The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-03


WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-Little6eld,
clerk Of the Louisiana Returning Board,
was examined by the Morrison House
committee to-day, He testified that on
the Sd of December he altered the original
returns from two of the polls in Vernon
parish, so as to transpose IFS Democratic
votes to the Republican candidates. He
further testified that he did this by express
direction of Governor Wells aud that after
making copies of the altered originals aud
substituting them for the originals, the
latter were burned, either by himself or
Governor Wells, he did not remember
which, but ut all events with Gov Wells
knowledge.
DAMAGING TESTIMONY.
A special to the Baltimore Gazette, dated
Washington, Jan. 81 says The testi-
mony before the committee on privileges
aud powers of the House to-day clinehes
the evidence Of fraud and rascality on the
part of the Louisiana returning board.
The accusation, the proof Of which, as OBJ
tanned by the committee, seems to be in
disputabe, is simply this that an offer
originating with the returning board, was
made to sell the electoral vote of Louisiana
to the Democratic party for one million
dollars. The CONSERVATION of the Repub.
lican members of the committee aud all
others present who were not aware of what
was forthcoming when the documentary
evidence was produced, making the dis -.
closure, was painfully apparent. The
names of the persons who testified were
John G. Pickett, an attorney ut law in
this city and j. II. Maddox, a special
agent in the revenue service The docu-
mentary evidence was given under protest
and in every respect where it would tend
TO disclose the entire plot, the evidence of
which was not in the possession Of the
committee, they positively declined to ties.
tify. Pickett set the ball in motion by
producing letter from j. Madison Wells,
the name to whom it was addressed being
cut out, asking for advice in relation to
the situation. This letter was dated on
the Goth of November. On the ed
the fourth Sunday of that month"; friend
came to his office and explained the situa-
ton, but he refused to give the name.
At this point Jere Wilson entered the
room and volunteered an explanation on
behalf of Governor Wells, fer whom he
is acting as attorney, but the committee
promptly ohoked him off and went into
secret session. While in executive session
Pickett disclosed that a certain person
Maddox had waited upon John Morris.
sey at New York soon after the election,
and told him that the returning board of
Louisiana was for sale, Morrissey replied
that he had no doubt of that, for he be-
lieyed they could be purchased like sheep,
but that while he had no computations in
the matter, and might spend hundred
thousand on them, yet he did not regard
it as necessary, The same individual
went to Mr. Hewitt, but, of course, re-
ceived no encouragement from him. The
doors of the committeeman were thrown
open, and Maddox himself was called to
the witness chair and confronted with va
rious communications and kilograms, some
of which were in cipher, These he was
compelled to identify, which he did very
hesitatingly, Without other corroborative
evidence, they seem to be sufficient to legally
establish the truthfulness of the allegation.
The proceedings Of the committee form
one of the chief topics of discussion, the
Democrats feeling that their case is fully
made up so far as that State is concerned
while the Republicans look respondent
and are beginning to concede that the
only turning point in the determination
OF the presidential question will be Loui-
siana. Whereas heretofore they have
maintained that Louisiana was saved to
them, they claim now, though it is done
with great deal of reservation, that the
testimony both with reference to the
proposition to sell out the State and the
fraudulent alterations of returns is not suf
fclently substantiated by corroboratiye
evidence to justify vitiating the entire
action of the board and yet they are
forced to admit that the indications with
reference to that State are against them