The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-01
lOUEIANAS VOTE.
Startling Testimony Before the
House Committee.
GOVERNOR WELLS PROPOSITION TO SELL
The State To Be Given to Tilden for
One Million Of Dollars.
DETAILS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
John Morrissey on the fropriety of
Buying Your Own.
MIR. HEWITT DECLINES RESPECTFULLY
The Governors Indignant Denial Of the
Statement
John Morrissey on the fropriety Of
Buying Your Own.
Mr.. HEWITT DECLINES RESPECTFULLY
The Governors Indignant Denial Of the
Statement.
THE STORIES OF THE WITNESSES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. |

Tho sensation OF the day here has been some owl
dence before the Knott committee which, II 1t can be
substan tiated will place Mr. Wclis the chairman Of
the Louisiana Returning Board, In the very awkward
position OF having attempted to sell the vote OF the
State to the democrats Tho evidence of Pickett and
Maddox, the latter of whom will be again examined
tomorrow, charges Wells with attempt ofths kind.
1t said that Wells finding that tho State had cast
very heavy democratic vote, and believing that the
Tdcn ticket had carried tho country desparec Of
able 10 transfer the vote to the republicans and began
10 see how he and his confederates might benefit
themselves In the matter.
INTERVIEW MR.. HEWITT.
Mr. Hewitt being asked this afternoon II Pickett did
actually approach him with offer OF the Louisiana
vote for a sum of money, replied that he ap-
preached; that lie OF course Immediately utterly re-
fused to DO anything In the matter but that the
were read to him substantially far he remembers,
as they appear in the memorandum OF Maddox, and
that he understood the proposition from Wells.
WELLS INDIGNANT
Wells, who Is confined in the CAPITOL inter-
viewed by HERALD correspondent, who said:-
''Do you know John 7. Pickett, who has been telling
startling story OF your"
81 don't know John T. Pickett and do not remember
ever to have heard of that name before"
'Do you know J. H. Maddox"
"Yes very we'll have known him since tho days
Of the Mexicon war, that is since ls4s."
A copy OF tho letter, reading as folows:-
''You fully understand the situation can Z you advise
with me IN relation thereto ?''
was then read TO the prisoner. Wells elevated him.
self on his left arm and said Immediately II wrote
such letter to Maddox, but 10 connection with
the subject you have mentioned. Tho story as 1t has
been repeated to me infamous lie, bsseless as 1t
Is malicious.
ANXIOUS HEARD
1 n m In he heard in dafan NJ Lao "a
tell my story, and when that time comes
perhaps may be able to tell more than
would be agreeable to my prosecutors
You say was to sell out for 81 .000 OOOg What
nonsensc! million dollars? no, not for $40 600, 600
would betray my party. This, sir, Is matter Of
principlc''-rIsing little higher his left arm-'a
matter of principle, sir; and l only explain this
series Of damnable lies part Of the conspiracy to
injure me- Witnesses were brought 400 miles malign
my character"
This put Governor Wells in a confidential humor.
and, with broad grin, he explained that II he had
been in tho selling business his friend Maddox was
not the to whom he sho uld have connded the
plan. As Tor Pickett he Is myth far as he knew
do you know what Litteaeld has testified tos''
eyes have heard an outline OF his evidence; part
and parcel of job to bring the Returning Board into
disgrace; trick to injure reputation before Con-
gress and the people of the country but it will fail
know it will. There Is to be an exposure on tho
other side Of the question in days that will set
many matters understood in their right light.
The democrats to forget there two sides to
this controversy and it will be made appear
Governor Hayes be quite warmly defended by
his friends Governor Tdens friends nave been
Jealous in their prejudice republican vote
OF Louisiana
TEE GOVERNORS INTENTIONS
Wells said he had not made. nor did he intend to
make, any application for n writ OF habeas, corpus.
Such step could not be taken without his consent.
II was his purpose to remain quietly in the bastile
until the Attn of March, whom he supposed he would DO
certified to the Court and released bail lie would
not say what would be the tenor of his statement
before tho committee. HIS contempt was thus far
confined to his refusal to deliver up the papers before
tho Returning Board. Perhaps this would exclude
him from tho privilege of making any statement before
the House committee There was, however, another
committee in the Senate and 1t might be that he would
be summoned to appear witness before the Senate
committee At all he could afford to patiently
walt until the time came TO refute the parcel OF in
famous lies which had been told about him.
INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL PICKET.
HERALD correspondent interviewed Colonel Pickett
who said that among the frs; questions asked him
when the committee cleared for consultation
aud tho private examination Of the witness com.
menced was where aud when ne got his military ttle
The answer was prompt and ready, away back IN the
1itics" Ho had held confidential relations with Kos.
suth and had raised legion to aid him. About tho
time tho Cuban question up and he was in
that ~latcr he with the confcdcracy on the staff
OF Breckenridge, and subsequently representative
Of the confcdcracy, In semi cia capacity, at
Mexico When Napoleon aud Macmillan we're en-
dcavoring TO found an empire III that country he held
high position there, and he gong still further
when the committee satisfied that Pickett's tito
70 his military rank had been sufficiently made out,
THE REBEL ARCHIVES.
There other point Colonel Pickctt's career
which may he mcntioncd--that II was he who sold,
years ago. to the United States government GER
tain papers. popularity known as the rebel
archives" For tLesc documents the govern
ment paid 100000 $4,000 or that Colonel
Pickett about $780, 900, the larger portion Of
which was gwen away by him, through George W.
Riggs, the wen known banker OF this city, Others
TO needy Southern men and women.
Some good points made in tho Presidential
campaign oil that date against tho democratic party;
but their principal value the government lies In the
fact that tho evidence they have supplied has been the
OF saving millions OF dollars to the Treasury in
the detection Of fraudulent claims. This Is Colonel
Pickctts record.
Por scvcr raj years past no has been practising law
yer III THIS city, not doing very large business. tor
the reason, In his own words, that IRON clad oaths
and the prosecutions, small and great OF tho party
III power have turned away from him. as from others
similarly crcumstanccd, large Ices lucrative prac
tee.
WHAT TUE SAID.
Colonel Pickett said that lac aud Maddox had been
friends for upward Of aquarter Of a century Picket,
thew him before tho war broke out. when
Gaadex was the PROPRIETOR OF tue New Orleans