The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-02
JAMES E. ANDERSON
BEFORE THE POTTER INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE.
Testimony EmplICRt ting Sherman, Slough
fNn. mtEhews. KelIngg and EsIfksn

morning by examining James E. Anderson,
supervisor of election in East FeCiana par
ish, Louisiana. Besides the members Of the
committee and representatives of the press,
none were present except MesSrS. Shella-
barger and Wilson, counsel for Secretary
Sherman
Anderson stated that he came to New Or
leans on November 10, went to the Custom
house and met Marshal Pitkin, at whose re-
quest he signed q document confirming the
election In his parish. He said the protest
purporting to be his, contained In the Sher-
man report is not the one signed by him but
Ia an altered document. Judge Hugh j.
Campbell and ThOs. Fl. jerks were present
when he signed the paper on the day named
He pointed out the falsifiCations in the pro-
test contained In the report and 1t Is Incident
ally mentioned that in this parish there was
intimidation, but there was bitter feeling
prevailing against him, because the people
believed that he came there in accordance
with plan prepared by him and Kellogg.
!, he thought that perhaps $50 people voted
the Democratic ticket In his parish under
sense of GOmputsiOn. After he had completed
the registration in his parish he returned to
New Orleans, and there Gov. Kellogg sug-
gesu1d to him to ma Ike arrangements to have
di 3turbanCe on election day, and let the
Dem ocrats carry off some of the ballot boxes.
By fhis means the vote Of the parish could be
thrown out, and the Democratic majority re-
dueed. He returned to the parish, and after
being there awhile concluded to wash his
flee. He then went back to New Orleans and
informed Gov. Kellogg OF his action. After
that he found himself watched, for the pur-
pose, as he believed, Of being prevented from
leaving the city.
After two weeks, being threatened by L. B.
jerks that he would be arrested on some
trumped up charge If he did not go back to
the parish to hold the election, he declared his
readiness t. go. provided they would secure
him protection against bodily harm. Ander-
son said that his relations with Weber, the
supervisor Of West Feliciana parish, were
very intimate. When he came out Of the Mar
shals Otfica he met Weber, and they entered
into, written agreement, dated No
they had refused to sign the pro-
test against their parishes, because the
election was unfair and the increase Of the
Democratic majority was occasiOned by the
disgust OF voters with Republican adminis-
tratiOn, but inasmuCh rs it was necessary to
have thrown out all of East Feliciana, and
enough Democratic votes in West Felciana
to secure The success Of Hayes and Wheeler,
secure that end, and that they did this at the
request of Packard, Pitkin and Kellogg
Mr. Reed-"Who has the original Of that
paper p
Mr. McMahon-"We will show that soon
enough"
Vii ttness-,'I have no objection to stating
who has it.
Mr.. McMahon-'Well, you may state it,
Witness-Mr. Stanley Mathews. / saw it
in his possession six weeks ago. This agree
ment was sworn to on Wednesday, and on
Thursday Weber came to him and told him
that Secretary Sherman desired to see him
On Sunday we (AnderSOn and Weber, went
and saw Sherman and StOughton. After some
Introductory remarks, Sherman said that this
was q mOmentous crisis and they ought to
do everything in their power to save their
parishes for the Republicans. Weber replied
that he and witness had already done more
than their safety warranted. Sherman then
said that if the Republicans were successful
Packard would control the State pAtrOnHge|
and Hayes the Federal, and witness and
Weber would be taken care Of Besides they
would be upheld by the sentiment Of the
country.
Witness then said to Sherman that he was
afraid OF being indicted for perjury, because
they proposed to throw out his parish Oh a
forged protest
Mr.: sherman held up his hand and said
that he did not care to discuss that subject
as that was Il matter for the State author
tiles; but, said he, "let me assure you, gen
tlemen, that if you act right in this matter,
You will have nothing to regret" The inter |
view here terminated He and Weber went |
away and that evening he sent a note to |
Weber, in which he said that he did not |
trust Sherman, StOughtOn, Matthews K co. |
any more than Kellogg, and would agree to |
10 nothing unless he should receive from
Sherman written guarantee that they |
to come around next morning.
Weber called, and they drew up a letter to |
Mr.. Sherman, expressing the views contained |
III his note to Weber. Weber took that note
to Mr. Sherman and brought back letter |
to be signed by John Sherman |
The original he gave to Weber, and saw it |
twice after that, but does not know where it |
is now.
It being proposed to read copy Of that
letter, Mr. HiscOCk objected. ina5nuch as |
he could not Identify Mr.. Sherman's sigma
ture. The admi8sibiity Of this evidence was
discussed at some length by Messrs Hscock, |
Butler, Hunton, Morrison, Cox
and Springer.
Mr. Butler proposed to call Secretary Sher-
man at once, and ask him as to the genuine |
ness of the letter. In this view Mr. Black !
burn cOncurred, and Mr.. Butler having re- |
duced his proposition to writing in the form
OF resolution, vote was taken, and it was
adopted, and Secretary Sherman sent for
The examination of the witness, mean
while, was resumed. Another note from An |
derson to Weber was read, as follows:
NEW ORLEANS, November Il, 1876. |
Dear DON Meet me on Royal street at Il |
O'Clock Packard is raising hell over your re-
fnsal to protest. Morgan has followed me |
like shadow since my return. / am in |
doubt as to whether he has been employed by |
the Democrats or the Republicans. He is |
playing into the hands of both. If he is |
with me do not stop, but go to
Cross, and | will follow as soon as |
possible. There is not doubt but
they have changed my statements so as |
to make it an intimidation protest Pitkin re- |
fuses to show it to me. Make up your mind |
as to what we had better do. ain opposed to
doing this damned dirty work, even to save |
Hayes. II we pull together to expose the |
whole thing, Pitkin, e1logg, hell and the Re
turning Board combined can never carry this |
State for Hayes. Should we go with the |
right, 1t will give US good reputation and |
standing that would otherwise require years |
to acquire, as we are but boys yet | incline |
to do what is just in the premises, and trust
TO the future for our reward
Yours, J.E.A.
A letter was read from Anderson to Pierre |
G. Butler, of East Felcana, wherein he says |
that the Democrats had offered him $4,000 and |
an $500 position if he would help them to
carry East Feiciana. The committee at this
point took a recess.
When the committee reassembled Secretary |
sherman took the stand, and was shown by |
the chairman copy Of letter purporting to
have been written by him.