The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-07
The Louisiana Inquiry.
WASHINGTON, Feb. @.

WASHINGTON, Feb. o.
The examination of ex,Gov. Wells was
resumed this morning. Mr.. Field asked II
just before he (Wells) left New Orleans,
he had a discussion with E. ]. Barrett, a
member of the Packard Legislature, about
the action of the returning board. He re-
piled that he had not.
Question-Was anything said before him
as to having an interview with Nichols
Answer-Yes.
Odd you say In the course of CONVEX
sation with Barrett that you had deter
mined to make a statement to Nichols ?
Alt Is a most infamous lie.
Q.-Do you mean to say the question Is
an infamous lie Al mean to say the
substance of the question is a lie.
Off you would answer my question In
the way a witness should, It would be bet
ter, Al will not ask your advice as to
how l shall 8
Question by the chairman (Mr. Knott)-
You must answer in response to the ques-
ton. This is not the place for personal ex-
plantations. Al can defend myself else
where.
Odd you state that you had deter
mined to make a statement to Gov. Mich
oils A.-No, sir.
Odd you say anything about the in
teryention of j. P. Kennedy Al did
not, sir. Barrett had asked me whether l
would have an interview with Nichols. l
replied that / would, as Nichols was a
gentleman. Barrett made an explanation
in the Legislature, refuting false charges
against me.
The witness said he had O conversation
with Kennedy about the interview with
Nichols. Kennedy opened the conversa-
ton, and asked whether ne had any objec-
ton to the interview. He replied in Ian
guage similar to that in his conversation
with Barrett. Kennedy suggested an in
terview with Nichols about state matters.
Both Barrett and Kennedy we're his politi-
cal friends.
Odd you not state that you would
make a clean breast of it ? Alt is a most
infamous lie.
Q-Do you mean to say that you never
said to anybody you %conversed with that
you intended to make q clean breast of it ?
A-Nothing of the kind.
Q-What was there about which you
wished to have an interview with Methodist
Al do not know what Nichols desired.
Had 1 remained in New Orleans l would
have had the proposed interview.
Mr.. Field read a letter dated New Or
leans, Januery IA, 1876, and signed by
Wells, as follows
81 am quite unwell, too much 80 to fill
our engagement to-day. Will inform you
tomorrow relative to fulfllment."
Witness said he wrote the note, and that
Kennedy was to have been present at the
proposed interview with Nichols. Wit
ness was asked whether he did not an hour
after he wrote the above send another,
marked confidential, as follows:
Dear Sir AFTER our friend Barrett left
our room, there was placed in my hands
matters requiring my absence from New
Orleans.
Witness said he expected to be back in a
few days, and then related that he had
been summoned to Washington. Mr.. Field
asked a question requiring an explanation
of the manner of proceeding to canvass in
Louisiana. Witness said that on Saturday
he had sent a note to the committee asking
to be heard only with reference to Maddox
and Vernon parish, and he did no intend
to throw away his right as an American
citizen and be forced to answer questions
on other subjects. He desired to answe7
no other question whatever until the house
should release him from the charge of con
tempt of its authority. When thus relieved
he would feel free to answer. The chair
man reminded the witness that he was sub
pGnaed to appear here and was examined
to tell the whole truth. He persisted in de
Ginning TO answer, and placed himself II
contempt again. Mr.. Lawrence agreed
with Mr.. Seelye and the chairman that tn,
witness should answer.
Mr.. Field asked several questions
among them the following, namely:
In %canvassing the vote of Nachitoche
were any Irregularities discovered? Die
the returning board deliberately add 53'
votes to FIVE of the Hayes electors whicl
had not been cast for Hayesr Did you no
add 574 to the votes cast for Hayes in th,
parish of Concordia?
Witness refused to answer he also de
clined to answer whether 1900 votes hat
been thrown off from the Tilden elector
In the parish of Orleans.
Question-Were there any forged aflda
Wits before the returning boardf Answer
l decline to answer.
Odd you advise that forged affidavit
be prepared? Al decline to answer.
Odd you not direct forged affidavit
to be prepared in the Vernon parish case
Al did not advise the preparation O
any forged affidavits whatever.
Other questions were ~propounded, bu
L TT ~. .