Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-07-14
THE INDICTED RETURNING BOARI
Important Revelations Promised.

NEW ORLEANS, July Z, 1S77.-
The Indictment filed against the
members of the Returning Board
has caused the greatest excitement
here. The members publicly state
that they have no cause for fear, but
Wells, Naval Officer, and the man
that did the work, are reported as
being very bitter in his statements
of what he would do if convicted,
and how he would pull certain per-
sons in high places down with him
who cOunselled and abetted the
fraud.
The indictments were found by
the Grand Jury on general informa-
ton, that is, no particular witnesses
were examined, and the District At
torney filed the same in Court. Gov.
Nichols is opposed to the whole
matter and declines to say anything
relative to it. 1t is denied, however,
that he would pardon them if con-
Victed.
1t is believed the Grand Jury was
induced to take action as a possible
groundwork for opening the whole
matter, and is urged that if a jury
should convict the Returning Board
of fraud in their returns relative to
the Presidential electors that Con-
gress would be compelled to take ac-
ton of some sort.
The proof to convict the members
is at hand, certain clerks, registrars,
&C., being ready to swear that the
returns were changed and others
substituted. The counts against the
Returning Board will include one
for perjury.
1t having been stated among re-
publican circles that indictments
would also be filed against Stanley
Matthews and John Sherman for SUI
formation of perjury and aiding and
abetting fraud, your correspondent
called on District Attorney Finney
and asked him relative to it. He
said that no such action had been
taken yet, but positively declined to
give any information as TO what
would be done. The plan to be pur-
sued, as stated, is that, in case the
Returning Board members are found
guilty, to file infOrmatiOns against
the gentlemen mentioned and ask
the Governor for acquisitions, it be-
ing averred that one of the Return
ing Board will turn States evidence.
When this statement was made to
Madison Wells he became some
what excited and stated that he
would not decide what course to
pursue until General Anderson az
rived Tuesday. One or the other
would then probably go to Wash
ingtOn ON business specially cOnnec-
ted with the criminal information
relating to the Returning Board,
about which the public knew moth
ing, but upon which they rely to
bring certain influences to their aid
in their present trouble.
If there were any criminal acts
done it was not likely they would
have acted alone, but far more like
ly they were urged and abetted by
influential parties outside of the
State and at present closely connect
ed with the national administration
1t is difficult to suppose that they
would have attempted to change the
electoral vote of the State, if such
was done, if they did not have an
assurance from the twisting states
men" who witnessed the count. If
they performed their bargain, if
there was a bargain, they now de-
mand that the parties in whose in
terest the bargain was made should
perform their part. If they hesitate
or fail it may be stated as certain
that no part of the transaction,
which gave Louisiana to Hayes, will
sleep longer in mystery. The names
Ofthe actors and the part they played
will be given to the world.
The letter which Wells wrote to
Washington, though refusing to di-
vulgeits contents, it is certain speaks
to such parties in that place in terms
which cannot be miscOnstrued, and
that in it he said that if there is to
be punishment for deeds which
made Hayes President, that punish
ment will not be borne by the Ret
urning Board members alone. This
naturally increases the excitement
existing in political circles here,
and, if matters should be pushed,
may lead to some important and
grave results.