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


The house committee on powers and
privileges to-day recalled Mr.. Maddox who
had read an explanation of his refusal to
respond, stating it was because of disin-
clination to commit breach of faith. But
as Mr.. Wells had net made statement,
the witness was now ready to answer.
Witness said the night before Mr.. Wells
wrote the letter to him he had conversation
with Mr.. Wells who laid witness should go
to Washington and explain the situation.
He concluded would write general letter
to the witness as confidential, and he also
wrote another to a friend in WASH
ington. When the witness arrived at
Mr.. Wells office next morning one of the
letters was finished and he was writing the
other. Witness brought away the letter TO
him open. The other was sealed and ad-
dressed to Senator West, but had Lever
been delivered. Mr.. Wells stated he would
like to serve his party in making return
in favor of Hayes, but he would not take
the risk unless he was paid for it. The
majority was very heavy and he did not
know where to commence to throw
out. The probability was he would have
to throw out the vote of New Orleans on
the grounds Gas witness thought be meanD
of necessity. Mr.. Wells asked him to 60
to Washington, see influential men and OBJ
tain protection for him aud also to see
whether he could not get the required
money to satisfy him. Mr.. Wells sad he
ought to have million dollars. Witness
showed to the president and Secretary
Cameron two letters addressed to him by
Mr.. Wells. He told the secretary that
Wells wanted money, but the secretary
declined to have anything to do with it.
The money Wells required was TO protect
him. The programme was that the vacan.
cy in the returning board should be filled
and that Mr.. Wells should resign In anger
on that account. Witness did not know
there was any special arrangement between
him and Wells about details; but witness
was required to submit to plan wnicl
would be acceptable. Witness said rela
tive to the kilograms sent to Mr.. West un
der the assumed name of Q. nj. Colvert
that it was understood between him ant
Wells that If representatives In Washing
ton failed to bring the money, then the wit
ness was to use his own judgment in negotl
ating to give the returns as they wer
made In New Orleans, and that he SHOULD
commence second negotiation. TIL
word "hold" in the telegram to Wells sig
nifed that he was to hold the returns II
such situation as to make them available
at will If the first negotiation failed. Mr.
Wells stated to witness that he wanted TO
himself and Anderson at least 5000, 00
each, and smaller sum for the darkies o
negroes Of the returning board. Whe
witness returned to New Orleans he had
conversation with Wells about the failur
of the negotiations. Witness received
dispatch from Pickett saying the negotiation
had failed. When Wells suggested thu
the witness endeavor to make some al
rangement with the democrats, witnes
made an effort in that direction but did nc
succeed. The idea of witness was, fror
what Wells said, that he could throw or
votes to the best advantage In order
produce a certain result which would d.
pend on circumstances.
II Mr.. Lawrence cross-examined the wi