The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-31

flct Attorney. 1a. $40.
MI. Field exhibited the certificates Of
election Of two friends OF Wells, (Hunter
and kelso), which witness believed 10 be
genuine. t.. IfT'''''
By Mr. Field-when The change Of
the figures was accomplished In the way
you say, what became Of the original
papers from Vernon parish3 Answer
was instructed by Governor Wells 10
bring him two statements accompanying
the consolidated statement gave them
to him the day after the PRONUNCIATION.
He was about 10 put them In his pocket,
when asked him II Il was discreet 10 do
so, and he said / was right In reminding
him. Whether he or destroyed them I
cannot say, but ! saw them burned. AS
70 the original statement Of Vernon par.
ish, with the alterations now before him,
Wells told me TO destroy or make way
| with II. | felt that had done little
too much already, and took the paper
home for the purpose Of destroying il,
but did not communicated these facts
10 Mr., Spearing, my uncle, and gave him
the paper 70 be used by him and others
In whom confidence could bO placed,
to be used in behalf OF Nichols,
which Spearing supported, and thought
Nichols was reelected. requested Of
him that my name should never be known
in this transaction. and that should NOT
be subpGnaed TO testify. gave him the
paper In New Orleans. The last time /
saw the paper was In the Office Of Gov,
Palmer, atSpringfeld, II having been con-
yeyed there by Spearing. From that
time to now he never saw the paper till
1t was produced yesterday before the
commission.
q. Describe the occasion and circum.
stances Of Gov. Wells' asking you to alter
the returns?
a. On Sunday, December 8, the Board
and three or four Of the clerks took din.
ner together. They sat at dinner three
or four hours. From there we went to
the rooms Of the Board. Al.
Ter being there few minutes
saw Gov. Wells looking over some pa.
pers and figuring. We were feeling hap.
lpy. know was. In few moments
Wells engaged with him in whispered
conversation, and told me to alter tho
votes. He asked me 10 have il done that
night, but did not do il that night. Sub
sequently Wells said II was we'll done.
Witness here showed how the alterations
were made. Continuing, he said, Wells
asked me the same night 10 make a.
change in tue electoral vote. Wells was
examined by the committee which went
TO New Orleans. Wells alterward told
me he was asked by the committee how
the returns from Vernon parish were re.
ceiyed, and in consequence b; felt very
uneasy. He said TO me can't you make a
copy Of the original? Find out what will
make an aggregate and we will reject the
same. He then said we will have ailidayitt
prepared, meaning afidavits showing
why two polls OF Vernon parish were
rejected; the afidavits were sworn
to before United States Commissioner
Jewell; each affidavit was sworn TO by
three persons. l recollect the names Of
three persons who swore to them, namely:
Jim Brown, Sam Collins and Sam Carter;
they made their mark; l do not know
whether there were such persons or not;
atlidavits were dated, / believe, Noyeni-
Der 14Lh, 1876; l came into the office Of
the board on the 18th OF December.
BY Mr.. Field-Did Gov. Wells speak
about forging the name Of Thos. Frank
lin. A. He asked me to practice 80
could make the signature to the returns,
but did not do it.
@. Since you came here have YOU had
an interview with any one in regard to
your testimony. A. l have conversed
with various parties including Gov. KEEL
logg and Marshall Pitkin. Gov. Kellogg
did not question me particularly, but
seemed anxious to do so, Mr.. Pitkin
spoke about the former intercourse and
personal relations, which had, he said,
been pleasant, and he wanted me TO con-
slider well bsfore testifying as to what
course l should take. told him that
did moi. intend 10 testify il could help it.
| He us much as inferred that / should re.
member my friends. He thought 1t wise
Tor me to stick 10 my own party. This
conversation occurred either on Monday
or Sunday. -a-r-#l-
| @. Was anything said about furnish.
ing counsel, or about protecting YOU ? A.
He said il desired he would engage
counsel. il..g rGt rE.'.s 81
i Mr., Lawrence then examined witness,
who was reminded that he had said when
be was examined yesterday that he was
not aware Of his rights.
i Witness remarked that since then he
had conversed with Mr.. Murphy, of
Davenport Iowa. Murphy did not ad.
wise him, but said he could give tesli.
mony under protest which would clear
him from contempt. a.tH
| @. Is there anything you know now
that you did not know yesterday? AL
am only giving my testimony under pro.
test. i was in contempt when l saw
Murphy.
| Q. You altered no other return ?
A. None were altered but this one so far
as l know; ! saw considerable scratching
going on. ''
In further response TO questions, wit
ness said: went to the Office OF the
Board after dinner, already alluded to,
TO compile the returns; the members OF
the Board were in their private Offices; /
began to make alterations in the return
from Vernon parish Is minutes after
Gov. Wells suggested it. Judge Davis,
one Of the clerks, showed me how 10 alter
figures and furnished the rubber; Wood.
ward, another clerk, assisted on Mon.
day morning; the other clerks must
have seen 1t done; Gov. Wells came in
repeatedly while'the work was progress.
ing; l worked on it that night, and until
10 o'clock on Monday;.I invited Wood.
ward to assist me, Woodward erased
some OF the totals; l handed the original
returns TO Gov. Wells; Abell came in
Just as they were being burned; Abell
said that such destruction was usually
done outside Of the place ofmeeting Of
the Board; Wells told me either 10 de.
stroy or make away withaltered statement
Of the returns from Vernon parish now In
possession Of this committee; Governor
Wells asked me II | had made way
with it, I said yes; / took
the paper home and it went from nv
pocket 10 that Of Mr.. spearing. Wells
not only made request 10 alter the re-
turns from Vernon parish, but asked me
to write down what he desired. Spearing
is my uncle. He frequently conyersed
with me, and asked me TO tell him some
things that would help the Nichols gov.