The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-31
. EXPOSED.
Little Field Of Hay--Does
not Furnish Much
/ Hayes Seed,
But Letting the Cat out Of
the Bag,
Gives Some of the True In
wardness Of a Louisiana
Returning Board.
Wells Directs a False Return
to be Made out
And all the Members Of the
Board Sign It.
Tho Original Supposed to
have been Destroyed by
the Scoundrels
Turns up in the Possession
Of Gov. Palmer.
Startling Developments OF
Fraud
Wrnng from a Reluctant
Witness, who Knows
How It was Done.
Tho Original Supposed to
have been Destroyed by
the Scoundrels
Turns up in the Possession
Of Gov. Palmer.
Startling Developments Of
Fraud
Wrnng from a Reluctant
Witness, who Knows
How It was Done.

WAsHIyGToN. January 30-Little-
field, clerk Of the Louisiana Returning
Board, testified before the Morrison
House committee to-day that on the
third of December he altered the origi.
nal returns from two ofthe polls in
Vernon parish, SO as to transpose IFS
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 ~ himself or
Gov. Wells. he did not remember which,
but at all events with Gov. Wells
knowledge.
Gen. Hurlbut, OF Illinois, cross exam
med Littlefeld. and reading certain
answers from the sternogrspher's notes
Of Yesterday, which the witness Is re-
corded rs having then made, asked him
how it was that his answers of yesterday
and to dsy did not agree. Witness
stated that he did not make the answers
yesterday as claimed, but he refused To
answer Vii questions and he stated here
rs he did at the beginning OF MS direct
examination that he made no such
AUS wers on his examination yesterday as
reported.
He said that yesterday when he sp-
peared before the committee he had
no legal advice, but since then he had
conference with 40 attorney, who In
formed him that he could tell the whole
truth if he did so under protest, other
wi,e be would have 10 bear the burden OF
SUSPICION in abstrscting the original re-
turn Of Vernon parish.
Nj. Field asked witness TO look a. the
ps,,"s marked 5, and he answered, after
sign: inspection, that 1t was the same
pst "r that was before the Board. Wit
neSs, u reply to questions, said he was
requested by Governor Wells TO trans
pose the retarns of the two polls, taking
the votes from the Democrats and giving
them - the Republicans. At polls Nos.
2 and 9 the number of votes thu trans
ferred was l7S. The original figures
were erased, and these required written
in their place.
By Mr.. Field-Whst motive did Gov
ernor Wells assign for requiring you TO
make the change? A. To elect Hunter
for Judge, Andrews for District Attor-
new. and Kelso for State Senator, the
parish being in the Judicial district in
which Governor Wells resided.
Q. Was one Of the persons named
lanes Andrews who refused 10 accept
the Office on the ground that ne was not
Ieyslly elected? A. presume so from
the fac, that be WAS q candidate for Dis
irict Attorney.
Mr.. Field exhibited the certificates Of
election Of two friends OF Wells Hunter
snd Kelso) which witness believed TO be
genuine.
Rv Mr.. Field-W hen the change Of
figures was accomplished IN the way
YOU saw, what became of the originsl
nspers from Vernon parish' 4. / vas
instructed BY Governor Wells 70 bring
| him the two statements accompanying
the consolidated statement / gave item
70 him the day stter the promulgsiion.
| He wss about 20 put them IN his
pocke. when ssked hITn If Il
ys not indisereet 70 dc 20, ard
he said | was right IN reminding him
Whether he or destroy ed them / can {
say. but l saw them burned. AS 70 he
original statemen; Of the poll OF Vernon
n.risb. with the slterstions nov before
| him. Wells told ne TO destroy or make
away with il. / felt had done little
too mach already snd took the paper
home tor the purpose Of destroying it,
on, did not. l communicated these
tse,s TO Mr.. Spesring, ny uhcier ahd
gave him the paper, 70 be used
by him and others IN whom
eontdence could Be placed, 70 Be
pset in behali Of Nichols government,
which Spe.r.pg supported snt thought
/ Nichols was elected L requested OF him
that nv name might never be known IN
this transaction, and that j should DOT
be subpenasd 70 testify. gave MIN the
u.per n New Orleans. The last tiEe /
saw the paper va IN tee once
Of Governor Palmer, a. Springfield,
!, having been conveyed there By Spear
ing. From that time 20 now be never
ssx The paper until u wst produced yes
t.-t.y before The cenmittee-
O Describe the occasiOn and eircum-
s..ncsof Goy. Wells szking you 70 alter
tbe re:urnA A On Sunday, Decsmbe'
Sd. the board and three or four Of the
e.erks took dinner together. They sai
a, dinner three O. foQr ho1rs. From there
-e ves. 70 the rooms Of tne board Aite'
being there few rainuses he sas 6os.
welh lookisg over some ng1ring
We we're feeiisg happyi / know "a.
In feu moments Wells eng,ged v-t
him in . whispered eouvers.;ion' Anf
.old me 70 alter the votes He asked M
:. A-.x that niaht lot Id 20