The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-02-08

IuesliOu nun Wuen nc was 10 uuIc6.
q. Did you take part in any conspir-
ICY to- give the state to Tilden? A.
Are you through?
MIR. Field: Mr.. Stenographer read
him the question.
The stenographer read it.
Mr.. Wells: Is that the finish OF you
question:
Mr.. Tucker: This 10 trifiing.
Chairman Oh! Mr.. Wells, answer the
question or decline TO answer.
Mr.. Wells: Can I say q word.
The Chairman: Not now.
Witness: / do no. know whether am
vassal or peer. If peer should like
to know It. fl am vassal ! am forced
as servant to answer your questions.
Chairman: wish in the kindest spirit
to bring to your attention the attitude you
occupy.
Witness There is no gentleman to
whom I would listen with more atten.
ton than yourself, but must consider
my duty.
Chairman: merely wished to remind
you that, having sworn TO tell the truth,
you must answer.
Witness viii. Iuny, whenever re.
lieved OF the disability imposed by the
house, which holds me in duress.
MIR. Lawrence asked the witness
whether he declined to answer because
he feared he might render himself liable
10 criminal prosecution.
Witness replied he did not.
Mr.. Field: Will you explain what pc.
sition You occupy.
Witness Am vassal or peer.
Chairman That has nothing to do
with your position. You are under OBJ
legation to answer every question ex-
cepting, of course, such rs might tend to
criminate you.
Witness reserve to myself the con.
struction OF my rights, and the commit.
tee have no power to force me to answer
questions whilst am under sentence OF
the house. as~@
Mr.. Field: You rejected 10000 votes
and upward. Were they rejected for
any cause other than alleged intimida-
ton: Witness l decline to answer.
@. Did you not know the rejection of
10000 votes was part OF the conspiracy
to give the electoral vote to party not
entitled to III? A. I leave that for your
self to answer.
Q. Did you take part in any such con-
spiracy? A. Does that conclude your
questions
Chairman: Oh, answer the question
or not.
Mr.. Tucker We will take vote t.
see if such conduct on the part Of
witness should be tolerated in the com
mittec. T
Chairman: The question is whethe
the committee will require the witness t
answer.
Mr.. Tucker: The sentence Of reprobs
ton should be put on the witness for ne
answering.
| Witness: Then am vassal.
Chairman: Keep order, sir.
MI, SselXe. EseP8fk6At n xa s, aas q
witness should answer the questions.
Messrs. Lawrence and Burchard COZ
CURED with Prof. Seelye.
Mr.. Field to the chairman Ia it not
case Of contempt and misdemeanor unde
the laws of the District of Columbia 70
a witness to refuse to answer question
propounded by committee?
the Chairman is.
Mr.. Field: The witness is contuma
cious in the highest degree.
Mr.. Field then exhibited to the witnes
a statement showing the number OF vote
rejected in the several parishes attss tes
by Abel, secretary Of the returning
board.
Objection was made to the paper.
The question being taken objection wa.
overruled by strict party vote.
The statement showed that the board
rejected / ,763 for Kellogg, and lO, 2sO for
McEnery electoral votes.
Another paper was exhibited to the
witness, also attssted by Abel, showing
the supervisors of registration returned
76,717 Kellogg and S0,515 McEnery elec-
toral votes also. the certificate of the
returning board certifying to the election
OF the Kellogg electors and that they re-
ceiyed 1915 votes, and that the McEnery
electors received 70,5Os votes.
Mr.. Lawrence asked the witness
whether, il the returns from Vernon
parish a compared with the tabulated
statement was different from the original
returns, it was done with his knowledge
or appreciation.
Witness replied: 1t was not, nor had
he knowledge that Ii was done with the
appreciation Of any other member OF the
board and be also denied the truth of
Littlefield's statement that he directed
the returns to be altered 90 as to elect
Hunter and Andrews judge and district
attorney. They were his personal, but
not political friends.
Mr.. Field INTERCEPTED witness about
the paper the former had exhibited, but
the witness destined to answer.
q. Because you are under duress, are
you unwilling to tell the truth.
Witness: l am never unwilling To tell
the truth.
Q. Then why do you not answer:
Witness. When tbs cop,ar,r, &. -