The Portland daily press., 1877-02-01
LOUISIANA.
Littlefield's Testimony
to be Refuted.
Some of it's Weak
Points.
Some Mere Semsa-
tiOMsel Testimony.
CSnecial desnatch 10 the Boston Journal1


ish can be successfully refuted by the follow
ing statement: The Littlefied conspiracy is a
conspiracy to make money out or the Republi-
cans, if possible; failing that out of the Demo
Gratis. This forged return was offered to Nor.
risop, Chairman of the Louisiana Committee.
at New Orleans, and denounced by him as be-
ing diShonorable. Morrison stated this in the
Committee re ON, adding that he did not wish
to have anything to do with things obtained in
in that way, and would have nothing to do
with it. Under the law of Louisiana dupli~
cate of the Supervisors return is on file in the
parish records, and shows Democratic vote of
647, against two Republican votes; that it is
notorious all over the State of Louisiana that
Vernon parish never does cast any Republican
votes OF any amount and never did; that the
Returning Board furnished the Senate and
House Investigating Committees with tabu-
lated statement of the actual returns received
by them from the Parish Supervisors as to the
electoral vote by parishes. that on that return
Vernon is accurately put down two votes Re-
publican and 647 Democratic SO that the idea
that Governor Wells would dictate forgery of
that kind is in the very highest degree improb-
able, when he knew perfectly well that he
would be contradicted by his own records and
by the records Of the parish supervisors; that
the fact proves that the Returning Board did
not exclude three polls amounting to 173 votes
on the ground of intimidation upon affidavits
aiken before Jewett, United States Commis-
sioner in New Orleans, on Nov. IA, 1876; that
Ju6 sJUTy, tu0r6lOre, VI IlttItuolu, tllaG 2IL6T
Dec. Is, 1876, Wells directed him to pick out
and exclude three polls for which he would
have the testimony prepared, Is necessarily un-
true; thas the state ment by Littlefieid that
one reason for the forgery of 17S votes was that
the Board might elect Republican State Sena-
tor Kelso is proved to be untrue, because Kelso
was not returned elected by the Board, while
Democratic competitor was; that the story that
it was necessary to add 17S votes to the Repub-
lican side and deduct an equal amount from
the Democratic side (Which constituted the for
gery) for the purpose of electing the Circuit
Judge, is proved to be untrue, because the con-
fessed action of the Board il excluding 178
Democratic vote elected this Judge without the
necessity OF the useless forgery of adding 17S
to the Republican vote, that the return is a
forgery has been made by Lttlefeld there is 90
doubt, inasmuch as he confesses himself to
have first forged and then stolen the paper, and
since it has been hawked around among Demo-
cratic politicians for the last four weeks
Pretty good evidence can be found to show who
the parties are that are responsible for for
gerry which was not necessary to be done for
the Republican success, and which will be de-
MED by every person incriminated by this testi
mony.
ito the Associated Press]
New ORLEANS, Jan. 31.-The State House
authorities say that ittlefieds statement be-
fore the Congressional Committee yesterday,
that he was requested by Gov. Wells to trans
pose the votes. is false On the face of it.
The Imprisoned Returning Board.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-The Louisiana Re-
turning Board are in quite close confinement.
Visitors are admitted by card and converse.
tions are held within hearing of an officer of
the house.
Marshal Pitkn Of Louisiana, was examined
last nie ht at his rooms by subcommittee of
the Louisiana committee.
Gov. Wells is sick this morning
The Testimony Yesterday.
John H. Maddox of New Orleans, was be-
fore the committe to-day, and recognized the
following memorandum, in his own handwrit-
ing:
For one million dollars the vote of Louisiana
can be secured to Tilden and Hendricks The
manipulation must be done by me. and as far
as possible to protect the members Of the re-
turning board which may favor such result,
it may be necessary to elect two or three men,
bers of the board to reach what we want. The
details to be agreed upon money to be paid in
instalments, say One-iourth when the fifth
member is elected, one-fourth when one men,
ber resigns and another is elected in his place,
and One-fOurth when another resigns with an
other elected in his place. and the balance to be
paid when the certificates are given
Question by Mr., Field Was that the proDo-
sition that Gov. Wells wanted you to carry
out?
