Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-03-21


rights.
The interview here closed.
TESTIMONY OF W. 7. pELT0N, BEF0RE THE
SENATE cOMMITTE ON PRIVILEGES
AND ELECTIONS
On February 2S, 1877, W. 7. Pelton
was recalled, at his own request.
BY Mr.. Kernan -
Qucstion,-Statc what knowledge
you have as to whether Governor Til.
den did or did not know anything
about or see the kilograms from Ore
gon In reference TO money.
Answer.-He did not know any
thing about them in any way, what.
ever. He never saw one OF them nor
knew anything about them at all.
Q.--lfyou have statement to make
in regard to the matter, you can now
make it.
Alt has been stated that money
has been used to purchase an elector
in Oregon. IL is due to myself, as
well us TO the Democratic party, TO
state the facts in regard to that matter.
kilograms addressed to mo have been
put in evidence other telegrams, dated
in New York, without any signature
and without any proof that they came
either from me or any person connect
ed with the National Committee, have
also been put in evidence. These tele-
grams, without regard to dates, have
been published, following each other
in the order best suited 10 the purposes
of those who had the examination OF
them. Telegrams came every day fol- |
lowing the election in large numbers
from all parts of the country, addressed
sometimes to myself and sometimes TO
members OF the Committee. Wherever
they were addressed, they were deliv.
cred during the day at SO Liberty ST.,
and, during the night, at the Everett
House, in accordance with directions
given ut the telegraph offices. These
kilograms were OPENED by such officer
or member OF the Committee as was
present at the time therefore, these
kilograms were not received at 10
Gramercy Park, even when directed
there nor were the answers sent from
there. None of the Oregon cipher
kilograms were delivered at 10 Gram
Grey Park, nor were the answers to
them sent from there. Gov. Tilden
never saw or knew of'any OF the cipher
telegrams received from or sent to
Oregon. The famous "Gobble" dis.
patch was not received at 10 Gramercy
Park, and wns never sent by Governor
Tilden, or its contents known TO Lin.
kilograms and letters addressed to me
were often opened, read, and answered
by others without my seeing them or
knowing of them, Many Of the tele-
grams put in evidence purporting to
come from Oregon, and addressed to
me, do not recognize as having come
to my knowledge, and they We're never
received by me. As my time was
fully occupied, cipher.telegrams were
not usually translated by me, as il was
very slow and tedious work. They
were often dcfectiveiy translated, and
their meaning often imperfectly ascer-
tanned, and sometimes they could not
be read ut all, The telegram put in
evidence dated Portland, Oregon, No.
vember 2S, and purporting to be signed
by Mr. Patrick and Senator Kelly, was
never translated or read by me as
translated before the Senate Commit.
tee, and never understood by me 10
contain u proposition TO purchase
Republican elector. never sanction.
ed or encouraged the furnishing OF
money to purchase an elector in Ore
gon, or countenanccd any such use OF
money, nor did any one else with my
knowledge. My purpose was to sup.
ply to the Democratic Committee of
Oregon, who claimed they were poor,
sufficient funds to meet the just and
Legitimate EXPENSES Of sustaining their
rights.
Whatever contingent arrangement
there was suggested in the telegram
from New York, dated November 20,
which seems TO me to be very impcr.
t.c,lv translated r,f.rred to naym.,,
Of layvers' fees These fees seemed 10
be- very large. senator Kelly md Mr..
B.lliny,r both testify that the answer
10 ,h.ir reouisition for money. dated
November 2s was a distinct and def.
ni,c refusal That ia my own recollec.
tion
Tho three Republicans who were
candidates for electors were all fully
examined before the Senate Committee.
and il il not pretended TO be shown
that there was a suggestion even made
10 either of them by any one TO inau.
ence their action or the action of either
one Of them.
And MIR Bellinrcr, the Chairman of
the Democratic State Committee and
/ Senator Kelly. have both testified that
M money WINS applied for proposed 10
be furnished or Intended to be used or
used for any such purpose.
Mr. Patrick was totally unknown to
me n, the time he went to Oregon DR..
q l. Miller of Omaha n member of
tho National Democratic Committee,