The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-07
a Fine fsesCRip tion s0f ssie scene sbes
tween Wells and Field.


ton OF J. Madison Wells, president OF the.
/ ouisiana Returning Board, before the
House committee to-day presented such a
scene as was never before exhibited ia any
Investigation. 1t was evident
from first to last that W ellis had come before
the committee with the determination to
g brave through" the charges against him
bv sheer audacity and assurance. Whatever
else may be said of Wells, he possesses the
one redeeming trait OF genuine, contained
courage. AsWelis sat in the witncss-chair
this afternoon, facing David Dudley Field,
who was cross-Guestioning him, his teeth set
hard, his eyes flashing, and his hand grasp
ing with nervous energy stout hickory
stick, he looked like the veritable imper-
sonation OF q bulldozer. And it must be
confessed that the skilful and accomplished
lawyer had TO bend his whole mind to his
task before he drove the rough old man into
corner. 4. ~ I'D
It is doubtful whether i'm all the long and
varied experience Of Mr.. Field that he ever
had tougher contest than that which for
nearly four hours was waged between him
and Wells this afternoon. Cool and wary
as is Mr.. Field, he was in imminent danger
several times of losing his temper. while on
three several occasions Wells lashed him
self into such a, rage that he almost sprung
from his char, and it was half expected
that he would attempt q physical demon
stration on Mr.. Field. q He pounded the
table with his list, he refused to answer, he
INTERCEPTED replies and comments into the
midst of Mr.. Fields interrogatories, he
sneered at him rs a New York poll
tician, intimatcd in the plainest terms
that be was no gentleman, and behaved
generally in such q manner that had it
been in a court Of justice he would have
been summarily punished on the spot. AT
every opportunity he rang in the old cries
OF murder and intimidation and mob VIC
lence. His sublime audacity was exhibited
in the most striking manner twice in sue
cession, when, after replying in the most
insolent manner to questions put by Mr..
Field, he turned in the most innocent
style to the chairman Of the committee and
asked to be protected. Hour after hour
Mr.. Field cndearored to PIN him down to
the point, but never did trout at end OF line
dart hither and tnither in more ncompre-
hensible angles and tangents than did Wells
in winding, devious way evade the questions
he did not wish to answer.
Finally the patience OF Mr.. Field was eX-
hausted, and he in turn appealed to the
chairman Of the committee, who then adj
ministered sterl reprimand to Wells.
After this he Gained down little, and con-
descended 20 attempt an explanation OF the
letter written by him to Senator West. The
explanation which he vouchsafed was OF the
lamest character, and can find no intelligent
believers. Toward the latter part OF the
examination Mr.. Field succeeded in land
ing his trout beautifully. Wells said that
the original returns showed q majority for
HAYES. He admitted that some ten thousand
Tilden votes had been thrown out, and that
the Hayes majority returned by the Board
was about $500. This was the moment Of
Mr.. Fields triumph, and he was so over
joyed that he rose up from his. seat. Said
he: elf Hayes had q majority on the origl-
nal returns, and you threw out 10000 Til
den votes, how was it that the majority re-
turned by you for Hayes was only 3,500?"
Wells pondered over this awhile, and, after
discovering that there was, no system OF
by which he could reconcile such
statements, he reluctantly said he had been
and that Tilden had u ma
jority on the face OF the returns.
During the entire period OF Wells's exam
ination his quondam friend Maddox stood
by Mr.. Field and eyed him closely, but
Wells was not seen once to return his
glance. The yillainous Adventures, who
have fattened for ten years on the very life
blood OF the people OF Louisiana, have GER
tainiy been very fortunate in. having the
active assistance OF such Il man rs Wells IN
executing their dark designs. Looking at
him this afternoon as he sat in his sullen
defiance one could not but be reminded OF
General Sheridan's description OF him, and
see in the mind's-eye the shiny trail o. the.
serpent. #,.... -.
When Mr.. Wells came here in the custo-
DIV OF the sergeant-at-arns OF the House he
brought in his trunk several pistols and one
OF the historic deadly Thug knives. This
afternoon when he went to the committee
room he secreted on1'his person revolver
and carried in his hand his rifle cane, and
it is believed that he also had on his person
the Thug knife. Tbs was not suspected
until the threatening demonstrations made
by Mr.. Wells, when Mr.. Field finally sue
ceeded in bringing him to bay. 1t is said
that Mr.. Wells has slain three men in the
course OF his life, two Of whom were col-
ored men. 1t is not difficult TO conceive
that Il man capable Of the crimes which he
has committed against the State would have
no hesitation in adding murder to his other
enormities. AS matter Of precaution pro
per and necessary the sergeant-at-arms OF
the House will tomorrow deprive this Dad
man Of the deadly weapons with which he
has provided himself.
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