The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-01-18
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.
ZACK CHANDLER on THE RAGGED
EDGE"
Proof of His ViIlainy,

The Washington special of the En-
Quirer says:
The boss conspirator is now on the
ragged edge, and doubtless few days
will suffice to give the country an idea
of the tactics of high moral reform
er to steal Presidency. On Satur-
day the House Committee to Inquire
iuto the Privileges and Powers of the
fore it. Little dreaming the Commit
tee had the edge on him, he came, and
staggered into the room with the
brazen eflrontery of a harlot. lie was
questioned generally at first, and gave
evasive answers as to the orders issncd
by him to his associate thieves in the
Southern States TO count Hayes in.
| Then he was confronted with the fol-
lowing kilograms. which smote him
with the force OF All electric shock:
s.NEw York November 8, 1876.
'.1'o Governor l.. NJ. Stearns, Taila-
bassee, Florida;
| "IIold Florida for Hayes and
! Wheeler. Money and troops will be
sent you. Il CHANDLER"
When Zack was confronted with the
Indispensable evidence of his conspira-
| Cy ne tOHctt ooWH tut VI az
ordinary mortal. Knott had him on
the crucible, and he proposed TO keep
him there.
"Dii You send this telegram 10 Gov.
Slearns 2" he was asked. TO which he
replied that he thought he might have
done SO that he had sent several tcle-
grams :o him.
n. xt came the question: Did you
Il
suggestion OF somebody else! = This
question he decliued To answer, and
claimed that immunity which should
be accorded him on account ol being
a Cabinet officer. The Committee in
formed Mr. Chahdle that he held the
dual position OF n Cabinet Minister
and Chairman OF the National Repub-
lican Commit,er that his official acts
as Il Cabinet Minister would not be
inquired into, but that SO lar as the
dispatches which were dated in New
York, aud I'M his capacity rs Chair
man of n Campaign Committee, he had
no privilege he could claim. He still
refused to answer the interrogation,
when the Committee excused him at
his Ownr quest until w cdnesday next
Tor delibci a,ion.
The examination of Chandler lasted
an hour. lie was considerably en-
barrassed and surprised at the hot
trail the Committee had struck. The
Committee has proof positive i'll its
hands-being messages over his own
signature-tnat he advised the manip.
ulation Of the ballots in the disputed
States, and provided corruption fund
tor the purpose. MIR. Chandler was
not shown all the proof in the possess
sion Of the Committee, nor does he
know how il WAS secured and wheth-
er he answers or not the result will be
precisely the same.
When Zach lett the Committee
room he was pale and haggard. lie
drove at once TO his residence and
sent for Garfield and w. E. Chandler.
All day the Radical camp has been
and the outlook is now that
whether Orton helps Congress to eX-
pose the rascality of Chandler or not,
SO far at least as his operations in Flor
ida are concerned, he can not be
screened.
1t is understood that the telegrsms
were secured TIN ough the shrewdness
of Proctor Knott. 1t will be remem-
bered that during the election excite
ment the Western Union Telegraph
Company discharged the operator at
Tallahassee at the request Of the con-
spirators. 1t appears this young man
kept copies OF all the telegrans sent |
up TO the lime of his discharge, and |
that be furnished the Committee with
them uiron Mr.. Knots Invitation.