The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-02-08
WofeResnNa WEAOING.
eurihsr Testimony Of Wells Be-
sE'S M ths coMM'stee. las
N Reajjzes That he Way Of the
Jranssreseor 10 hard.

Iranssrsssor is nard.
.r The Eaeesoral CeaRisssss.
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ne l,,usssaua Iavsssigssisa.
GOV. WELLS ON THE STAND.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The cosumittee
on The powers, privileges and duties OF
the house In counting the electoral vote,
this morning recalled Gov. Wells and his
cross-examination was continued by Mr..
Field, who asked witness whether Just
before he left New Orleans he had dis
cushion with A. j. Barrett, member Of
the Packard legislature. about the action
Of the returning board, and replied he
had not.
q. Mas anything said by him as to
having an interview with Gov. Nichols |:
A. Yes.
Q. Did you say in the course Of your
conversation with Barrett that you had
determined to make statement to Gov.
Nichols? A. 1t is most infamous lie.
Q. Do you mean to say the question is
an Infamous lie? A. say the substance
Of the question is lie.
Q. II you would answer my question
In the way Q witness should answer. it
would be better. A. will not ask your
advice % to how I shall answer a ques-
ton.
The Chairman: You must answer in
response to the question. This is not
the place for personal explanations.
A. can defend myself elsewhere.
Q. Did you state you ha1 determined
to make statement to Gov. Nichols t,
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you say anything about the in.
tsrvention Of J. z. Kennedyi A. | did
not, sir. Mr.. Barrett had asked me
whether would have an interview with
Gov. Nichols. 1 replied that would,
as Gov. Nichols was gentleman. MIR
Barrett made an explanation in the leg
islature refuting the false charges against
me.
Witness, in further response to ques.
tions, said he had conversation with j.
P. Kennedy, who asked him whether
he had any objections to an interview
with Gov. Nichols and no replied In Ian
guage similar to that in his conversation
with Barrett. Kennedy suggested an inter
view with Gov. Nichols about state mat
tiers; both Barrett and Kennedy were his
political friends.
Q. Did you not state that you would
make q clean breast of it: A. 1t is q
most infamous lie.
9. Do you mean to say that you never
said to anybody you conversed with tina
you intended to make clean breast o
il! A. Nothing Of the kind.
Mr. Field read . letter dated Kew o.
leans, Jan. IA, 1877, and signed by Coy
&slla i4l|e4Mdit o-nJrfSNr rSsltitYivs 70 i,
tulHlment."
Witness said he wrote that note ant
Kennedy was to have been present at tn
proposed interview with Gov. Nichols
Witness was asked whether he did no
an hour after he wrote about that nott
send another marked confidential" q
follows:
DEAR SiR-After our friend Barrett
had left the room there was placed In
my hands matters requiring my absence
from New Orleans.
Witness said he expected 10 be back in
afew days, and then related that he had
been summoned to Washington.
Mr.. Field asked an explanation of the
manner Of proceeding to canvass the
vote in Louisiana.
Witness said that Saturday he had sent
q note to the committee asking to be
heard only with reference to Maddox and
Vernon parish, and he did not intend to
throw away his rights as an American cit.
izen, and be forced to answer questions
on other subjects. lie desired to answer
no other questions whatever until the
house should relieve him from the charge
OF contempt OF its authority. When thus
relieved he would feel free to answer.
The chairman reminded the witness il
be thus persisted he would again be in
contempt, and such would be the opinion
OF the committee and OF the public.
Mr.. Field followed this reminder by
asking number OF questions regarding
irregularities, forged affidayits, adding
votes to Hayes, and taking votes from
iiidsn, but witness was obdurate, only
responding-I decline to answer.
MI. Field called the attention of the
witness 10 the note which be addressed
70 MADDOX, Nov. %, as follows: lyon
iuiiy understand the situation. Cannot
you advise with me relative thereto p,
Mr. Field asked why he wrote tbi, not.
70 MADDOX. A. 1t was intended 10 he
shown TO the president and other Repub-
iican friends that Maddox might have
entree to explain the politi al condition
In Louisiana, Maddox being public OIL
Ger ana having been sent to Louisiana for
the purpose. Witness also sent BY Mad
COX the letter to the president on the
sane subject drawing his attention to the
TACT OF the exasperated condition of the
peopie OF the state SO that he might be
prepared to arrest any movement militat.
Nx against the returning board and to
prevent any destruction OF papers.