The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-08
THE STORY OF FRAUD.
Colonel Pickett and j. Fl. Aaddor, The Go
Bet,ueens, Tell Their Shameful Tale.

WARRINGTON, January ol,-DeloTo tho
committee on privileges and elections of
the House to-day Col. John P. Pickett,
of Louisiana, was examined, who produ-
ced the following letter
New ORLEANS, La, Nov. 20.-To J, ID.
Maddox, New Orleans, La.-Dear Sir
You fully understand the situation. Can
YOU not advise with mein relation there
to? Very truly, ]. MADISON WELLS
The witness continuing, narrated how
the letter came into his possession, and
how the person to whom it was deliver
ed was a personal friend of his; that he
notified his friends of the Democratic
party that he was an extremely danger.
GUS person to them, as an emlssary OF
the government touching how the vote
of Louisiana should be counted. This
friend of his friend returned from Louis
lana on Nov. 23, and reported the state
of affairs to him. He said he believed,
with others, that Louisiana was Demo-
cratic by from 5000 to 10000 majority,
but that money would decide how her
electoral vote would be thrown; that his
sympathies we're with the South and
with what was right, and that he had IN
his possession, which he exhibited to
me sealed, letter purporting to be from
Mr.. Wells to Senator West. My inform
ant said: have read this letter; it is
sealed l cannot open it of course. Nor
would l have you do it if you would; but
it informs Senator West that the Demo-
Gratis have put up million of money,
and that we, meaning the Republicans,
would need a million down there to set
tie this thing, to counteraCt that. he
said he did not feel disposed to deliver
that letter, that it was not obligatory on
him, and that if he followed the wishes
of his heart, and the dictates Of his judg-
ment, he would endeavor to have these
gentlemen supplied with what they
needed so as to determine the result,
aud he asked me whether | had any OBJ
lection to cooperate with him: l said,
professionally cannot, but in view of
the magnitude of the interests at stake |
have no hesitation to do all that is in
my little power"
The witness further said he consulted
leading gentlemen in New York on the
subject, but did not give their Names
He said he did not see letter to Sena'
tor West, but the friend formerly spoken
of told him it's contents, the chief of
which was, the Democrats had to pay a
million dollars if they wanted the electo-
raj vote of Louisiana, and the Republi
cans wanted million to CounteraCt it,
When asked who this friend was, Col.
Pickett finally gave his name as Joseph
Harrison Maddox, who, he said, author
lied him, on behalf OF Wells and others,
to negotiate money enough for them to
give the State to Tilden, otherwise it was
to go to Hayes. The gentleman to whom
he applied said Louisiana was certainly
Democratic by from 5000 to 10000, but
was certain it would be counted in for
Hayes. The money proposed to be rails
ed was to be given to Maddox as stake
holder for the Returning Board. The
witness said the first person he saw
about raising the $l,000,000 was John
Morrissey, who said lie would as readily
buy the fellows as he would buy pigs,
but he had just received information
from Oregon which made such course
unnecessary. The witness afterwards
saw Mr.. Hewitt, who told him it was the
third proposition of the kind he had re-
ceived.
JOSEPH H. MADDOX ON THE STAND.
Joseph H. Maddox was then sworn,
saving he was a resident of Maryland,
and az agent of the revenue service. He
identified the letter produced by Pickett,
Mr.. Field here showed witness a letter,
and asked if it was in Wells's handwri-
ting. The witness said it was. Mr..
Wells wrote it in New Orleans and hand
ed it to me there; previous to the writing
of the letter l had conversations with
Mr.. Wells and also with Anderson con-
cerning the action of the Returning
Board: when Wells gave me the letter he
spoke of his confidence in me, and a de-
sire that | should protect him; he desir-
ed the prior conversations between us
kept private.
0. What were the conversations? A.
decline to answer; had great many
conversations with him, extending from
before the first session Of the board up
to the time l left New Orleans; frequent
ly every day; was not in New Orleans
at the time of the election; | reached the
city between the 10th and 18th ofNovem-
her; after my arrival l had on an average
two interviews day with Mr.. Wells; the
were alone.
@. Did the interviews relate to the
work of the Returning Board2 A. l do
do not desire to answer that question
now; the interviews, think, were in
tentionally secret, and were frequently
held in Governor Wells's private room in
the Custom House. After the canvass
by the Returning Board began 1 saw
Wells as before, two or three times
day; he generally told me what he had
been doing during the day, and advised
with me about it; in some respects / adj
vised him in the matter, the canvass was
in progress when l left New Orleans on
the goth of November, l returned on the
10Th or 30th of November, and saw Wells
@. Did you then report to him what
had been done under this letter. A. l
did; l remained in New Orleans until
January 9Th; while in the city during
that time l had frequent interviews with
Wells, but l was absent on Red river for
a while taking testimony in a cotton
claim as an agent of the government,
l was in New Orleans all the
time; l had frequent interviews with
Wells, which generally referred to the
operations of the Returning Board.
@. What conversation have you had
with Wells since he has been here? A.
1 decline, just now, to give the converse
4;nn Nv intaruiawa with Anderson