The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-15
POLITICAL POINTS.


whether, in canvassing the Louisiana returns,
he bad altered any figures or destroyed any
retu ms. stated that he declined to answer any
question touching the action of the board I'M
til the House gave him his liberty and re-
ieved him of his disability. He wanted to
know "whether he was the peer of
any member of the committee, or a
mere vassal." A number of questions were
put to the witness concerning his action as
member of the Returning Board, to all of
which he declined to answer until relieved of
the sentence imposed by the House, which
holds him in duress. Charles S. Abel, Sec
rotary of the Returning Board, was also exam
ined. He said he dined with the board on
Sunday, Dec. H. at which time Littlefeld told
him he had destroyed the Vernon parish paper.
No one ordered him to destroy them. Witness
said he certified to 178 votes for the Republic
the clerks knew nothing about the transposi-
ton of votes. Judge Davis, Chief Clerk of the
board, gave testimony similar to that of Abel,
so far as ii affected Littlefeld.
Duncan F. Ke1mer. of New Orleans. denies
that he offered J. Madison Wells 5000, 900 to
Wells asked for 100000 to count the vote of
the State as actually cast in the ballot-boxes, and
has asked to be summoned to Washington.
Louis M. Kenner a member, and T. w.
Eaton and York A. Woodward, clerks of the
Louisiana Returning Board, testified before the
Congressional committee on the 7th inst Ken
ner said he had no knowledge of any altera-
tons having been made in the Vernon parish
return, or of any papers having been burned or
destroyed, nor did he know of any proposition
for receiving money for any act in connection
with the electoral vote the Returning Board,
he said, did not feel safe-felt intimidated-
hence the necessity for troops to protect them.
Eaton testified that he did not see Littlefeld or
any one else make erasures in the original re-
turns; Littlefeld never asked him to assist
in making any terations. Woodward, in
his testimony, said he worked with Littlefeld
on the returns the night Of Dec. 8, when the
alteration is alleged to have been made,
but did not see him make any erasures first
heard of the Vernon parish transfer when he
came to Washington.
The lower house of the Rhode Island Legis-
| lature has resolved that the Imprisonment of
the members of the Louisiana Returning Board
by Congress is ''gross violation of the re-
rerved rights of the States.'
Ex-Gov. Stearns, of Florida. was before the
House Privileges Committee, on the 9th inst.
ca 1o,
telegram saying that we (msaning the Repub-
Gcans) must have Louisiana, Florida and
South Carolina, by fair means or foul. Never
received telegram from anybody outside the
State requesting him to send couriers for re-
turns which must be made to show a majority
for Hayes. He said the dispatch from W. E.
Chandler, Bismarck ought to come here at
once, was sent to c. D. Willard, of Washington,
and had reference to railroad matters. Nothing
was said about money in any telegram which
passed between himself and persons in the
North, and he also said he had no knowledge
of any money having been received from the
North either before Or after the election.
A. B. Levisee, one of the Hayes electors in
louisiana was examined before the Senate
committee. He testified that on the 4th Of
December last, in New Orleans one S. M.
Asher, claiming to act as the agent of Demo-
crafts approached him with an offer of $3.50, 600
to cast his vote in the Electoral Col
lege for Tilden. Levisee rejected the
offer, when. as he claims, the bride was
raised to 100000. Levisee held out for $780,,
600, and the negotiation fell through. Levi
sees story is that he set the figure higher than
he thought could be paid, and claims that his
purpose in the affair was only to see how far
the Democrats would go.
G. Irving Dirty, of Maryland one of the
"visiting statesmen" at New Orleans during
the count, was called before the House COM
mittee, and testified to the bad reputa-
ton of Maddox as to truth and
veracity, and said he would not be-
ieve him on oath. Witness admitted,
in answer to question, that he was at Little
fields quadroon ball in New Orleans. A num-
Der of other gentlemen of both visiting COM
mittees were there, including Lyman Trumbull.
An excited war of words occurred at this point
between members of the committee and wit
ness, Mr.. Sparks having said he believed Judge
Trumbull would designate witness story as
stuff. Capt. Dirty replied angrily that if the
Chairman meant to insinuate that his (witnessO
statement was untrue, he Ghe Chairrnan) as
sumed something which he had no right to
sumo. Witness continued-An parties went to
the ball as a matter of curiosity. One of the
features of the ball was woman with pink
eyes.
John F. Mulherin, one of the clerks Of the
Louisiana Returning Board, was before
the House prerogative committee on the
10TH He testified that some affidavits
were made by clerks of the board in the compil-
lng-room. Don't know whether they were
used. Most any name was signed to afidavits.
Dec 2 witness saw with Littlefield and Maj.
Eaton slip of paper containing the total of
the electoral VOTE The majority on these of
the Democrats was about 1900. Saw after
ward that q chanon had been made in the flo