that was before the returning besri
Witness, in reply to questions, said ;hs,
he was requested by GOV. Wells to take
the returns of two polls, taking the VOTES
from the Democrats and sivip. thcsa 10
the Republicans at polls and .. TIE
number OF votes thas transferred wss ls>>
The original figures werc erased. ard
those required written in their pasex-
By Mr.. Field: What uaetlve idsi Sses>
Wells assign for this chang A,-rN
elect Hunter judge, Aasrsws assNcusT,
and kelso state se1aser, the PARISHES
teing in the iadsessl 8isers,s se wAa,a
Coy. Wells resided
o.-wxs one 81 Sss TerssGs HazIeE
lanes Andrews vhe recessed ,9 pcssgG
the oszics o. the grVcr,l shS1r as VA Isc
fairly elected Al Prssaus- 81 a1nr
The fsce saas hx sas tist essasss,A,re SIC iii,
trScs a--or1sy-
Mr.. F5sti exhsssae,l esrrab,.ls.-s "a sAi;,;>
,iae Of rve t-sers.s Ct wsisls. a1nczr 80.
hssssa. vtssn ne ~r-nsss seleTs,g 60 -
:szun~.
By Mr.. FsAk-MBe1 HAr sa.ssss ss !
figures was lcruu Pia.h1s,i IL r1e way y's'z
SAY. vhas oeeanze o. the ort.Lzil gslser'
irum vernon parrsh Al w1s M
.,ruc,ed By GOV. Wells 10 bris. aim lA1
Two statements accompanying ,ae c'5o-
sclidsted statement: gave tnem to bin
the day after the Official prcmulgstio<
he was about to pat them into his pocket
when | asked him whether il was no: ,
lndiscreet TO do so. AMI he said | was
right in reminding him. Whether be or
destroyed them | cannot say, but saw
them burned. As 10 the original state /.
ment Of the polls OF Vernon parish =,
with the alterations now before him,
Governor Wells told me to destroy /,
or make way with it. | felt
had done little too much already. and !,
took the paper home for the purpose of :
destroying, but dad not. I communi- :.
Gated these facts TO Mr.. spcaring, my :,
uncle, and gave him the paper to be !,
used by him, and Others in whom conf
dence could be placed, to be used in be- ;,
haliof the Nichols government, which y
>pearing supported, and thought that y
Nichols was elected governor, re- r
qnested of him that my name should r.
never he known in this transaction and
that should not be subprned to teg- b
lily. | gave him the paper In New il
Orleans the last time saw the paper O
was in the office of Governor Palmer at !,
Springfield, it having been conveyed :
there by Spearng. From tina. time to
this he had never seen the paper till 1t |
was produced yesterday before the COM
mlttee.
Question-Describe the occasion and
of Governor Wells asking
yon to alter returns. Answer-On Sum
day night, the Sd OF December, the
board and three or tour OF the clerks
took dinner together. They sat at din
ner three or four hours. From there we
went to the rooms of the returning
board. After being there few min
utes, saw Governor Wells locking over ;
some papers and figuring. We were
feeling happy. know was. In few {
minutes Governor Wells engaged with z
him in whispered conversation, and told
me to alter the votes. lie asked me to I
have 1t done that night, but | didn't do C
IL that night. Subsequently Governor s
"eus SAID 1t was well done. lie here Q
showed how the alterations were made 4
aud continuing, said Wells asked me
the same night to make change IN the {
electoral vote. Well. was examined
by the committee which went
TO New Orleans. Wells After. .
ward told me he was asked
by the committee how The return. from
Vernon were received, and in conse.
luence he telt very uneasy. lie first said
10 me: ''Can't you make copy of the
original; find out what will make the
aggregate aud We'll reject them.- He
then said, ave will have sfiidayits
prepared" meaning affidavits showing
why the polls Of Vernon parish were re.
lected. The affidayits were sworn to be-
fore United States Commissioner Jewell.
Zach affidavit was sworn to by three per.
sons. rscollect the names OF the three
persons who swOre to them, namely
'itn Brown. Sam Collins aud Sam Carl
Ter. They made their marks; do not
Know whether there were such persons
VI not. The afiidsvits were dated ne.
1--WE November IA, 1876, and came into
'"s once OF the board on the 18th OF DE.
mr.. field-Did Governor we,,s s,..,
suomi lofxing the name Of Tho,. rrsnr.
hnf Ale asked NE to practice 90 !
could make the signature to the r.,ns
bat did not do il.
Q.-Since you came to Wsshi..,o.
have you had interviews with am