New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-07
GENERAL PRESS DIsPArcH.l

|
WELLS REFUSES TO ANSWER UNLESS RELIEVED
or CONTEMPT.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPArcH.l
WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.-Ex-Gov. W ellis of the
Louisiana Returning Board cross-examined to-day
by David Dudley Field, before Proctor Knotts commit
tee Mr. Field asked witness If he had had CONVERSE
ton with & j. Barrett member OF the Packard LEXIS
laturc to which he replied" Ies'
O. Did you say the OF your conversation WIN
Mr. Barrett that you had determined 10 make st'to
ment 10 Gov. NicnOsl A. II II most INFAMOUS ne
He$ say the substance OF the quo stion a lie.
O. II YOU would question N the WAY a VII VIZ
ness should answer it would be better ~ Will not ask
your advice to how shall answer Question, tho
The Chairman-YOu must answer IN response 20 lhe
question This is not u place for personal explanations
4 / can defend m sell elsewhere -,
q. Did You stats that You had determined u naAe
O. Did you say anything about the intervention OF MT
asked me whether | would have an interview with Gov
Nichols. Irephed that would rs Gov NICHOLS wds
gentleman Mr. Barrett made an explanation IN the
legislature refuting the false charges against De
also had conversation with j. p Kennedy aDont an In
O. bid Won not state that you would make clean
breast of i'll A. II Is a most Infamous lie
O. DO you mean say that you never said 10 anybody
YOU conversed with that you intended to make clean
breast of itl A. Nothing OF the kind
Nj Field read a letter dated New-Oreans Jan. Ia,
1876, apd sged by Gov. Wells as follows:
ain quite unwel 100 much to Ill our engagement
to-day VIII inform you tomorrow relative u It's iunI-
ment.
Witness said he wrote that note and that Kennedy
TO have been present proposed interview with Gov
Nichols Witness asked whether he did not. an
hour after he the above, send another marked
confidential" as follows:
DEAR SIR: After our friend Barrett had left our room
there placed in hands matters requiring my aD-
sence from NewOrieans.
The witness said he expected TO be back in few days,
and then related that had been summoned 10 Wash
I'M ton Mr. Field here asked several general questions.
but the witness declined 20 answer any such questions
xyhateyer until the House should relieve him from
the charge of contempt OF It's authority. When thus
relieved would feel free 10 answer The Chairman
Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Scelye agreed that the witness
should answer The witness however upon being asked
the following questions declined ~ answer them sever
ally
II can raa-ing e vote OF Natcoches' were any rres
Did Inc Etrrlin Board deliberately add 535 votes to
five of the Hayes electors when had not been cast Tor
Haycsf
Parish OF CNncOriia
We're not 300 thrown of from the Tilden cleo
tors III the Parish Of Orleans.
were there any forged aidavits before Returning
BOardi
DID You advise that forged afdavits be prepared
When Mr. Field asked" Did you not direct that forged
afiayits be prepared Vernon Parish r. he
piled. al did not advise the preparation Of any forged
afdavits whatever" Other questions were prOpOundcd
but with q Ike unsatisfactory result
Mr. Field asked witness why he wrote that note TO Mr..
Maddox DE replied that Il int Eded to be shown 90
the President aud other Republican friends. and ~ order
that Mr. Maddox might have the ehtree To such friends
70 explain the political condition IN louisiana Nr Mad
| doX being public officer aud having been sent to
he hd sent by Mr. &addox letcr to the Prcd ut on
tie subject drawing his attention To the fact O au
he might ne pr pared 10 arrest any movement matlnS
against the Returning Board, and 10 prevent any de-
structon OF papers. &c.
SCENE WITH TIE WITNESS
Mr. Ficd-You have stated that you altered
return de- stroyeda paperl A. decline to the
question decline TO answer any question concerning
the action of the board until the House gives me my
! liberty and relieves me Of my disability. want 10
know whether am the peet % any member Of the com
mittee or vIssaL
Mr. Kuott reminded him that Tho obligation OF his
required the witness To every question put
to him unless such answer would criminate him.
Mr. Wells said there was no question he might answer
would subject him ~ prosecution but he reserved
his what his rights, and the
uitiee had right to question him when he was in
durCss.
Did you take part conspiracy TO give the state
to Tidcni Il. Are you through
Mr. Fied-hlr. -tcnographcr read him tho question
THE stenOgrapher read II
| Nil Tucker-Chis is trifing.
The Chairman on. MI Wells, answer the question
Mr. Gels-Nay say wordi
Wtness-I do not know whether am a vassal
peer. II peer should Lie To know IT, II l
T5a fbairmn1" wish in tHs indest snrtt IN br;og 10
yOur attention the attitude Won occupy.
MDtSB-lutlb " no gcbtltIal 10 WuOm WOuiN llEten
with attention than yourself. but must consider
my duty.
The Chairman-I merely wished 10 remind you that
having tell the TRUTH the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth. you must answer.
The Witness viii fully whenever relieved ~ che die
ability imposed by the House which holds durcs5.
Mr Lawrence asked the witness whether he declined
TO answer because he feared he might himself
liable TO a criminal prosecution The witness replied
that he did not.
Mr. Fied-Will you explain what position you Oocupyi
The Ntness-Am vassal or peerf
The Chairman-rh2t has nothing TO do with your
position. You under obligation tO every
question, excepting, of course such might tend 10
| orimnate you.
rights and the committee have power Ia fOrce
questions while under sentence Of tue
House.
! Mr. Field-You rejected 10000 votes and upward
We're tney rejected Tor any cause other Than alleged In
tmldatiOnf
The witneSs-I decline to answer.
O. Did not know the rejection Of 10000
part the conspiracy 10 the electoral 10 the
answer.
q DID take part in any such piracy A. Does
that conclude your question:
Chairman-Oh, aus wer the question not
Mr. Will take the ~ n
duct part Of the witness should be tolerated in tho
COMMITTEES.
The Chairman-Ths question Ia whether the committee
will require this witness ~ answer.
Mr. Tucker-The sentence OF roprobaton should be put
on the witness for not answering.
Witness-Then 1 q vassm
This ChsinnAn-keep order, Sir
Mr. Beelye remarked 10 unanimously decided this
morning " far ~ the authority Of the