Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-09
THE POTTER COMMITTEE.
Important Testimony by Citizens or
Louisiana In Proof OF the Statement
that the Republican Leaders
Were AVerse
To Voting In East and West FelIciana.
In Order that the Plea or Intimida-
tion Might be Advanced, and
Those Parishes be Robbed
or Their Votes.
NEW ORLEANS, July S.-The Potter sub
committee met at eleven o'clock.
VVAA-a

NEW ORLEANS, July S.-The Potter sub
committee met at eleven o'clock.
ID. ,. Wedge,
of East Feliciana, testified that he was chair
man of the Democratic parish campaign COM
mittee and detailed the occurrences in connec-
ton with Anderson departure from the parish
and the efforts to secure his return to COM
plete the registration under the law; the reg
istration closes nine Gays before the election
Anderson did not return until three or four
days before the election; there were over four
hundred Democratic voters unregistered;
know Captain DeGray, prominent Republ-
can; he was consulted by the negroes as to
their course; DeGray, IL conversation, told
witness before the election that it was the
purpose of the Republicans to have no ticket
10 the field, so that the parish could be
thrown out; DeGray refused to vote. saying
it was no use; that 1t was all a farce. Wit
ness stated that Anderson, alter completing
the returns, refused to sign them, but prom
ised he would sign them when he got to
Baton Rouge, on his way to this city, if some
OF us would go with him in a carriage to
Baton Rouge, where he signed the returns.
under cath, before justice OF the peace;
Anderson SAID it was not necessary to make
any protest, as the election was peaceful and
quiet; after signing the return, paid Ander-
son between two and three hundred dollars
Cross-examined by Mr.. Reed-Witness paid
Anderson the amount of his voucher or bill
on the parish treasury, which was lnsolvent;
my object was TO get Anderson to complete
his work; he was hard to manage, and for
that reason ! went to Baton Rouge with him;
he refused to sign the returns In Clinton; We
promised to cash his warrants for fear he
would not complete his work without such
payment; paid him out of campaign funds;
did not consider there was anything wrong
in making such payment; would not have
paid Anderson for the purpose OF inducing
him to do wrong; heard Anderson say that
Colonel Patton furnished him transportation
from New Orleans to Bayou Sara; my i'm
preston is that Anderson had forfeited his
legal right to payment by his scampish ac-
ton in leaving the parish before completing
the registration.
To Mr.. Stenger-We made application to
Governur Kellogg under sections % and
% of the election law TO have some
one appointed in Andeison's place when he
had refused to perform his duty as super
visor.
MIR. Stenger read sections of law giving
the governor authority to remove for cause.
Witness said that in 1874 the negroes voted
almost solidly for Republicans, and in 1876
they voted the Democratic ticket.
ThOs. M'WilIiams, COlored,
testified: | was In East Feliciana in 1876;
.
tain DeGray; considered him leading Re-
publican of the parish; he told me to inform
our friends that there was no use voting-that
the vote would be thrown out; he had known
me to be Republican.
To Mr.. Reed-It was well known that
had joined the Democrats; told Captain De-
Gray so after we had talked about the cleo
ton.
John Dehee,
of East Feliciana, testified: In 1876 l voted
the Democratic ticket; in 1874 | voted a
mixed ticket; prior to the election In 1876
DeGray spoke to me about acting as con-
stable on the day of election; before the cleo
tiou saw DeGray and Campbell; they told
me there would be no Republican ticket in
the parish; that this was the programme
agreed on down below, meaning New Or
leans; know that DeGray was In the habit of
consulting prominent Republicans in New
Orleans; he was really the head of the Re-
publican party in the parish.
To Mr.. Reed-Was present when Packard
and Lewis made speeches IN the parish, when
the Republican speaker was made to take
back what he had said.
Here a discussion between members of the
committee arose as to whether or not the
question of intimidation should be gone into,
and it was decided in the negative.
John .. Lanier,
OF East L ellclana, UesLlHeu. Am planter
and clerk of the district court; know the
leaders of the Republican party; from con-
versations with them l inferred they would
not put a ticket in the field; had a converse
ton with Anderson, who wanted his friend
Nash put on the ticket for congress; Ander-
son said if this was done the election would
be all right, otherwise it would not; the war
rant cashed for Anderson afterward fell into
my hands and was paid into the treasury at
its face value for taxes.
Witness, IN response to question, submit
ted a copy of the Indictment found by the
grand jury May goth, 1872, against Thomas
Il. jerks for embezzling ten thousand dollars
as tax-collector The records show that this
Indictment was nolle pressed May Sd, same
year; also another Indictment which was
similarly disposed of. There is civil proceed
ings u.s.. Jen KS for the amount OF deficit; L
find no indictment rs. l.. B. Jerks.
To Mr.. Reed-The records of the court do
not show that any warrant was issued for
jerks, and he may not have known of his
indictment.
recalled by Mr.. Stenger. In 1874 the Re-
publican majority was about eight hundred,
but in our parish several Democrats were
elected to parish offices; there was a split in
the parish, but the Republican State ticket
received about eight hundred majority.
Jessie Harrison, Colored,
of East Feliciana, testified that Prince Jones,
who lives at Jackson, told him that Captain
Butler, a Republican, before the election,
came to his house and advised him not to 60
out on election day unless he wanted to vote
the Democratic ticket.
At two O'Clock the committee adjourned till
eleven o'clock tomorrow morning.
MI. Cox Takes MT. Reeds Place.
Hon. T. B. Reed, of Maine, representa-
tive member of the Potter subcommittee
left this evening, ria Mobile, for home. Mr..
Cox, of Ohio, is expected to arrive here to-
morrow, to take Mr.. Reeds place in the COM
mittee.