Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-02-16
One Of Tildon's Agents Tries TO Bribe
an Elector.

.. WASHINGTON, Feb. Q.
The Senate subcommittee on Iouis.
lana Affairs had A. d. Levisee, the alleged
ineligible Hayes elector, before them To.
day. In the course of his examination
the witness said a proposition was made
him, for consideration, to cast his
electoral vote for Samuel j. Tilden. On
the 4th of December witness was at the
residence of Mrs. Barlow, on CONSTANT.
nople street, New Orleans; had dined
out, and, returning home, Mrs. Barlow
and her daughter being present, one of
them gave witness note asking him TO
meet @ W. Johnston at Cassiday's Hotel
on important business. Johnston wrote
the note at Mrs. Barlows. The ladies
asked witness what it meant; he replied
that he had no idea. The ladies thought
Johnston wanted witness to vote for
Tilden. Johnston, an active Democrat.
called next morning and asked witness
to meet s. NJ. Ashur, whom witness had
known as a banker in Shreveport, at
Cassiday's; witness did so, first inform.
ing Marshal Pitkin of his suspicious.
Ashur and witness walked to retired
part of the town. Ashur said he had
important business to propose and would
make fair proposition as broker. He
then presented his offer, whether witness
would be willing to receive a certain
sum of money, say thirty or forty thou
sand dollars, and refuse his certificate as
an elector. Witness gave no direct an
swer, as he had arranged to do with Pit
kin, and asked several questions, and
finally he said that the price was too
small; that he might as well receive
100000 as $40,O00; that it was
big chance to make big thing; that it
only happened once in a hundred years
that one man had an opportunity to
make President; and finally that John
ston might say to his friends that Levisee
was not unwilling to listen to PROPOSE
tion, but that they had not got up to his
price yet, and left him, after appointing
another meeting that night.
At the second interview Ashur said
witness would be required to cast his
vote for Tilden. Witness replied that
this was a new question, and put him off
and stuck to his price of 5000, 900.
Finally, after more close inquiry, wit
ness wanted to know who his hackers
were; then he went off to see his friend
or prompter, and was back in half an
hour. Witness asked whom he had
seen, and he gave the name of Walter
Pugh. Ashur said 100000 was the
utmost that could be raised by Pugh or
the hackers, and asked witness to 90
with him the next morning to the Com
mon and they would meet two men,
Pugh and the moneyed man. Witness
and Ashur went to the place appointed
un
said to be the moneyed man witness rec
ognized as Hernandez, prominent New
Orleans broker. Hernandez spoke to
witness and witness introduced Ashur
to him. Hernandez wished to talk and
witness declined, saying Hernandez
could talk to Ashur, as he was the party
to talk to- Witness then went home,
after making an appointment for the
next morning at the st. Charles Hotel
Met Ashur next day at eleven o'clock
and made an appointment for noon,
when they again met, and Ashur said
100000 was all that could be raised.
Witness stuck to his $500, 900, and said
it was not worth while to talk about it
any more. Ashur is Jew, fine bust.
ness man and good neighbor. Witness
regretted to have to expose his name.
Witness reported all these proceedings
to Pitkin as they took place, and Pitkin
was we'll satisfied with what witness had
done. Had never seen Johnston since.
During the cross examination Levisee
stated when Johnston came to Mrs.
Barlow's he remarked that he would like
to be in witness shoes, as he could make
two hundred thousand in two DAYS.
Witness named two hundred thousand
as more proper consideration for so big
a thing. Never suggested that he would
accede to their proposition and make a
speech to the Returning Board placing
his action for not voting for Hayes on
hi gh moral grounds. Such a suggestion
was made by Ashur, but he didn't agree
to it. At the last interview land all took
place within twenIy-four hours) Ashur
stated the one hundred thousand was
waiting for him. At the meeting of the
electors witness announced he had been
offered 100000 to cast his vote for
Tilden.