The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-01

the original statement of the poll OF YER |
non parish, with alterations now before |
him, Governor Wells told me to destroy |
or make way with it l felt l had done a |
little too much already and took the pa
per home for the purpose of destroying |
it but did not | communicated these |
facts TO Mr.. Spearing, my uncle, and gave |
MIN the paper to be used by him and
others, in whom confidence could be |
placed, to be used in behalf of the Mich
OILS government, which Spearing support
ed and thought that Nichols was elected |
Governor; l requested of him that my |
name should not be known in the trans |
action and that should not besubpenaed |
to testify; gave him the paper in New
Orleans the last time that | saw the pa
per was in the Office of Governor Palmer
at Springfield, it having been conveyed
there by Spearing; from that time to this,
he had never seen the paper till it was
produced yesterday before the Com
mittee.
Q.-Describe the occasion and Circum.
stances Of Gov, Wells asking you to alter
returns.
A.-On Sunday the 3Oth day of Deem
ber, the Board and three or four of the
clerks took dinner together; they sat at
dinner three or four hours; from there
we went to the rooms of the Returning
Board; after being there few minutes,
saw Gov. Wells looking over some papers
and figures; we we're feeling happy; l
know | was in few moments Gov.
Wells engaged with him in whispered
conversation and told me to alter the
vote; didn't do it that night, subsequent
ly Gov. Wells said it was well done.
Witness here showed how alterations
were made. Witness continuing said
Wells asked me the same night to make
change in the electoral vote; Wells
was examined by the Committee which
went to New Orleans; Wells afterwards
told me he was asked by the Committee
how returns from Vernon parish were
received, and in consequence he felt very
uneasy; he first said to me, "Can't you
make a copy Of the original to find out
what will make an aggregate and we will
reject some" he then said, 1--WE will have
afidavits showing why two polls of YER
non parish were rejected; the affidavits
were sworn to before u S. Commissioner
Jewell; each affidavit was sworn to bv
three persons; | reColleCt the names of
three persons who swore to them. name
ly: Jim Brown, Sam Collins and Sam
Carter, tney made their marks; | do not
know whether there were such persons
or not; the affidavits were dated, | believe
November IA, 1875, aid came into the Of
Office of the Board on the 18th Of DeCem-
Der.
By Mr.. Field-Did Governor Wells
speak about forging the name of Thomas
franklin?
Ale asked me to practice so ! could
make signature to returns, but did not
do it.
Q.-Since you came to Washington
have you had interviews with any parties
with regard to your testimony? Al
have conversed with several parties, in
Guiding Governor Kellogg and Marshall
Pitkin; Governor Kellogg did not ques-
ton me particularly, but seemed anxious
to do so; Pitkin spoke about the former
intercourse and personal relations, which
had, he said, been pleasant, and he want
ed me to consider we'll before testifying
and as to what course / should take; l
told him l did not intend to testify if
could help it; he as much as inferred that
l should remember my friends; he
thought it wise for me to stick to my own
party, This conversation took place
either Saturday or Sunday night.
Q-Was anything said about furnish
ing counsel, or about protecting your A.
He said if 1 desired he would engage
counsel.
Mr.. Lawrence then examined the wit
ness, who was reminded that he had said
when he was examined yesterday, he
was not aware of his rights. Witness re-
marked that since then he had ConVersed
with Mr.. Murphy, of Davenport, Iowa;
Murphy did not advise him, but said he
could give testimony under protest which
would clear him from contempt,
Q.-Is there anything you know now
that you did not know yesterday? Al
am only giving my testimony under pro-
test; was in contempt when l saw Mr..
Murphy.
Q.-You altered no other return than
this2 A.-None was altered but this one
so far as l know; saw considerable
scratching going on. In further response
to questions said went to the office OF
the Returning Board after the dinner al
ready alluded to. to compile returns the
members of the Board were in their pri-
vate Office: l began to make alterations
in the returns from Vernon parish; fif-
teen minutes after Gov. Wells suggested
it, Judge Davis. one of the clerks, showed |
me how to alter figures, and furnished a
rubber; Mr.. Woodward, another Clerck,
assisted on Monday morning; other |
clerks must have seen it done; Governor |
Wells came in repeatedly while the work |
was progressing / worked on it that |
night and until ten o'clock on Monday l |
invited Woodward to assist; Woodward |
erased some of the totals; handed the |
original returns to Gov. Wells; Abel |
came in just as they were being burned;
Abel said such destruction was usually |
done outside the place of the meeting of
the Board; Gov. Wells told me either to
destroy or make way with the altered
of returns from Vernon parish
now ir possession ofthe Committee: GOV.
Wells asked me if l had made way with
it; said yes, it is not in the of ce, 7 took
the paper home, and it went from my
pocket to that ofMr. Spearing; Governor
Wells not only made request to alter
returns from Vernon parish, but asked
me to write down what he desired; Mr..
Spearine is my uncle; he frequently con-
versed with me and asked me to tel him
some things that would help the Nichols
government; my uncle was not much of
/ politician; he voted for Nichols and for
Hayes. The witness said that both he
md his uncle were formerly hay inspec-
ors at New Orleans, but were removed.
Nj. seeley said to witness: When you
we're asked yesterday whether Governor
Wells requested you to make the altera.
ion, did you not say he did notP Al
,vaded an answer; am satisfied l did
lot say Gov. Wells did not make such
equest.