New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-01

Abram s. Hewitt and John Morrissey, and
other efforts to obtain the money. John II.
Maddox of Louisiana, a revenue agent, said to
have been concerned in the matter, refused to
answer most of the questions of the commit
zee. The story is regarded as false by Repub-
Ecans in Washington. Littlefelds story is
also stated to be false on the face of it.
AN OUTLINE OF THE STORY.
THE PITH OF PICKETTS AND MADDoX's TESTIMONY
THE INVESTIGATION PARTISAN AND ONE
SIDED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
W.smNGTON, Jan. 31.- David Dudley Field
launched again to-day his diurnal Louisiana sensa-
ton This time it is an attempt to show that }.
Madison Wells President of the louisiana Return
inc Board offered TO sell out the State TO the
Democrats for 81 100000. The witness placed
mon the stand to tell this story was Col. john
G Pickett the man who in 1872 sold the Con-
federate archives to the United States Gov
eminent His story, part of which was told III
omen session and part while the doors were closed is
substantially as follows Producing letter written
nv J. Madison Wells he sal that it was brought to
bsoce on the third Sunday of November by an inti-
mate friend who had just returned from New-Orleans.
1t reads the address being cut out, My dear Sir
You fully understand the situation Can't you adj
wise with Inc relative therefor j. Madison Wells"
II subsequently, appeared that the bearer of this let
ter was j. II. Maddox, special agent OF the inter-
nal revenue service. Acting on the suggestion made
in this letter and in other communications, Pickett
saws that he went to NewIOrk to make arrange
ments for obtaining the money to purchase the
board He first went TO see Abram 5. Hewitt, but
not finding him, next called upon John MorrsSey
who said that he had no cOmpunctions about buy
ing the board any more than he would haVe.about
buying so many pigs even II 1t was on Sunday, ana
that some money could he raised for that purpose
but be did not think that it was necessary. Suisse
oucntly the same evening Pickett again called upon
Mr.. Hewitt, but received no encouragement in the
matter When asked about the motives which I'M
PEELED him to enter upon this undertaking
he replied that lie thought there was nothing
wrong III spelling the Egyptians" and besides
that lie expected to get large fee ii he succeeded ;
not that he wanted the money for his own use, but
TO distribute among the widows and orphans OF Con-
fedcrate soldiers. When he made this announce
mcnt the whole committee burst into laughter, but
Col Pickett seemed unable to see that there was
ANYTHING ridiculous in IT, He also added that he
had himself used very little of the $4,000 winch
he received from the Government for the Confed-
crate archives, but had distributed the most of 1t
among destitute widows and orphans OF Confederate
soldiers. Nothing ever came of the Wells negotia-
TONS as he failed TO obtain sufficient encourage
mcnt.
Maddox. who brought Weiss letter to Pickett, was
subsequently placed upon the stand, and dcclnedto
answer any direct questions touching negotiations
between himself and Gov. Wells. He did, however.
produce a number of letters and dispatches, which
were placed in evidence and which it was inferred
related to this matter, though he utterly refused TO
explain them except to tell whom the fictitious
names contained III them referred to. From this bit
Of testimony it appears that the letters and dis
patches passed between Gov. Wells, Picketts and
himself 1t looks very much as though Maddox's
refusal 10 testify only preliminary 20 full con-
fession Tomorrow as that of Lttletied was two or
three days ago.
The manner in which this whole investigation is
conducted is unfair to the utmost degree. David
Dudley Field calls witness, and before
the Republicans have an opportunity to cross
examine him another is placed upon the stand and
anew sensation is sprung upon the committee. III
the Republicans IN the exercise of their undOubted
rights undertake TO question the witness too
closely, Mr.. Field in very offensive way protests
against some of their questions, and generally i'll
timdaes them to such an extent that thus far only
one SIDE of any of these important stories has yet
seen the light. The Democrats tonight are very
iubaut over what they assert TO be positive proof
that Wells offered to sell to the Democrats de-
CsiOn III their favor, but careful examination OF
the letters and dispatches will show that every one
Of them Is vague in its character and open to many
interpretations other than those put upon them by
the Democrats. On the other hand, the Republicans
assert that there is nothing in anything produced
to-day upon which an accusation against Wells can
DE based. EX-Gov. NOycs of Ohio asserts that he
WAS sitting by the side of Wells when he
penned the note upon which the whole case
hangs and that 1t was simply intended as letter OF
Introduction to any intimate friend and Republic
can, and that the letter IS wholly innocent III It's
character, What kind of a story Maddox may tell
tomorrow it is of course impossible to conjecture.
Mr.. Field, during the session of the committee to-
day, said that Maddox was the last witness he
should examine, and it is currently reported tonight
that the majority of the committee will tomorrow
pass resolution that the count of the electoral
votes having been begun, ii will not be proper to
continue the taking Of testimony. In tins way no
opportunity is to be given to introduce any wit
nesses who might explain the testimony given by
such men Lit1efcd, Pickett, and Maddox, and
the case is to be sent to the country and be placed
before thc commission with only the eX-partc state
nents OF these disreputable people.