The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-01

that he went TO New orleans bolely NJ V'h9
renuest of President Grant. Witness and
Senator Sherman we're intimate, and ex-
nressed their views to each other with
freedom. All the Republican visitors
maintained the position that they should
be careful to abstain from any attempt
to influence the Returning Board. so far
as he knew this principle was strictly al
hered to. Witness had no recollection
of hearing of James L. Anderson while
he was in Louisiana, nor did ne remem'
ber of having seen or heard OF WeDer'
He did not know of Senator sherman De-
ing in secret consultation outside OF MS
own immediate associates. Witness and
Sherman were together every day. lie
did not see the letter purporting to have
been written by Weber and Anderson,
dated Nov. 10, 1875, and the alleged reply
ex-senator Sherman. lfsuch letters were
written, he thought he would have heard
of the fact. The testimony of Weber
about the visiting Republicans intluenc,,
ing the action Of the Returning BOARD
was false.
Gen. Butler-From all that you saw
while witnessing the action OF the he
turning Board, did you see anything to
convince you that, if Hayes was elected
President, Packard was not elected Gov,
ernor? A.-No, sir | thought that, II
Hayes was elected President, Packard
was elected Governor. l thought both
were elected.
Congressman Danford was recalled and
asked by Gen. Butler whether there was
any doubt that, ifthe Hayes electors were
elected, Packard was elected Governor OF
Louisiana. The witness replied that there
was no discrepancy or difference between
the votes cast for Hayes and those cast
for Packard exceptin NatChitoChes where
Packard had 200 or 800 more votes than
Hayes.
Ex.Congressman ]. Hale Sypher of
New Orleans, was examined by Chair
man Potter. He testified thatat the time
the Republican visitors went to LOuisl'
ana he met d. A, Weber, a Supervisor
of Elections at the entrance to the Gus
tom House on Canal street, and Weber
asked him, "Can | take the promise OF
gentlemen who are here to provide for
me if l am driven out OF nay parish Z?
Witness said in reply, "Whom do you
mean?" Weber named Matthews and
Sherman especially. Witness then said,
"These gentlemen stand very close to the
incoming President, personally and po.
litically, and think you 2an trust them
Weber remarked that he had been de.
ceived a good many times, and as he did
not feel like taking any mans verbal
promise, he would demand promise in
writing. Witness said that that was the
only way. The next day he again met
Weber, who exhibited letter, which
witness read and then returned to him.
Weber made no special remark but ap-
peared to be pleased with the letter. 1t
purported to be signed by John Sherman.
Witness had seen Sherman's handwrit-
ing. Would not swear that the letter was
in Sherman's handwriting, but there was
nothing to make him think it was not his
handwriting, Witness presumed 1t was
his. He could not give the purport, but
the published letter, the original of which
he had hastily read, seemed to him to be
substantially correct.
Cross. examined by Mr.. Hiscock, the
witness testified that he saw Weber at
different times perhaps three times af-
ter that. This was between the 10Th and
2Oth ofNovember. He thought the body
of the letter and the signature were in the
same handwriting; he had seen the Off
cial signature of Mr.. Sherman, but could
not name any particular document, nor
would he swear that the signature TO the
letter Weber showed Kim was genuine;
that question had not entered into his
mind at the time. The letter was writ.
ten on note paper. He first mentioned
the fact of the existence of such letter
to his brother in Louisiana. He also
mentioned the fact to Judge Shellabarger
two weeks ago. Witness knew his broth
er, ]. r. Sypher, was the legal adviser of
James E. Anderson only from newspaper
report. Weber did not state for what
purpose the letter was written.
John Sherman made statement. He
was requested to 90 to New Orleans in
1876 by President Grant, by telegram, in
terms something like the following: II
would be gratifed if you would go to New
Orleans to witness the count" At first
he declined to 90. He received second
telegram from President Grant saying
81 think it important for you to 60" But
he did not 90 until the Wednesday after.
On his way to Cincinnati he stopped at
Columbus where he saw Hayes. His con-
versation with Hayes was general, about
the election, all then being in the dark.
He took with him copy Of the election
laws of Louisiana. He reached New Or
leans on the 18th of November, and the
next day met in consultation the other
gentlemen appointed by the President.
The further examination was post |
poned till ten o'clock tomorrow morn
ing.
The Chairman stated that Gov. Cox
had notified him some time ago that he
could not remain in New Orleans beyond |
this month, and, accordingly, the Chair
man had applied to the other members
of the minority to take Gov. Cox's place
on the sub committee. None of the gem
tlemen, however, felt at liberty to go to
New Orleans now. At the time of this
application it was expected that testimo'
nv in regard to intimidation would be ta-
ken, which would have occupied some
time. When, however, Mr.. Sherman's
counsel decided not to introduce that
testimony it was hoped that most Of the
evidence in Louisiana could be complet-
ed by the end of the month. But the
breaking out of the yellow fever there
had been followed by Gov. Cox's with
drawal, so that it would not be practica-
BILE to continue committee there after
to-day on which the minority would be
unrepresented. Unless the committee
thought otherwise, he would instruct the
subcommittee to suspend its sittings in
New Orleans. AS the withdrawal of
Gov. Cox would prevent the committee
from taking some of the evidence which
Gen. Butler had requested should be ia
ken, he therefore laid the matter before
the committee. Gen. Butler said that
some of the evidence he wished was 80
important that he would now have to ask
that the witnesses be summoned to at
tend at Atlantic City. 1t was agreed that
the subcommittee should suspend its
sittings.