Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-02-08
The Strike for a Million.

WASHINGTON, D. C.-The COM
mittee on the powers, privileges and
duties of the House in counting the
electoral vote. to-day recalled Mr..
Maddox. Mr.. Field asked him whether
he was now prepared to answer the
questions propounded yesterday, when
he caused to be read an explanation of
his refusal to respond, 1t was because
of his Discrimination to commit breach
Of faith. He had asked FOR delay, in
order that Gov. Wells might make a
full statement. but as Gov. Wells had
t,done So the witness was now ready
to answer.
The witness said that the night before
Gov. Wells wrote the letter to him he
had conversation with Gov. Wells
with regard to the political situation
and the difficulties with the returning
board. Gov. Wells proposed tina. the
witness should so to Washington and
explain the situation. He concluded
that he would write a general letter to
the witness as confidential, and lie also
wrote another letter to a friend Of his IN
Washington. When the witness arriv-
ed at Gov. WelPs office the next morn
ing one of the letters was finished and
he was writing the other. The witness
brought away the letter 10 him open,
the other was sealed. The latter was
addressed to Senator Vest, but had
never been delivered, Gov. Wells
said his life was in danger as he had a
very difficult job on hand, aud that he
did not see how he could get through
with it. eIr. Welis stated he would
like to serve his party in making a re-
turn N favor Of HAYES. but he would
not take the risk unless he was paid for
it.
Mr.. Wells said the majority was very
heavy and too much for him to handle,
and that he did not know where to
commence to throw out. He said the
probability was he would have to throw
out the vote Of New Orleans on the
ground, as witness thought ne meant OF
necessity. Mr.. Wells asked him 20 60
to Washington, see influential men and
obtain protection for him, and also to
see whether he could not get the requir-
ed money to satisfy him. Mr. Wells
said he ought to have one million
dollars. The witness showed to the
President and Secretary Cameroa the
two letters addressed to him by Gov.
Wells. He told the secretary that Gov.
Wells wanted money. but the secretary
declined to have anything to do with
the matter.
The money Gov. Wells required was
to protect him. The programme wa.
that the vacancy in the returning board
should be filed, and that Gov. Wells
should resign in anger on that account.
The witness did not know there was
any special arrangement between him
and Gov. Wells about details, but the
witness was required to submit plan
which would be acceptable,
The witness having been interrogat
| ed relative to the telegram sent by hin
to G. NJ. Calvert. said it was understood
between him and Gov. Wells that if thf
representations at Washington failed tc
bring the money then the witness was
to use his own Judgment in a negotia
ton to give the returns as they were
made in New Orleans. and that he
should commence a second negotiation
The word ''Nold' in the telegram tx
Gov, Wells sjgniied that he was to hole
the returns in such a situation as t
make them available at will. The frs
negotiation failed. Gov. Wells statet
to witness that he wanted for ilimsel
and Gen. Anderson at least two hun
bred thousand dollars apiece, and ;
smaller sum for the dark;es or negroe
of the returning board.
When the witness returned to New
| Orleans he had q conversation with Gov
Wells about the failure of the negotia
ii9n.a The witness =! resSceived a dispatel
ton had failed, when Gogqest things. Tn
gested that the witness cndeavor t
make some arrangement with the demo
Gratis. The witness made an effort il
that direction. but did not succeed. I'll,
idea Of witness, from what Governo
Wells said, was that he would throw
out votes to the best advantage, in or
der to produce certain results, whicl
would depend on circumstances.
Mr.. Lawrence cross-eXamined tn
witness, who said that in his interview
with Secretary Cameron he told th
latter that Gov. Wells wanted on,
million dollars. but the Secretary declin
ed to have anything to do with the pro
position.
Mr.. Field remarked that he saw Coy
Wells present making private observa
ton.
Gov. Wells replied that he onl,
wanted to hear the truth. and thel
retired.
Odd Gov. Wells say anything t,
you about going to New York A
No.
Odd ne tell you to see Col
Pickett A.-No.
Or to see any leading democrats
A.-No: that was not necessary, az
what 1 did was Of my own motion. o.
the joint motion Of Gov. Wells anc
myself.
Odd Gov. Wells speak to YOU O
the necessity of mourning expenses &c
show electoral frauds in Louisiana? A
! do not think be did, but Gov. Wells
said he must have money.
The witness said he had no converse.
ton with Gen. Anderson on the subject
Of selling out the returning board, bu,
Gov. Wells said he wanted money and
would have money, because it was the
last chance he would have. The mat
ter Of the sale of the State was discussed
on the 10Th Of November between Gov.
Wells and himself.
In reply to question whether, as he
testified in his direct examination, he
was sure that Col. Casey said to hin,
that Chandler wanted him to see about
the political situation in Louisiana. the
witness replied in the Affirmative. This
was before witness left for New Orleans
in his capacity as revenue officer. He
was satisfied that Col. Pickett told him
that he had written to Zacharie, a
democrat Of New Orleans, saying that
the witness was a dangerous man and
to beware Of him. The witness then
testified to his continued business
relations with Col. Pickett, MI.
Lawrence, who conducted the examina-
ton, saying that he had asked the
questions in order to show there had
been variety of transactions between
them, and this was part Of a general
conspiracy to raise money, regardless
Of the means by which it was to be
done. The witness testified that during
the late war he was in the secret
service, and had frequently given ia.