The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-05
Further Disclosures by Littleheld.
WAsnIseToN, February S.-The SUBJ
committee OF the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections resumed its ses-
aiopu to dow Sapator Hnua chairman


! Privileges and Elections resumed its ses-
sions to day, Senator Howe chairman.
J. F. Littlefeld, In reply TO questions,
related incidents in his earlier life, from
which 1t appears he lived in New Or
leans in 1868, subsequently, was at Gal
weston, but returned TO New Orleans IN
| 1871, since which time he has held va
rious public offices there, and lived in
concubinage five years. Coming TO the
subject OF investigation, he said ne
| served on the Returning Board from the
9th of November to the 23d Of
December last Governor Wells
made the suggestion to him of
altering the returns on Sunday evening,
| December Sd. Governor Wells called
witness to him and put his finger on
polls Nos. 2 and OF the electoral vote
of Vernon parish and said, "Littledeld, l
want you to trssspose these returns. for
the purpose of electing the Republican
candidates" Witress trapsposed the
votes that night. Eaton was drunk on
Sunday evening, as all were and prom
ised to assist him, but being sober next
morning refused. Finished the work on
Monday. Put the returns with the
others, and it was brought back on Tuos.
day. and marked and compiled four or
five days sfterward Gov. Wells told
witness to destroy it Did not know
whether he or Gov. Wells destroyed the
returns After Wells had been before
the Congressional committee witness had
| a talk with him, and he said he was wor-
rled because he had been questioned
about the Vernon returns. He said the
matter ought to be fixed, and suggested
TO Davis 10 make copy OF those returns,
and then he would have them rejected,
and would furnish evidence on which
they should be rejected himself. Davis
wantrd witness 10 assist him IN making
up this simulated return. We made it
purporting 10 be the original return.
Wells asked us 10 lind three polls that
would make up the destroyed returns
from Vernon parish. This done,
Davis asked Wells bow soon his
evidence would be in to throw thtm out;
ne said, IN n day o. two, and took mem
orandum Of the matter and went OF.
When the witness first took this Yer
non return, be carried it home and for.
got all about it till it dropped out OF his
pocket day or two after while he was
putting on his coat a. his house. He put
il in a drawer, and it remained till The
morning of the day the witness lett New
Orleans. When he told Spearing, the
livery stable keeper, about the Vernon
return, it WAS in the presence OF Clifford.
The latter thought 1t was big thing,
and wanted the witness 10 come 10 Wash
ington with him where they could get
100000 for the information. he replied
that he would have nothing TO do with
such proposition. Clifford telegraphed
TO Washington that same evening con-
cernlng this matter. 1t was 10 the effect
that he had received information OF great
Importance. The dispatch was sent to
Senator Allison, and Clifford later showed
witness dispatch from Senator Allison
to him saying, Consult Howe; he only is
safe WltEess knew that II Clifford said
anything there about II, witness would
never get out OF New Orleans alive, IL
the Republicans knew It. Spearng
wanted him 10 allow him TO
use this information. 1t would,
he said, be for his interest.
Spearing said if the State WAS turn ed
over to Packard they would all be hung,
witness with them. Went TO Springfield
to consult with Govern"T Palmer with
Spearing. When he left Springfield il
Was not understood that he WAS 10 be a
witness. Was with SpearIng IN New
York. Spearing served subpoena n
him there. Dad state to Goy"-rnr
Palmer he did not want 10 be- VIII "..;
also to Murphy and SPearlng. IS'n.t r
Nc Donald showed witness n paper winch
he Identified as the returns OF Vernon
parish The polls No. 2 and 8, OF 81
and 81 votes for the Democrat he had
changed TO the Republicans where
there were no votes. In making
the fabricated returns after the original
had been destroyed. witness and
Davis used the reg liar consolidated
blank form; the object was 10 make Il
appear that the return hsd been re-
iected rather than that The votes had
been transferred the three polls tsbri.
Gated aggregated l79 Democratic yoIes;
there Wa. one more vote IN the iabri-
Gated li-t than 10 the original; DAVIS
Was informed about IL, and be said
that it was near enough; DAVIS Was
parish Judge ri Baton Rouge; Wells
filed ms evidence, on which the tabrl-
Gated liz. was thrown out; in few
days after the list wss promulgated,
Davis furnished sfiidsvts from
Wells saying il was about ~
good thing ~ be ever sav.
witness read the atfidayIts furnished by
Wels. and Thought DAVIS wss right.
Two OF the sffiants lived In TexAs and
the other III Baton Rouge. WItnes.
afterwards copied the stfdayIts. They
were sworn 10 before the United States
Commissioner d. j. NJ 4 Jewell, secre.
tary Of the Republican COMMITTEES on
Registration and Canvas, who assisted
Blanchard in seeing Whatever figuring
was neces.ary 70 be dohe Clerk. sent
bv the House Committee 70 New Orleans
were never permitted 70 examine any u
the returns or the tAbulsr statement. 10
the office OF tks Returning Bard. GOyer-
nor Wells proposed 20 witness topractice
10 see if he could counter eft Flabis.n
signature. Spearinc Imported Hayes Al d
! Wheeler and the 81, te Dsmoc A.ic tlcke.
Tni. feeling was GENERAL among business
men. Macy business Kepuehcshs sup
ported the Nichols ticket; s!i the heavy
| business interest wEs that wsy. Collins
is alsrge, hesvy man shout 10yearl old.
I TIE night G.aJr1 sent toe dispatch 70
VS. hiugton De Was very much urGer
the IL naence OF liquor. Wines urged
/ him r.i 10 send the disps:ches, bot be
/ insisted. he sAId that # witness Eoaid
not come TO Washington with him be
could go 70 the Treasury or 70 the man
seer o. the National Republican patty,
( think be mention ei the lame Of ChSnd
Ies ...aad he wOal4 90 =. a. oaos 70 the
/ Treasury and get the 10000 for the
/ intornaiion. lie Esi 30 drunk, the Wit
ness ihiak. he bad 70 copy the dhpaieh
for hiE. " liness never showed the
fabricated retarn 70 anybody unill be
gave u - Sp=sEinz, WHO received u
z n nae IRE ut