The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-02-06
EXPOSED.
Some of the True Inwardness
OF a Louisiana Returning
Board.


Board.
Wells Directs Il False Return to
be Made Out and All the Mem.
bers Of the Board Sign Ii.
WASHINGTON, January 30 --Littlefield,
clerk of the louisiana Returning Board,
testified before the Morrison House
committee to-day that on the third of
December he altered the original returns
from Two of the polls in Vernon parish,
so as to transpose It's Democratic votes
over to the Republican candidates. That
he did this by the express direction of
Gov. Wells and that after making copies
of the originals and substituting them
for the originals, the latter were burned
either by himself or G ". Wells, he did
not remember which, but at all events
with Gov Wells knowledge.
Gen Hurlbut, of illinois, cross, ,ex-
amined Liltlefeld, and reading certain
answers from the stenographer's notes
OF Yesterday, which the witness is re-
corded as having then made, asked him
how it was that his answers of yester-
day and to-day did not agree. Witness
stated that he did not make the answers
yesterday as claimed, but he refused to
answer all questions and he stated here
as he did at the beginning of his direct
examination that he made no such ans.
wers on his examination yesterday as
reported.
He said that yesterday when he ap!
peared before the committee he had hi,
legal advice, but since then he had q
conference with an Attorney. who in
formed him that he could tell the whole
truth if he did so under protest, other
wise he would have to bear the burden
of suspicion in abstrac,ing the original
return Of Vernon parish
Mr.. Field asked witness to look at the
paper marked 5, he answered, after
slight inspection, that it was the same
paper that was before the Board Wit
ness, in reply to question, said he was
requested by Governor Wells to trans
pose the returns of the two polls, taking
the votes from the Democrats and Civ
ing them to the Republicans. AT polls
Nos 2 and 8 the number. of votes thus
transferred was l7S The original figures
were erased, and those required written
in their place. -. 80.
By Mr.. Field-What motive did Gov
ernor Wells assign for requiring you to
make the changer A. To elect Hunter
for Judge, Andrews for District Attor-
ney, and Kelso for State Senator, the
parish heing in the judiciaI district in
which Governor Wells resided
Q Was one of the persons named
James Andrews who refused to accept
the Office on the ground that he was not
legally elected? A. / presume so from
the fact that he was candidate for Dis
trict Attorney.
Mr.. Field exhibited the certificates OF
election OF two friends of Wells Hun
ter and Kelso) which witness believed
to be genuine. -, ~.
By Mr.. Field-When the change OF
figures was accomplished in the way
you say, what became of the original
papers from Vernon parish? a. l was
instructed by Governor Wells to bring
him the two statements accompanying
the consolidated statement. / gave
them to him the day after The promulga-
lion He was about to put them in his
pocket, when l asked him if it was not
in liscrcct to do So, and he said l was
right in reminding him. Whether he OF
| destroyed them ] can't say, but saw
them burned AS to the original state
ment of the poll of Vernon parish, will
the alterations now before him, Wells
told me. to destroy or make away will
it. felt / had done little too mucl
already and took the paper home fol
the purpose of destroying it, but die
not. communicated these facts to Mr.
lSpearing, my uncle, and gave him The
paper, to be, used by him and others il
whom confidence could be placed, to b,
used in behalf of Nichols government
which Spealing supported and though
Nichols was elected I rcqnested o
him that my name ight never be known
in this transaction, and that l SHOULD
not be subrenaed to testify. I CAV,
him the paper in New Orleans. Tht
last time I saw the paper was in the of
fee Of Governor Palmer, at Springfield
| it having been conveyed there by Spear
| ing From that time to now he neye
saw the paper until it was produced yes
terday before the committee. =.
@ Describe the occasion and circum
stances of Gov. Wells asking you to al
ter the returns. A. On Sunday, Dec
ember Sd, the board and three or fou
Of the clerks took dinner together. They
sat at dinner three or four hours. From
there we went to the rooms of the board
After being there few minutes he saw
Governor Wells looking over some fgu
ring We were feeling happy; knos
was, In a few moments Wells enga
ged with him in a whispered converse
tion, and told me to alter the votes. HI
asked me to have it done that night, but
did not do it that night, but snbse
quently, and Wells said that it was vel
done. The witness here showed how
the alterations were made. Continuing
he said: Wells asked me the same nigh,
to make a change in the electoral vote
Wells was examined by the committee
sent to New Orleans Wells afterwards
told me that he was asked by the com.
mittee how the returns from Vernon
parish were received, and in consequence
he felt very uneasy. He first said to
me: Cant you make a copy of the
original returns, and find out what will
make an aggregate, and we will reject
some2" He then said: ave will have
the affidavits prepared meaning the
affidavits showing why two polls Of Yer
non parish we're rejected. The afiida.
Wits were sworn to before q. S., Com
missioner Jewell. Each affidavit was
sworn to by three persons, ! recolleci
the names of the three persons who
swore to them, namely: Jim Brown
Sam Collins and Sam Carter. They
made their marks. do not know wheth
er there were such persons or not. The
sflliavits were dated, / believe, Novem
1 a.