The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-26
zlcu cnivDHrR no cor srrtRys.
Securing the Florida Returns Important Tes
timony About Telegraph Dispatches.


WAsnrNGroN, Jan. 2j-Thc Committee on
the Powers and Privileges Of the House to-day
took some very important and interesting tcsti-
mony, which vcrincs tho allegation Of frnudu-
lent attempts 10 count in Hayes in the state
OF Florida. REGARDLESS If tho real condition Of
the vote I'm that state. Tho fact that Zach
Chandler sent telegram 10 Gov. Stcarns OF
Florida n day or two after the election. stating
that IL was absolutely necessary for the Repub-
leans to carry Florida. South Carolina, and
Louisiana in order TO secure tho election Of
Hayes, and instructing Gov. Stcarns peremp-
torlly to SEQ that tho vote of his State
was returned in favor Of the Republican clec-
tors was fully brought oul to-day. in the tcstl-
mony OF J. b. DeBcrry. n telegraph operator in
Tallahassee. Mr.. DcBcrry's personal appear
anco and manners were very respectful and
rather prepossessing. his countenance open and
assuring and his testimony was given with
such caution and frankncss as 10 ontitle 1t to
credencc His s-exnmination was very
rigid. desperate effort being made on the part
OF the Republican membors 81 the committee TO
entrap him and force him into some contradi'-
ton OF his direct testimony, but without sue
cess. His testimony is as follows:
Qworo you in the telegraph ofice In Tallalas.ee On
Iva. hot there on the ia, the election, but was CON
0-Wcte you there on the day after Tie election, the 9Th
~ ye9 Ie,9Set any t'sIa@: passing between
Q-.Hi,e the first one On the su objected 20 by Mr.
Barchari and NE objection was o,errringM Al cnn
gram from Mr. a. Chandler tOOON suarns IA substance
I'VE are now absolutely surc Of 50 many votes for
llsles gisM ,hr ninber when 81 not tec,ll. ana
cannot eivc yon The exact wording u the rest o the
telegram, hut III substance It was tbs.
Do son rccoliect any message about soniins cou.
eSafcr Ga do S not rccoec ye,6or It wa. ' on e
day Mr. 4 Chandler ieierraphed To GOV st'arn-.
send conrers 70 every county ani secur. the returns
DO you fecoect a telegram about Sir " +. Chand.
cannot sts lie dsic Ia, remember Mr. T. Chandler
Nv Cnandlcr leaves ior Florida tonight on mpor
NJ cl"niSTi A"frank K sher~n gave me s ,cl e.
gram one morning about seven o'clock between the sh
BY n. sw,.I,swS I, FE9us sh'gwia' Ale
By Mr. flsd,.Mas us leissTam IN .e name Of Gov
seam Syc ac e ws. s"' ess sa's ,e
was very long H,srem lt vert on e tell abonta
on board whom Mr. sicarns was INSTRUCTED 70 tcnd out
w.n ON to I'll inA mat vain wa ~ ha kluhed ani
We have troops and money hnmedatelA' had That
morning. until about fra.i II or l9 o'clock maj day.
ss., IN S Swsf to a gram wound won be ysy lard 10
tel whether it was an answer 10 thai sles,an or not
siesfn. saigg that Pc had seen nc rresdsgt and DC
HIM that the troops AMI money would bs Iursed' That
DO You know lat the troops did arrive in Florida
t6n what day dd they arrive' A-They arrived
Q.pa william Chandler arrive before me ,roops
which the troops arrived but hts ia advance Vi
S-pl ihe troog.gG BY 'seis train A-Thcy a.
2-ph you yoU a! the last election Il a. n.,,
crsuc uckct uiat wa my rrs, vote.
ow ons asig SgS u hee n roI pSar ia 6at
VA born ON the l4ih % February $50 49,. ,,,..,,
,Sssn NJ Sesaaisg "ad gov Seam: SS!sssn Y;
da.ss you have tesrIcd ~ Am4i course tiers ngt
been. i only state what Know. y,
on of them There wee hall dozen operators around
Did you communicate your knowledge Of those ,el.
esrsins to s5y psrs, prof ~ sou, Ssu W. and
| ~ eliminate Inc.
Mr. Lawrence asked that the witness be d.
| rooted " answer.
nv Mr. rirI-l. there law In Floriia against iela
graph operator disc cs.ns te eont'n's vi -
| y Making it a criminal oienoei A-Itis criminal
~ Mr Burchari-I. this the nr.t time that YOU have
claimed ,ogr privilege TO WITHHOLD an answer to ne "a.
decline 70 answer maj question.
ny Mt LawTcnce-Do you decline to answer because
.ay 4 might tent 70 40 - ia,
your know Ledge What was IN these kilograms before
YOU ts-ned here' Al also decline To answer that on
~Hsvc YOU been inquired or to your knowledge Of
u6se iclesfam' before you lesuhcd herei A-rhat
also de line 70 answer
/ v W ny ll You . tn ono OF Uosf tchglNu- IN your
I'M bavins n tr,n.ntt,sdi Because tho ,etersnh
I'm, down. and could not he transmitted carh, r
uan dat Tie reason dd not give 1t L. the manager 10
51 Pio Sn w. ' asm W. 'Ga nS va. f
order zen, 9g' y'9ll and rcPsir.d Tie ns sni n'i
Ms %lcgram over & Mr. b4'n 1le managgr ,9 lorwatd
ny All t. k,ep Tie e!' sram IA my poeAet anu. the Inc
q = whom di Won rleiso vearseif' 40 Frank r.
s1,rwp ~ man y go agli,srsi TIE me,sn.s t. ine
4-wherc ioe. he rc.iie' Al no, Know
mh1n long VA j. al .a'ai a',,e A , d' :
Just before te election AMI stag Cd there unu short time
C-Have YOU any Information a. to where hc i' now'
| only by heaisay. l understand that he la sJAe I'd
. Did you hear that a, Tallahassee A-Iheard II
8-Tro,mT whom A-Fr.m friend 9fmiee ,,.,.,.,
o,sra;er afd ai.a am ,na,t,nce 81 sicr,,ns
q Where does lie r,sdei Ale has been residing at
b Nr nagshsrj Where A. ,hoss tellemsms puEpoorrt
.n.lon ana Sew iork.
The witness further testified that he first
| heard Of the t.lr cram from Chandler to Strarns
| saying that the Republicans must have LOuisi-
ana. South Carolina, and Florida 10y fair means
| or Otherwise. when il was communicatedto hir
! IN confidence by n Nepublican telegraph Ope'
rator. but he de lined - t" the name of his IN
| formHnt. and also declined t. say t. whom 1t
nrst mentioned the contents of the telegram.
,s gl tT' M' ,cesr3 gpsrai9r IN Ieahs'-ce t.,
ls tAssee ant i, iei,- rams "h D. Chandler IA " ash
int'on which wer. IN ,ih.r
uo ft,sidentf A-ies, Sal, huO-. lAv 4iil 90 i'h u
= swie ~ Al uink st wA,tii. 81 think j. az
i.onomb,r a. -'''' ''''' '''' '''" '-' ~ ''
Atthecloso ~ we mootlng If The comm'''oo
q Lively -'',-t1 tool, rlp'e between Mr. Fi-ld am.
Judge lnwrou Co.,. lne lulrr. having renarko0
That no. doubt there wills other matter in IN,
kilograms which h' witness could ~
throw an entirely diNorcm light upn
hs testimony MI l."d, eooi-humor'dl