The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-02-07
LOUISIANA.
The Congressional Investigation.

.
The Congressional Investigation.
Washington, Feb. 6.-The committee
on the powers and privileges of the
House this morning recalled Wells, and
his cross-examination was continued by
Field, who asked the witness whether
just before he left New Orleans, he had
ii discussion with A. ]. Barrett, men,
Der of the Packard legislature, about
the action of the returning board. He
replied that he had not; something was
said by him rs to having an interview
with Gov. Nichols. l did not say in
the COURSE of my conversation with Bar
rett that l had determined to make a
statement to Gov. Nichols. 1t is a
most Infamous lie. l did not state that
| had determined to make Il statement
to Gov. Nichols; l did not say anything
about the intervention of j.. L. Ken
needy. Barrett asked me whether l
would have an interview with Gov.
Nichols, and l replied that l would, as
Gov. Nichols was Il gentleman; Bar
rett made an explanation in the legisla-
ture, refuting the false charges against
me. The witness, in further response
to questions, said he hada conversation
with j. 2. Kennedy, who asked him
whether he had any objections to an in
terview with Gov. Nichols, and he re-
piled in language similar to that in his
conversation with Barrett. Kennedy
suggested al interview with Gov. Mich
oils about state matters; both Barrett
and Kennedy were his political friends;
he did not state that he would make Il
clean breast of it. He never said to
anybody he conversed with that lie in
tended to make Il clean breast of it.
Field read Il letter dated New Orleans,
Jan. 18th, and signed by Wells, as fol-
lows:
Am quite unwell too much so to
fill u engagement to-day: will inform
you tomorrow relative to its fulfill
ment.n
Witness said he wrote that note, and
Kennedy was to have been present at
the proposed interview with Gov. Mich
oils. Witness was asked whether he
didn't, an hour after he wrote the above
note, send another marked ''confiden-
tial," as follows:
Dear Sir:-After our friend Barrett
haG left room, there was placed in
my hands matters requiring my alb
sence from New Orleans"
Witness said he expected to be back
in a few days, and then related that he
had been summoned to Washington.
Field asked an explanation of the man
ner of proceeding to canvass the vote
in Louisiana. Witness said that on
Saturday he had sent Il note to the COM
mittee asking to be heard only with
reference to Maddox and Vernon par
ish, and he did not intend to throw
away his rights as an American citizen,
and be forced to answer questions on
other subjects. He desired to answer
NJ other questions whatever until the
House should relieve him from the
charge of contempt of its authority.
When thus relieved he would feel free
to nswer The chairman reminded
the witness that if he thus persisted he
would again be i'll contempt, and such
would be the opinion of the committee
and of the public.
Mr.. Field followed this reminder by
asking a number of questions regarding
irregularities, forged affidavits, adding
votes to Hayes and taking votes from
Tilden, but witness was obdurate in
answering, saying: 81 decline to an
swer. Field called the attention of the
witness to a note which he addressed to
Maddox on the Goth of November, as
follows:
"You fully understand the situation.
Cannot you advise with me relative
thereto"
Field asked why he wrote this note to
Maddox. Wells said it was intended
to be shown to the President and other
Republican friends, that Maddox might
have entree to such friends to explain
the political condition in Louisiana,
Maddox being Il police officer and hav-
ing been sent to Louisiana for that pur-
pose. Witness also sent by Maddox a
letter to the President on the same SUBJ
jet, draw ing his attention to the fact
of the eXasperated condition of the peo-
pie of the State, so that he might be
prepared to arrest any movement mill
tating against the returning board, and
to prevent any destruction of papers.
Wells declined to answer any ques-
ton concerning the action of the hoard
until the House gave him his liberty
and relieved him of his disability. He
wanted to know whether he was the
peer of any member of the committee
or Il vassal. Knott reminded him of
the obligation of his oath, which re-
quired witness to answer every ques-
ton put to him. unless such answer
would criminate him. Wells said there
was no question he might answer which
would subject him to prosecution, but
he had received his instructions as to
what We're his rights. and the commit
tee had no right TO question him when
he was in duresS. He denied the truth
of Littlefield's statements and then
declined to answer until released. The
committee decided the action of the
witness to be II case of contempt and a
misdemeanor under the laws of the
District of Columbia.