The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-06

mlttee on kpHoo, 1rlvlleSee ana Dutloe
of tie House 10 Counting the Electoral
Vots, met this morning. The room Vas
crowded, owing TO the expectation that
Governor Wells would take the stand
Hrst as agreed upon Saturday. Instead
Cssssnsve, Of the Returning Board, wss
called and testified: He had no knowl.
edge Of any alteration Of the returns
from Vernon parish, and had seen none
| on any paper laid before the Board;
had no acquaintance with MADDOX ana
had no knowledge Of his having any con-
nection with Governor Wells in regard
to the election; Governor Wells
never suggested 20 witness To
take any money or other valuable
consideration TO effect the result Of the
election; did not know about Maddox
having any conversation on that subject
with Wells; had no knowledge Of the
returns from Precinct No. =, ot
Vernon Parish being burned; bad no
knowledge OF the result Of the election
until after the returns had been canvas.
cd.
Mr.. Field SUBJECTED the witness 10
long cross examination, during which
Mr. Cassanave insisted that tho Returning
Board in rejecting any precinct or poll,
acted upon evidsnce before them, aud
that the sffidavi:s were before the board
in executive session.
The committee then went into consul.
tation, and when the doors we're re-
opened, Governor Wells took the stand
He was examined by Judge Lawrence,
who handed him the brief nets Ia
Maddox, OF November 2, and sked him
TO state what led 10 the writing ST this
notet Before answering this letter |
should like TO ask, can that letter OF
about four pages, written by Maddox
himself, commendstory Of his conduct
~ an officer, addressed TO the President
of the United States, and signed by
me, be produced, because this
note stands in connection with
that1 Lawrence then handed = letter
written by the latter, to Maddox, ard
one to Senator West, requesting HIM ~
make any explanations he might desire 10
make concerning them. At this point
Maddox entered the room, and WAS ask
ed to produce the letter referred 10 BY
Wells, rs being written by Maddox him.
self, but he denied having such
letter, or having ever written
such one to Wells; witness
said he was with Maddox in this city
about two or three years ago. l did not
meet rim again until November Is,
when he came TO my house IN New Or
leans and told me he was IN sgent ~ the
government, and was sent down there
to look into the political situation. He
asked me for my views, and said he had
u good deal Of conversation with persons
of both parties, and said that the people
were good deal eIasperatsd sgAinst the
Packard Government, and would not
submit To It's rui.ng Il 1t
were sustained. told him II
that was so he ought 70 W
at once TO Washington and make cor
responding report; Monday morning
before the meeting Of the board he came
10 my office and said he was going u
Washington; told him was z lad Of It;
be then laid down before me long let
ter addressed ~ the President, eommen
datory OF his conduct ss IN officer. which
he requested me 10 sign and did so; hc
then asked me 10 write further = letter
giving n description Of the condition OF
affairs; this declined to do, but told
him 1 would give him 3 note giving b'n
entree in Washington; this did not
satisfy him and then i wrote another
letter Of credentials; he then withdrew
from the room saying he was goink
that afterLoon At five O'Clock; next
morning Maddox entered my room, and
when expressed my surprise at seeing
him. he said that he had not besn able to
get of the aftsrnooa previouA ] then
wrote letter 10 Sesstor West and gave
II to him, saying that had intended 10
sen IL by mail.
Y. State what You said TO Maddox
about the money ~ eject declaration
OF tho result OF tho election 10 isyor %,
either the Republicans or Democrats
A. never had any conversation with
him upon the subject.
Z. Did bo ever say anything " you
about money or anything else Of yAlus
for you or any other member oi the
Board ~ effect the result vi the elsctiof.
A He never did.
U Did be say m nything 10 you about
tho Democrats using money! A. He dd
not
q. What did be say wss his object IN
pio ,uring tho letters given in evidence.
A. He desired 10 be Transferred from
Washington 70 Nes orlsan,, and de-
sired 70 use those iett9rs for that purpos'.
q Are you acquainted with &. Calvert
A. | am. lie aided me IA the election
in Rspitiss parish; bad no know wIedge ot
Calvert receiving any tslegrsms IRON
MADDOX; had no arrangement With Msd.
dox 70 send any beyond one Informing
him that he was properly received Ia
WasbingtoG; he never knew Col. PicE-
EFT; never saw him; never knew hs Wa
acting fot AsddoI 10 the effort u pro
cure money, either Tor himself or the
other members Of the Board.
Governor Wells was Questioned Ia re-.
gard 70 the telegrstni pot 10 evidence.
He denied having given Maddox author.
i,y W negotiate for the payment of any
money 10 himsslf or any other nsmbsr
Of the Board; saw Msddoi three
LINES before writing tbess letter.
MaddoI did not inform vtn.s. that
be hsd not delivered the lstter "
Wet. West or witness never sIrrss'si
satisfaction st ib non delivery. A.i-
doI never SAID what be bad done with
The letler, and witness never asksd him,
,upposing the letter 70 have bssn deliV-
cred. Did not see xsddor 90 tbs even
bg Of nov. 10, - be (welh) Va, ou, Of
the city that evening. Never Told Asd.
do1 be waited . million dollars " any
other sum Of money.
Y. DID you tsll AsddoI you wanted
70 serve your party tu, santsd 10 he
paid for il, or words Of thst import. A
have been . Uaioa nan frDm 1859 10
tho present time. vent all through
the war - suGh. ws psrsecotsd IN
every way. snd often sur.
roanded by COnis1sssts soldjsn; !
never 1inchsd f0r . moment thee, and
I surely would MOI tell Mr.. AscdoI sHy.
thing Of that sort At this time.