New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-02
MADDoX's STARTLING STORY.
he TELLS 1T AT LENGTU-AN ANSWER TO 1T PRE-
PARrNG-THE 81 ,OOO,OOO SAID TO REFER TO
COTTON CLAIM.


HE TELLS 1T AT LENGTu-AN ANSWER TO 1T PRE-
PARING-rHE 81, 100000 SAID TO REFER TO A
COTTON CLAIM
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON Feb. MADDOX told his story to-
day. He evidently protested yesterday for effect.
1t is not always good policy for witness who has a
sensational story to tell to appear too anxious to get
il ont Maddox's story is sensational, and what Is
worse il is not improbable. People Of neither party
would be surprised if it should be proved that j..
Madison Wells not only negotiated but closed bar
gain to sell the State of Louisiana TO one party or
the other. The point of Maddoxs story, which is
told in detail in the General Press dispatches is that
Wells was very anxious to be corrupted and en-
ploved him to make bargain either with the Re-
publcans or with the Democrats, and gave him
credentials one of which was produced
yesterday by Pickett, and another OF
which he promises to show to the committee TO-
morrow Maddox says that he came to Washington
and saw the President and Secretaries Chandler and
Cameron, and when he failed to secure their CO.
operation be turned bis back upon them and offered
the prize to the DemocrSav Col. Pickett told yes
terday why this failed. Two letters to be pro-
duced by Maddox tomorrow one long one from
Wells to him and the other from Wells to Senator
West, which was never delivered and the seal of
which has never been broken The contents Of
those letters have not been disclosed and upon their
character much will depend. If they ave vague aud
suspicious in their nature, like that produced by
Pickett yesterday, OF if they contain apy explicit
offer of the board to sell out, they may corroborate
MaddOx's testimony.
There has never been a time since the Returning
Board met when there have not been rumors ailoat
in Washington and New-Orleans that the members
of the board not only might be brbed, but that
some bargain had actually been made. Some of
4,l.., Il HtaI4D oh 10
sum to be paid, the time and manner of It's pay
ment its distribution, and the reasons why negoia-
tions failed have been given on somc occasions
These stories and the known character OF the Re
turning Board, have made Republicans even who
were familiar with Louisiana politics hesitate to
defend the Louisiana Republican cause from
attacks the grounds of which they did not know.
A Republican lawyer, connected with the Louis
lana case said tonight: We cannot at present
give our side of the Louisiana bribery story 1t is
the purpose of the Democratic committee, under
DGdley Fields leadership 10 conceal the RepuDlican
side OF the case and possibly the Democrats hope to
prevent it, being made public at any time All can
cav is that il is most damnable conspiracy, and
that in a few days we shall be able TO prove this to
the satisfaction OF every honest man IN this country
Meanwhile tel the people of the country not to be
disturbed. The whole story a conspiracy of per-
jured aud indicted thievesand scoundrels and when
the truth is told the public will be startled" The
subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Eec-
tons viii begin TO develop the Republican side OF
this story as soon as the II or II important wit
nesses arrive from Louisiana. They started last
night, and will probablUbe here OH Saturday.
Maddox the principal witness in this bribery con-
spiracy story, Is a native of Maryland. Some very
curious stories are told of him by Maryland hepuD-
Gcans, which do not increase his credibilty as
~ L.. TO- tnso
between Richmond and Washington, and i'll some
way became possessed of Treasury permit and
pretended to have received possession III his own
right of large quantity of tobacco which was de-
stroyed byone of our army columns, or disappeared
upon its approach. For the loss of this tobacco he
has had pending for many years claim OF $iooOoo.
He is understood TO have been sent TO New-Orieaus
TO make some inquiries on behalf of the depart
nent in relation to what is known as the Bailey
cotton claim Of 81 100000 In this claim >.
Madison Wells of the Returning Board has large
direct OF indirect interest This interest is open and
syOwed Ii is understood that the attempt Will be
made to show that the letters of Wells which
Maddox is in possession of written to HIM Win
sole reference to this 81 100000 claim and that out
Of these letters and the fact that that claim was Tor
million dollars this whole conspiracy has been
started.
PARTICULARS OF THE sToRY-INTERvIEws WITH
WELLS GEN. GRANT, AND SECRETARY CAMERON.
l0gsERAL PRESS DIsPATCH]
WASHINGTON Feb l. - Maddox, the revenue
agent who is one of the men who charge the Lousi-
Ana Returning Board with wanting TO sell out the
vote Of the State, made long statement to-day. lie
sald he had waited over night to permit ex-Gov
Wells to make a statement; Wells not doing any
tbing Maddox would tell what he knew. His state
nent is as.fOllOws:
Gov. Wells desired the witness 10 90 TO Washington
sh1 explain the political situation he gave hnGnOX
seaed letter Tor Senator West and another 10 the VIII
nsss Maddox never delivered the letter 10 West Gov.
"sih tad his life in danger az ne had very am,
.t ob Gu hand and that lie did not see how he could
through with IL MI Wells stated that nc wo.Id IKE
h., his party In making return N favor OF raves
80 ne Would the risk unless ne was paid iof u
t.e MAJORITY very heavy and TOO much ior MN 10
asndie Mr. Wells asked Maddox to go 10 Washington,
einnuential men, and obtain protection for hnl ana
so 10 whether he could not get the required money
satisfy him Mr. Wells said he ought TO have one mil,
Ion OF dollars the witness showed 10 the President and
Secretary Cameron the two letters addressed
lin by Gov. Wells; tho Secretary &c