The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-07
Unparalleled Impudence of
the Louisiana Bull-Dozer.
The Committee Bore Him
With a Big Augur, but
Fail to Strike Oil.
The Commission Ma Ike no
Decision, but Expect to
During the Week.

WASHINGTON, February 6.-The Com
mittee on Powers, Privileges and Duties
of the House in Counting the Electoral
Vote, this morning recalled Governor
Wells, and his cross-exsminatlon was con-
tinued by Mr.. Field. who asked whether
just before he left New Orleans he had q
discussion with A. j. Barrett. a member
of the Packard legislature, about the ac-
tion of the Returning Board, and replied
that he had not.
q. Was anything said by him as to
having an interview with Gov. Nichols? :?
A. Yes.
z. Did you say in the course of your
conversation with Barrott that you had
determined to make statement to
Nicholls2 A. 1t is q most infamous lie.
Z. Do you mean to say the question is
an Infamous lie? A. say the substance
of the question is lie.
2, Ifyou would answer my questions
in q way a witness should answer, it
would be better. A. will not ask your
advice rs TO how l should answer h
question.
The Chair-You must answer in re-.
sponse 10 questions. This is not place
for personal explanations.
A. | can defend myself elsewhere.
z Did you state that you had deter.
mined to make your statement to Cover
nor Nichols? A. No, sir.
.. Did you SAY any thing about the
Intervention of ID. Z. Kennedy? A. l
did not, sir; Mr.. Barrett had asked
me whether would have an interview
with Governor Nichols; l replied
that l would, as Governor Nichols
was a gentleman. Mr.. Barrett made a
statement in the legislature refuting
the false charges against me. Witness
in further response 10 questions, said no
had conversation with j. Z. Kennedy,
who asked him whether he had any OBJ.
lection to an interview with Governor
Nichols, and he replied in lang uage
similar TO that in his conversation with
Barrett. Kennedy suggested the inter-
view with Nichols about State matters;
both Barrett and Kennedy we're his po.
liticsl friends.
Q. Did you not state that you would
make q clear breast of it. A. 1t is u most
Infamous lie.
Q. Do you mean to say that you never
said to anybody you conversed with that
you never intended TO make clear
breast of 1t A. Nothing Of the kind.
E,all - al Ma
Orleans, January IA, 1876, aud signed by
Governor Wells, rs follows:
al am quite un nwell, too much so 10 fill
our engagement to-day. Will inform you
tomorrow relative to Its fulfillment."
Witness said he wrote that note, and
that Kennedy was to have
been present At the proposed
interview with Gov. Nichols. Witness
was asked whether he did not, after he
wrote about the note, send another,
marked confidential, as follows:
DEAR SIR:-After our friend Barrett
had left our room, there was placed in
my hands q matter requiring my ab
sence from New Orleans.
Witness said he expected to be back
in few days, and then related that he
had been summoned to Washington.
Mr.. Field asked an explanation OF the
manner of the proceedings OF the can vass
of the vote in Louisiana.
Witness said Saturday that he had sent
note TO the committee asking TO be heard
only with reference to Maddox and Yer
non parish. and he did not intend to
throw away his rights ss an American
citizen and answer questions on other
subjects. He desired to answer no other
questions whstever until the House
should relieve him from the charge OF
C c,ntempt of its authority; when thus
relieved he would feel tree 10 answer.
The Chairman reminded the witness
that if be thus persisted be would
again be in contempt, and such would be
the opinion OF the committee and the
public.
Mr.. Field followed this reminder by
asking Il number of questions regarding
forged stiidsvits, adding
votes for HAYES ard taking votes from
Tilden, but witness was obdurste and
only responded, II decline to answer"
Mr.. Filed called the attention Of wit
n ness to q note which he addressed 20
Msddo, on the Goth Of November, ss fol
lows:
.You fully understand the situation.
Cannot YOU sdyi.e with me in relston
thereto?"
Mr.. Field asked why he wrote this
NJ ots 70 Maddox A. IL was intended
TO be shown 10 the President
and other Republican friends, that Msc-
Gox might have al entree TO such frien ds
to explain the political condition 10
Louisiana Maddox being public officer.
Witness also sent by Maddox letter 70
the President on the same subject, draw
ing his attention 70 the iac, OF the exas-
pers,ed condition Of the people Of the
State, 50 that he might be prepared TO
arrest any movement initiating
against the Returning Board, and TO
prevent any destruction Of pspers.
By Mr.. Fleld-iou have stated thst
YOU never altered q return or destroyed
a paperf A. / decline 10 answer ths!
question.
The witness declined To answer any
question concerning the action Of the
Board till the House gave him bis liberty
and relieved him of bis disability. lie
wanted - know whether he Was the peer
of any member Of the committee or .
yasssl?
Mr.. Knott reminded him thst the ob
legation Of bis oash required the witness
TO answer every question put TO him IN i
les such answer would criminste him
Wells said there vss no question be
,,;obt snsver which would subject him