The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-06
LOUISIANA.
LOUISIANA.
Gov. Wells Denies Mad
dOx's Story.
And PrOn0unces 'Littlefield an
Unmitigated Liar.
EittIefield Refuses to Testify Be.
fore the Senate Committee.

EisiIefHeId Refuses to Testify Be.
fore the Senate Committee.
Testim guy of MIR. Caganaye,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The committee on
the powers, privileges and duties of the House
met this morning. The first witness was Mr.
Casanave of the Returning Board, who testified
that tn ne had no knowledge of any alteration of
acquaintance with Maddox, and no knowledge
OF any conversation between Maddox and
Wells, in regard to the election. Gov. Wells
never suggested to him to take any considera-
ton to affect the result of the election. He
had no knowledge of the returns of precint No
2 from Vernon PARISH being burned, and had
no knowledge of the result Of the election un-
til after the returns had been canvassed.
lie DID not know as fact that the reason
why Kennedy was not elected member of the
ooard was because the Republican members of
the board did not want Democrat to watch
them. Had no recollection of q. S. Superyis-
ors being refused permission to be present Is
positive there were affidavts or protest from
supervisors in the case of either West or East
Baton Rouge. Was positive affidavits were
before the board in executive session, but he
could not remember any particular Case.
Could not remember whether 500 or 10000 pre-
cncts were thrown out Did not remember
whether the returns which came in first were
IOr Lu6 hayes OF IllJen ELECTORS
Had no conversation with ANYBODY as to the
majority while the returns were being canvass
ed and knew nothing as to the result of the
election till after the canvass was completed.
Ia answer to the enquiry whether the returns
we're opened in secret session, be sad ''Yes,
what you may call it. L forget the name, the
contabulated statement, the whole of it In the
handwriting of the supervisor
Burchard-He means the consolidated state
ment.
Witness-Thats it, that's what I meant
dated. These statements were give back to
the clerks and fiHally filed in the offics of Sec
rotary of State.
He did not know any instance in which aft
davlts reg arding any returns came in after
these returns were received, nor in which the
returns were thrown out without any protests
or affidavits. He knew nothing about alleged
frauds in Ouachita or Vernon parishes, nor
Eliza Pinkston's story, and said the paper
showing marks against Vernon parish looked
like fraud. He was shown other papers with
figures differing from the original returns and
admitted they looked like fraud, but agreed with
Burchard that he did not know anything about
the correctness of the latter papers shown him
aud then said to Lawrence that he did not
mean to say fraud was committed, but that
he did not know anything about it.
Testimony of Gov. Wells,
amined by My. Lawrence, who handed him
the brief note to Maddox of Nov. 20 and asked
him to state what led to the writing of this
note. Witness asked that another letter writ
ten by Maddox and signed by himself (Wells)
be produced as it stood in connection with the
first.
At this point Maddox entered the room and
was asked to produce the letter referred TO by
Wells as being written by MADDOX {hifHns seifj,
SUI dehfed having such letter or having ever
written such one.
Wells then said he met Maddox in this city
about two or three years ago. did not meet
him again until Nov 18th when be came to
my room in New Orleans and told me he was
agent OF the government, sent down there to
look into the political situation. He asked for
my views, said that the people were good
deal exasperated against the Packard govern
ment and would not submit to its ruling if it
were sustained told him if that were so he
ought to go at once to Washington and make
corresponding report. On Monday morning
before tie meeting of the board he came to my
office and said he was going to Washington.
he then laid down before me a long letter ad-
dressed to the President, commendatory of his
conduct as officer which he requested me to
sign and did so, and also gave him note to
secure him entree into Washington society.
This note did not satisfy him and then l wrote
the other letter of credentials. He then with.
drew from the room saying he was going that
afternoon at clock. Next morning Maddox
entered my room and when L expressed my
surprise at seeing him, said he was not able to
get off the afternoon previous. then wrote a
letter to Senator West and gave it to him, say
ing that had intended to send it by mail
Witness (Wells) went on to state that he
never held any conversation with Maddox
aboat money to affect the declaration of cleo
ton for either party, that Maddox never allud-
ed to the subject in his presence, that Maddox
said he desired the letters to effect his transfer
from Washington to New Orleans.
Witness was acquainted with G. M. Calvert,
but never knew Col. Pickett. Did not know he
was in any way acting for Maddox in the effort
to procure money.
Gov Wells was questioned eearding differ
emit kilograms put in evidence, but denied hav-
Ing ever seen them or knowing anything about
denied ever having given Maddox authority to
negotiate for the payment of any money to
himself (Wells) or any other member of the
board. He stated that he saw Maddox about
three times before writing these letters. Mad
dox did not inform witness he had not deliver
ed the letter to Senator West and witness new
er expressed his satisfaction at its delivery.
Maddox never said what he had done with that
letter and witness never asked him supposing
the letter to have been delivered.
Governor Wells stated he did not sea Mad
dox on the evening of Nov. 10Th as he (Wels)
was out OF the city that evening. He never
told Maddox he wanted million dollars or
any other sum of money.
Odd you tell Maddox that you wanted to
serve your party but wanted to be paid for it or
words to that import?
Al have been Union man from 1857 to
the present time. l went all through the war
as such; was prosecuted in every way and af-
forwards surrounded by confederate soldirs. 1
never Hlnched for moment then. and 1 surely
would not tell Mr. Maddox anything of that
sort at this time.
When Wells was questioned regarding the
obstruction OF the returns from certain polls of
Vernon parish he answered very excitedly. In
reply to question as to whether he WAS pres
ent or gave any directions TO that effect he said
the man who so swore was an unmitigated
liar. He begged the commissioners pardon for
such violent language. He stated that the Or
binary papers did not accompany the returns
from Vernon parish.
Q-Was there any discussion between you
and Maddox in relation to the resignation of
any OF the Republican members of the board
Tor the purpose of aHordlng the Democrats an
opportunity to fill the vacancies?
A-No. sir.
dox about what the word "hold'' should mean?
A-None whatever.
Q-Were you furnished with or did you
know about any cipher means of which cores
pondence between you and Maddox was to be-
carried on?
A-No, sir.
Odd you say you wanted 5000, 900 for your
self and Anderson, and smaller sum for each
ole one of the niggerso
Al never used that language with refer
ence to my colleagues on the board. They are
not "niggers," but colored men and gentle
men.
Q-Di1 Maddox say anything about the ne
EQUATIONS in New York having failed?
A-Nothing of the kind
One of David Dudley Fields Tricks.
In Fields committee a wrangle occurred af-
ter Casanave's testimony consequent upon, as
claimed by Lawrence, Burchard and other Re-
publican members. the violation of the rules of
the House and committee by Fields having
mad printed at some outside printing Office in
pamphlet form, the evidence taken to the end
OF last week. The committee went into secret
session to settle the matter, after which Wells
testimony was taken.
Original Returns Called For.
In the House committee today the following
order was adopted:
Ordered, That the Secretary of State Of Lou
isiana be required to produce the original re-
turns made by the supervisors Of registration
OF the several parishes to the returning officer
OF the election of the 9TH of November. 1876.
and the statements by the returning officers in
rejecting any of the polls in said parishes in
the canvass and return made by them in said
parish which are embraced in exhibit b. and
are as follows: East Baton Rouge, Franklin.
Dexter, Coldwell, Bussier Morehouse, Ouachi.
ia, Richland, Natchitoches, West Feliciana