The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-02-08
Gov. Wells. Of Louisiana.

Cox. Wells. of Louisiana, was before the
knott-Fcd Committee Oh Monday last, up
on his own demand, to rcfutc and expose
Tie conspiracy of Maddox. Pickett and Field.
There was not Il word or sentence in the let
ter to Senator West and Maddox that he did
moi satisfactorily explain. There was not a
charge he did not fully refute. The whole
conspiracy was laid bare. Mr.. Field, too, found
that there was one witness that he could
not bully. Wells told himand the committee
that he ilteude0 to defend his rights; and il
the committee did not protect him against
the insults OF Fields. be would do it himself,
and that very quickly. As to Lit tlefield,, he
said he scarcely kiIew him--neyer had
! twelve words Of conversation with him. and
that his whole statement III regard to Vernon
Parish was an unutigated lie"
The Washington correspondent OF the BAL
tmorc 1mericdn says
j. Madison Wells completely upset the very
clever lob put up on him BY j. Harris Maddox,
by appearing before the Dudley Field Committee
to-day. The committee exceedingly reluct-
ant to give him the opportunity. The true story
OF the letter is that Maddox went to New Orleans
from this city and had q conference with Wells.
He told him that he officer OF the Govern
ment; that he had had conference with the lead
OF both political parties. and that he was sat
isfed that if the Returning Board declared Pack
| ard elected, that the Demo crafts would not stand
by the decision without provoking trouble Mad
dox then asked Wells if he would endorse him to
the President as an officer worthy of eommenda-
aS he In ha
| leans. Wells said he would, and Maddox wrote
the letter and Wells signed it. Maddox has never
produce the letter to the committee and denies
| that Wells ever gave it to him.
! Wells. continuing, said that at an interview
| the day following Maddox said that he was going
| to Washington. Wells told him that inasnuch
as he was an officer Of the Government, and fully
acquainted with the condition ef affairs, that he
considered it his duty 10 go and let the leaders of
| the Government know the real state of affairs.
| He (Wells) thereapon wrote him sealed letter
/ to Senator West, which is the Maddox pro-
| duced to the committee.
| Wells denied with all the vehemence of Ian
| guage that he had ever spoken to Maddox con-
corning the use OF money TO corrnptly influence
the action OF the Returning Board. With consid-
| cradle feeling he said that he had been Union
man during the war, and had never 1inched in
the presence OF Confederate soldiers when his life
| was in danger and it was hardly to be expected
| that he ready to sell his principles at this
| late day for money. He contradicted the witness
Littlefield fatty. This ''veracious' youth swore
with positiyencss that he altered the consolida-
ted returns in Vernon parish and that the tally
| sheets were destroyed by Wells in his presence.
Wells said that tally sheets We're received
from the parish and consequently there were
none TO destroy. In roof OF this he had read the
proceedings OF the Returning Board when the re-
| turns were received, and the record shows that
the remark was made in the presence of the WIS.,
iting Committee: Returns from Vernon parish
have no tally sheets enclosed"
Wells was badgered and bulied l.. -exa,ni-
nation by Dudley Field. He would cut the wit
ness off in the middle OF his answers and try to
put words in his mouth, whereupon the witness,
quite excitedly, said that he would answer the
question in his own way, or he would not answer
it at all. He appealed to the committee to pro-
tect him. but the majority being Democrats 1t
was like asking q fish and receiving stone.