The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-14
ON THE RACK.
The Master Spirit of the Louisiana Re-
turning Board Examined
Wells Tries to Explain Matters.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The committee on
l the powers, privileges and duties of the house
/ in counting the electoral vote this morning
recalled Governor Wells, and his cross-exam-
| inatiOn was continued. lH
| just before he left New Orleans he had dis
/ cussion with A ]. Barrett, member OF the
| returning board, and he replied that he had
Q-was anything said by him as to having
an interview with Governor Nichols?
| Ayes.
Odd you say in the course of your con-
versation with Barrett that you had determ-
| ined to make statement TO Governor Mich
| oils?
Att is most infamous lie.
| Q.-Do you mean to say the question is an
Al say the substance of the question is a
lie. go n sa,.r
Off you would answer my question in the
/ better.
Al will not ask your advice as to how 1
The Chairman-You must answer in re-
| Spouse 10 the question. This is not the place
| for personal explanations.
| Al can defend myself elsewhere.
| Q--Did you state you had determined to
make statement to Governor Nichols?
! Odd you say anything about an inter-
| vention of j. p. Kennedy? YN
Al did not, sir. Mr. Barrett had asked me
/ whether would have an interview with Gov
| ernor Nichols. replied would, as Governor
/ Nichols was gentleman. Barrett made an
/ explanation in the legislature refutlng the
false charges against me.
The witness in further response to questions
said he had a conversation with j. p. Ken
nedy who asked him whether he had any OBJ
| jections to an interview with Gov. Nichols,
and he replied i'm language similar to that in
| his conversation with Barrett. Kennedy sug
| gested an interview with Governor Nichols
| about the state matters. Both Barrett and
Kennedy were his political friends.
,Q.-Did you not state that you would make a
/ clean breast OF it?
| Alt is most infamous lie.
Q-Do you mean TO say that you never said
| to anybody you cOnversed with you intended
| to make a clean breast of it?
| A.-NOthing of the kind.
| Mr.. Field read a letter dated New Orleans,
January IA, 1877, and signed by Governor
| Wells, as follows:
81 am quite unwen, too much so to fill our
engagement to-day. VIII inform you to-mor-
| row'relative to its fulfilment."
| The witness said he wrote that note and Ken
/ nedy was to have been present at the proposed
| interview with Governor Nichols.
| Witness was asked whether he did not an
| hour after he wrote about the note send an
| other marked confidential" as follows:
"DEAR SIR-After our friend Barrett had
left our room there was placed in my hands
matters requiring my absence from New Or
/ leans"
Witness said that he expected to be back in
| a few days, and then related that he had been
summoned to Washington.
Mr. Field asked an explanation of the man
/ ner of proceeding to canvass the vote in Lou
/ isiana.
Witness said Saturday he had sent note to
/
| reference to Maddox and Vernon parish and
he did not intend to throw away his rights as
an American citizen and be forced to answer
| questions on other subjects. He desired TO
| answer no other questions whatever until the
| house should relieve him from the charge OF
| contempt of its authority. When thus re-
| LEVIED he would feel free TO answer.
The chairman reminded the witness that If
he thus persisted he would again be In con-
| Tempt, and such would be the opinion of the
! committee and the public.
| Mr.. Field followed this reminder by asking
frged fegarddg the
| Hayes and taking votes from Tilden, but the
| witness was obdurate, only responding ~ de-
/ Mr.. Field called the attention OF the witness
| to note which he addressed TO Maddox on
| the Goth of November, as fOllows:1 "You fully
understand the situation. Can not you advise
Mr.. Field asked why he wrote this note to
| Maddox,
Alt was intended to be shown to the pres
| ident and other republican friends that Mad
| dox might have entree to such friends to ex-
plain the political condition in Louisiana,
| Maddox being public officer and having been
| sent to Louisiana for the purpose.
The witness also sent by Maddox a letter TO
the president on the same subject, drawing his
| attention to the fact of the exasperated condi-
| ton of the people of the state, so he might be
prepared to arrest any movement initiating
/ against the returning board, and to prevent
| any destruction of papers. 41Ir0lT +Ia
Mr.. Field-YOu have stated that you never
altered return or destroyed paper? .f
The witness declined to answer any ques-
| tion concerning the action of the board until
the hoese gave him his liberty and relieved
him of his disability, He wanted to know
| whether he was the peer of any member of
the commission or a vassal.
| Mr.. Knott reminded him that the obligation
| of his oath required the witness to answer
every question put to him unless such answer
| would criminate him. --.... .,It , - -....-
| Mr.. Wells said there was no question he
might answer which would subject him TO
| prosecution, but he reserved his construction
| as to what were his rights, and the committee
had no right to question him when he was in
Odd you take any part in any conspiracy
! to give the state to Tilden?
| "A e you through? Bog nv
Mr.. Field-Mr. Stenographer read him the
| question. Stenographer read 1t. ~, a.
Mr.: Wells-Is that the finish of your ques-
ton?
Mr. Tucker-Ths is trifiing. ~
The Cnairman-Oh, Mr.. Wells, answer the
question decline To answer. I'd s.ftflr
| Mr.. Wells-Can say a word? --.
The Chairman-Not now.
Wftness-I don't know whether am vas
II p vasa G ofced as axe 20 seEysn
10 answer your questions. orf ..i tfENte
Chairman-I wish, in kindness, to bring to
your attention the attitude you occupy;
Witness-There is no gentleman to whom
would listen with more attention than your
self, but must consider my duty.
&c, Shai1m man merely Wished to remind you
answer .s.r-.r
Witness-I win, fully, whenever relieved Of
the disability imposed by the house, which
lawrence asked the witness whether he de
clined to answer because he feared he might
ton. RI iafft -intiaiI.li ~ IN Hf
Witness replied he did not. ~ ~ II
Mr.. Field-Wfll you explain what position
Wintness-Am I a vassal or peer?
The Chairman-That has nothing to do with
your position. You are under obligation (