The daily gazette., 1877-02-06
February q. 1877.

WELLS--HIs LETTERS AND His TEs-
TIMoNY - lie PROVES HIMSELF A
FRAUD.-It is little curious that there
should be so many letters, and mysteri-
GUS kilograms, and so much visiting and
correspondence about the electoral vote
of Louisiana, while there is total alb
sence of any such maneuvering in any
of the Northern or Western States, al
though the great States of Ohio and In
diana were carried by much smaller ma
jorities. The former for Hayes by only
about 6,000, and the latter for Tilden by
only 1000; yet Louisiana is admitted to
have given Tilden 1900. Wells and
Lis Returning Board are the cause of all
this, and he yesterday admitted that it
was probably done to make money out
Of it, He was asked to explain the let
ter he had written to Senator West, which
the witness Maddox put in evidence on
Saturday. This letter relates to the sale
Of the State election in Louisiana for
S1,000,000, and it indicates Wells as the
prime mover in the corrupt bargain. He
admitted it to be genuine, and entered
upon flimsy and at times reckless de-
tense of it. The correspondent of the
World says:
He contradicted himself, however. at
every sharp turn, busted himself with
explaining, his explanation, and finally
become involved in such maze of an
swers that he utterly broke down, re-
fused to answer the questions of Mr..
Field, and could not remember what he
was last asked. He confessed, however,
enough TO confirm all that has been heard
OF the rascalities of the Returning Board.
He first swore that all of his colleagues
were honorable men, but afterward ad-
mitted that "every man had his price"
and that, therefore, he distrusted them.
He acknowledged that he admitted TO
The secret sessions of the board. when
the results were being tabulated, the at
,orney Of the Republican party and ex-
Hayes had carried the State ON the re.
-urns Of the Commissioners of Election.
but when asked why he had then thrown
out 10000 Democratic votes to elect
Hayes, he turned round and swore that
Illden carried Louisiana by 200 or 900
majority. Regarding the frauds in Yer
non Parish, he boldly admitted that the
returns had been altered after thev had
been received by the board, but when
pressed as to who did it, said, 81 can't
tell you" and ~ don't know" and
when asked for the reason why such a
fraud had been committed, unblushinglv
answered. SIT must have been for spe-
culanon,' and when urged to explain.
sad 1T was done to make money out of
= probably; but when shown the fraud
was in the tabulated result signed by him
set he became greatly confused, and
Dhndly swore that he had no knowledge
OF 1t. Coming down to the local details
Vernon Parish, it further appeared
that one of his own relatives was a candi.
date and was counted out because he did
not like him, while friend whom he did
ike was counted in, but whom denoup-
ced the fraud and refused the office.
For the trouble, annoyance, and heavy
expense Wells has caused the United
States, he deserves to be hung. His act.
have no doubt already caused the deatl
OF many innocent people and more thar
one OF his poor deluded followers. ant
numbers Of others would have been sen,
10 the penitentiary if there had been ;
government in Louisiana to punish Grim,
committed by kellogg's crew. Wells. W.
hope, is approaching the end of his Grim
nal career,