Answer decline to answer.
Witness refused to answer any further cues
tions and was remanded to custody for one
hour to see if he would change his mind.
John f. Pickett sworn ard examined-Am
attorney at law, resident of Washington.
Q-Have you letter from Mr.. Wells of the
Il uisiana returning board.
Al have.
Q-Will you produce it.
A-tHandiDg it to Field) 1t is what pur.
ports to be his hand writing. am not famil-
lar with it.
Field read the letter as follows:
New Orleans, Noo. 10th, 1s76.-(Name
scratched out MY dear Sir, You fully un.
derstand the situation. Can you not advise
with me relative thereto. Yours very truly.
tSigned) j. MADISON WELLS
Q-State the circumstances of you. receiving
this letter and what was done in relation to it,
A-On the Thursday preceding the last Sun
day OF November, the 23d, gentleman with
whom have been acquainted for more than
quarter OF century came to my Office, he hav-
ing Just arrived from Louisiana, where I had
known him quite intimately a quarter of a CEN
tury ago, and gave me full history of the
state OF affairs there arising out of the late
Presidential election. He said
Mr.. Lawrence--I object to YOUR stating what
this stranger said.
Witness-Then my story will be nearly at an
end.
Mr.. Field to witness--I ask you to say how
the letter came into your hands and what you
did under It, You may go on and state any
thing of that sort
Witness-The person referred TO is subpe
naed and is now in this building.
Fleld-Go on and connect all the crcum-
stances OF your receiving that letter and what
you did in relation to it.
Witness-He stated that be had been spend
ing, as already knew, week or ten days in
New Orleans
Objected to by Mr.. Lawrence. The objection
was overruled.
Witness continuing-Ths gentleman deliver
ed to me that ettor. he stated that be had
beaD Soma 6avS in Nayv
and had notified my Democratic frierds down
there OF the fact of his having gone thither,
and that he was an exceedingly dangerous man
to our people, meaning the Democratic party,
lnasmuch as he had been resident of New Or
leans ID former years, and had held high PC
sltlon there socially, and otherwise they might
not have known now that he was a Republican
member and an emssary, as believed, from
the government here. [ referred to my person
al friendship to him of long standing. Ihoped
that if there should be disturbance there as
had occurred on previous occasions, no harm
should befal him. By some means he obtained
Information of my having written such letter,
and when he came back to Washington he re-
paired to my office on Thursday, the 23d of No
vember, and stated to me fully the condition of
affairs in Louisiana He said he believed and
others believed that Louisiana was Democratic
by from 5000 to 10000 majority, but that mon
ey would decide how her electoral vote would
be thrown; that his sympathies were with the
0No'A 1soN WIN Wuob Was IlSut, duu buaJ u0
had IN his possession, which he exhibited to
me, sealed letter purportng to be from Mr..
Wells to Senator West.
My informant said, 81 have read this letter.
1t is sealed; caunot open it of course, nor
would have you do it if you would, but it in
forms the Senator that the Democrats have put
up million OF money and that we (meanipg
the Republicans) would need q million down
there to settle this thing and counteract that. -
He said he did not feel disposed to deliver
that letter. that it was not obligatory on him,
and that if he followed the wishes Of his heart
and dictates of his judgment, he would en-
doavor to have these gentlemen supplied with
what they needed, SO as to determine tie result,
ane he asked me whether 1 had any objection
to cooperate with him.
L said: professionally cannot, but in view
OF the magnitude of the interests at stake [
have no hesitation to do all that is in my little
power"
The result was that, after one or two long
conversations extending over a portion of the
next day, and after some preliminary reduction
OF the points to writing. L repaired to New
YORK and there had an interview with several
gentlemen eminent in the Democratic party. TO
whom fully related all those antecedant facts.
am not quite sure whether am at liberty to
give their names. [ presume that from one of
them has come the information which has
caused me 10 be subp@naed. l have not seen
him Stree my interview with him, which was
on the last Sunday of the month Of November
Now ii the committee desires that I should
give tuil statement of my interview with