The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-02-06
VERNON PARISH.
The Louisiana Returning Board
s s. Frauds.
What A Magnifying Glass
sss.s5 s1,. Revealed.

gWAsHINaroN, D c.. Jan. 27-Ken-
ner, one OF the Senegambian members
Of the Louisiana Returning Board, fell
a victim to ID idley F,elrs sharp exam
ination to- hay, and let little light into
the mathematical tactics of the Infamous
b bard He is dapper, ashes ofroses
colpred m IKE, and will turn the scale of
al00 pound weight, showing up more
concentrated devilment and audacous
viilainy than any similar selection that
could be made'from the human family.
Mr.. Field showed him the original
canvass Of the parish of Vernon He
Identified it, as well as the word written
In pencil across its face in his own hand.
writing, ''Compiled /" This, he explain.
ed, meant that the return was correct on
its face, that no afIilavits were made
against.it, and that it was correct as for
warded by the Supervisor of Elections.
Next he was shown q certified copy
of The return certified t. the Secretary
of State of Vernon Parish by the Re.
turning Board. The canvass of the Su-
peryisar, which Kenner said was correct,
showed that in polling, the precincts
numbered one, seven and ten, tile HAYES
Electors received only two votes. The
returns which the. Secretary of State re
ceived from the Returning Board show
cd thatin the same precincts, numbered
one, seven and ten, the Hayes Electors
received lis votes, or 1T6 votes more
than the original return the Board had
received Kenaer was asked to explain
this initiation. He blushed as only an
oEcplored son Of Africa can blush =
He couldn't explain it. He knew that
the Board had never officially agreed to
givesthe Hayes Electors i76 votes they
hadnotreceiyed, and if it was done it
was Without the sanction of the Board
Mr.. Field then interrogated the wit
nessswith reference to the vote cast in
Vernon Parish for the Republican can
didate for District Attorney. Lawrence
objected to going into an examination
concerning State officers 81 will tell
you what ! want to prove" said Field
with warmth, 81 will show that the can
didatesl for the offices indicated were
neighbofs of Madison Wells, and that
to secure their election he altered the
retnrns from Vernon Parish, and by so
doinawas also forced to alter the votes
for Electors. ;,
Then Mr.. Field placed in Kenners
hand q magnify ing glass, and examina
tlon bv it showed The frauds. In Pre-
cinct No. 1.-the vote Of the Hayes Elec-
tors was indicated originally by two
naughts This Wells changed to vote
Of 81. Precinct No. Z was also indicated
by.two naughts, which was changed into
Slsss meking the IT'S votes Kenner ad-
mitted the erasures we're palpahle upon
examination, but declared with all che
vehemence Of language that he was'not
partv to it, and that it was not author
lied BY the Returning Board.
Mr. Field was drawing. him on to an
other similar transaction when the vii
ness was sent for to face Speaker Sam
and answer for contempt As the mem.
bers of the Committee fled out Of the
room Lawrence met Wells at the door,
and quickly taking his arm, said to him,
with considerable agitation: Il want TO
have talk with you before the Commit
tee again meets concerning the returns
from Vernon Parish"