The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-02
Testimony RI Maddox Revealing inc
the Rascaltties Of the Louisiana
Rsturning Beard.

Returning Board.
WAsHISaTos, February 1.-The Com
mittee on Powers and Duties OF the 7
House in counting the electoral vote, TO-
dsy. recalled Mr.. Maddox. who had |
read an explanation OF his refusal TO
respond TO the questions yesterday. His
refusal was because OF his disinclination
TO commit breach OF faith. be asked
for delay that Governor Wells might
make full statement, bnt as the Cover
nor did not witness was now ready TO
answer, and said that before Governor
Wells wrote the letter to him he had a
conversation with the Governor with re-
gard to the political situation. The Gov
ernor proposed that witness should 90
TO Washington and explain the situation.
He concluded that he would write q
general letter TO the witness, and he also
wrote another letter TO friends IN WASH
lngton. When the witness arrived In
Wells office next morning one letter was
finished and he wus writing the other.
Witness brought away the letter ad-
dressed to him open; the other, sealed,
was addressed 10 Senator West, but mad
never been delivered. Governor Wells
said his life was in danger, as be had
| very difficult job on hand and did not see
how he could get through with it.
Wells stated that he would like to serve
dis party IN making return in favor
of Hayes, but would not take the risk
unless paid Tor it. The majority was
very heavy, too much for him to handle
aud did not know where to commence
! to throw out. Wells asked him to go~to
| Washington and see influential men and
obtain protection tor him and also to see
whether he could not get the required
money to satisfy him Wells. He said
he ought to have one million dollars.
Witness showed to the President and
Secretary Cameron the two letters
addressed to him by Governor Wells.
He told the Secretary that Gov. Wells
wanted money, but the Secretary de-
clIned to have anything to do with the
matter.
The witness having been Intercepted
relative to the telegI am sent TO Governor
Wells under the assumed name OF q. n.
Calvert, said it was understood between
him and Wells that If the representatives
1T Washington Jailed to bring the
money, then the witness was to use his
own judgment in the negotiation; TO give
the returns rs they were made IN New
Orleans, and then he should commence
the second negotiation. Wells stated TO
witness that he wanted for himself and
Gen. Anderson at least 100000 apiece
and smaller sum for the darkies or ne
groes OF the Returning Board. When
witness returned 10 New Orleans he had
conversation with Wells about the
failure of the negotiations. The idea OF
the witness was, from what Wells said,
that he would throw out votes to the best
advantage, in order To produce certain
results, which would depend on circum-
| stances.
Mr,Lawrence cross.examined Maddox,
who said that in his interview with Sec
rotary Cameron, he told the latter Gov.
Wells wanted 81 ,0O0, 900, but the secre-
tary declined TO have anything TO do
with the pr, position. Field remarked
that he saw Gov Wells present, making
private observations. Wells replied that
he only wanted to hear the truth and re-
tired.
q. Did Gov. Wells say anything to
you about going to New York? A. No.
Q Did he tell you to see Col. Pickett
A. No.
Q. Or to sec any leading Democrat?
A. No; that was not necessary, as what
I did was of my own notion, or the joint
notion of Wells and myself
Q. Did Wells speak to you of the
necessity of the increasing ex.
penses to show the election frauds
in Louisiana. A. l do not think he did
but Governor Wells said he must have
the money.
Witness had conversation with An
derson on the subject of selling out the
Returning Board, but Governor Wells
said he wanted money and would have
it. The matter of the sale of the state
was discussed on the 10Th of November,
betw en- Governor Wells and himself.
In..reply to question whether, rs he
testified in the direct examination, Col.
Casey said to HIN that Chandler wanted
him to see about the political situation IN
Louisiana, witness replied in the sttirma-
tive. This was before the witness
leiu for New Orleans in his
capacity as revenue officer. lie was
satisfied that Col. Pickett told HIM he
had written to Col. Zacharle, Demo.
crat of New Orleans, saying that the
witness Was dangerous man, and to be-
ware OF him. The witness then testified
to his continued business relations with
Col Pickett
Mr.. Lawrence Sal 10 asked the ques.
toni to show that there had been
variety OF transactiors between them,
and this was part Of the general con-
spirscy to raise money, regardless OF the
means by which 1t was to be done.
Durin z the late war the witness was in
the secret service. and frequently gave
information to President Lincoln and
Secretary Seward, and had conversations
with persons on the Confederate side, in
Guiding Jefferson Davis, bis object being
to find out what was going on in the
South.
q Why was the letter Gov. Wells
wrote to Senator West not delivered BY
you to him? A. Because it contained
delicate information and was not dis
posed to trust him. After l had re.
ceiyed that letter from Gov. Wells l
had conversation with Walker
and dined with him. Walker was con-
sidered Wing Democrat. l talked
with him about the election but nothing
was said about declaring the result. |
Walker was the man with whom l
operated when the second negotiation
was attempted. He knew nothing about
my arrangements with Wells. In conse
quence OF my conversation with Walker
and on reflection / concluded not to
deliver the letter Governor Wells wrote
to Senator West. l discussed the contents
of this letter with the party to whom l
it.
q. Was there any arrangements be-
tween you and Col Pickett as to how
much money you were to each get.
A. l did not know how much l. was