The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-08
The Counting out Of the Tilden
Electors in Louisiana,
Demanding$2oo, ,oooA Apiece for Him
self and Anderson and a Smaller
Amount for "the Niggers."
FORTHCOMING EVIDENCE THAT THE BOARD
WERE IN COLLUSION WITH WELLS.

posals coming from ]. Madison Wells,
President of the Louisiana Returning
Board have been the absorbing theme
of conversation to-day in political cir
cles.
At half past 10 Maddox made his ap-
pearance, and Mr.. Field at once proceed
ed with the examination, He was inter
rupted by Gen. Wilson, the. attorney of
Wells and Anderson, who demanded that
his clients might be present and hear the
testimony. This privilege was granted
but Mr.. Field would not waste time by
awaiting their arrival, and began the ex-
animation by asking the witness whether
he had concluded to answer the ques
tions put to him yesterday afternoon.
Maddox then, in reply toquestions from
Mr.. Field, told the whole story, which
will be found in full below. He was
then subjected to searching cross-ex-
animation by the Republican members
of the committee, who were prompted by
Wells, through his counsel, Jere. Wilson.
This examination did not break the force
of the witnesses testimony in the slight
est degree, but on the contrary showed
the weakness of the theory of the defence
thus developed.
Maddox is a level-headed fellow, and
was quite able to hold his own against
|, T, 4
son, Gov Wells was quite nervous and
occasionally excited during the examina,
ton. The negro members of the Return
ing Board exhibited still more concern,
and are evidently beginning to realize
the position they are IN. They have in
dicated their disposition to make a clean
breast ofall they know, and | am very
much mistaken if they do not do so be- |
fore many days elapse They were evil
IDENTIFY tools in the hads of Wells and |
Anderson; and the most important Sc
crets were doubtless kept from them, but |
they undoubtedly know enough to make
the chief conspirators very uneasy.
The members of the Republican visit
ing committee who gave Wells and his |
Coadiutors of the Returning Board such
high characters are nota little Chagrined |
at these developments of the true in.
wardness of the men they eulogized so
extravagantly, but still they affect to re-
gard the testimony of both Littlefeld and
Maddox of little value, because, they say,
it will be fatty contradicted by Wells.
Their party friends, however, freely ad-
NIT that Messrs. Sherman, Garfield, and
Haze are in bad fix, and would gladly
be out of
Mr.. MaddOx's Story
Mr.. J. H. Maddox, having been recalled
by the Committee on the Powers and
Privileges of the House, Mr.. Field asked
him whether he was now prepared to
answer the questions propounded to him
yesterday, with reference to the letters
from Gov. Wells.
Mr. Maddox thereupon read an expla
nation of his refusal to answer, TO the eff.
feet that it was because Of his disnclina.
ton to commit breach offaith. He had
asked for delay in the hope that Gov.
Wells would be disposed to make full
statement, and as he had not, he (the
witness) felt relieved from further obliga-
tion to him, and was prepared to answer
all questions. Maddox then stated that
he had not the letters in his possession
asked for by the Committee, but could ,
control them, and would produce them
before the Committee. There is one let
ter to himself and two others to Senator =
West. They have been sent for and will :
be in this city tomorrow. One of them !
was written at Gov. Wells's Office at the !
Custom House. 1t was agreed upon the :
night before that the letter should be q
written.
Mr.. Field-State the conversation that
took place the night before. z
Witness-We had a conversation in +
regard to the political situation and the :
difiic llties of the Returning Board. This ~
was on the night Of Nov, 10. Gov. Wells b
proposed should 90 to Washington, and q
explain the situation, and he proposed to 9
give me credentials. He concluded that -
he would write a general letter to me as u
and he also wrote another y
letter to friend of his in Washington. r
When | arrived at Gov Wells's office the =,
next morning, one of the letters was fin a.
ished, and he was writing the other. / %
brought away the letter to myself open
the other was sealed. The latter was ad. .
dressed to Senator West, but has never .t,
been delivered. Gov. Wells said his life sa'
was in danger, as he had very difficult a,
job on hand, and that he did not see how o,
he could get through with it. That he II
would like to serve his party in making II
a return in favor of Hayes, but he would ~
not take the risk unless he was paid for II
1t. He said the majority was very heavy -
for him to handle, and that he did not r
know where to begin to throw out. He :,
said the probability was that he would ~
have to throw out the vote of New Or y,
eans on the ground, as l thought he h,
meant, of necessity. =,
Q.-What did he ask you to do then -
Ale asked me to come on to Wash
Ington and see influential men and get
,he protection for him, and also to see =,
whether l could not get the required "a
money to suit him. !.
Odd he say what amount he want "
Ale said he wanted 81 100000 W "
Q.-On the Goth you say you went and "a "a
got the letters. Did you take those let a. a.
ers to Washington? Al did. O.
Q.-Did you make any use Of them ~ ~
,hereP u ~
Al did of the two addressed to me. 2,
Q.-To whom did you show them2 ~ in
A,-The larger one l showed to the II
President, the Secretary of War, and q
some of my friends. % %
OIL will not ask you for your conver- e e
Jation with the President, but l want Ir il
'ou to state your conversation with the " "
of War. re re
Al told him what Mr.. Wells wanted ol
md the amount of t1nonav ha askad Tbo Vt
secretary declined to have anything to 81 81
10 with it. 10 70
Q.-Explain the memorandum about ~
members of the board resigning, and a. =:
our conversation with Mr.. Wells about "a
hat. en
Al am not quite sure that had any IN