Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-05
THE POTTER INVESTIGATION.

WASHINGTON, June 2S.-Dennis was re-
called by the Potter committee, with refer
ence to his unwillingnsss to testify before
the returning board in Florida. lie de-
clined to testify because he knew that there
had been frauds in Archer precinct number
two. lie sw0re the count, as completed
when Gov. Noyes was there, gave the re-
publicans the state. The subsequent count,
made by order of the supreme court Of the
state, gave the state to the democrats, but
Gov. Moves had nothing to do with that,
as he had left the state. Den
mis- said he had been appointed
to Office under this administration,
but did not know to what. Subsequently
he did say it was to the secret service.
Dennis testified that he took athtavIts oil
republican voters enough &C poll two. Ala
chua county, to show that the republicans
carried the poll. This destroy his entire
confession. Dennis admitted that all that
Gov. Noyes was asked to do was to argue
the case upon evidence Dennis himself
had prepared, and that nothing had been
told Moves that anything was fraudulent
or that the testimony was fraudulent. Den
Mss cross examination was a practical con
.radiction of his confession, upon which
the democrats base their Florida case.
Gen. Lew Wallace testified that he went
TO New Orleans at the request of Governor
Kellogg. and thence to Tallahassee at the
request of Gen. Noyes; never heard any
conversation between Moves and MeLIn
never heard Moves express the opinion that
frauds were committed in Florida; heard
Moves make earnest and positive deelara-
ton that the state went Tor Hayes wit
ness impression from what Dennis told
Moves in witness presence was that Dennis
declined to testify to returns from consid-
erations Of personal safety. Witness went
to Florida twice. The second time, which
was after the count was ordered, he told
MeLin be was then at the request OF Hayes,
which was the fact never told MeLIn 50
before the count was completed.
Ques,ion-McLin says you told him you
knew Hayes well and was satisfied il he be-
came President he would take pleasure in
pro7iding for republicans of Florida.
What is your reply to that An
swer-l will tell you the fact and give
you almost the identical language used on
that occasion. went to McLin's house by
invitation an evening or two before the
board was to pronounce their judgment,
and after some general conversation he made
the remark that Manton Marble, represent
ing the democrats, had been but very
short time before at his house to see him,
and had told him there was no necessi
ty of McLin's living or dying Il poor
man that if Tilden was counted in he
could command anything he wanted |
said, "Marble is very bold in his PROPOSE
ton, and he certainly iorgets that if Hayes
is elected he will have some opportunity Of
taking care OF his friends, which do not
doubt he will do" | did not understand
at the time that that was a corrupt prOpo-
sition from me. or anything that looked
that way to McLiu.
O. MeLin says that you frequently
referred to the tact that those who were
Instrumental in promoting that result
would be rewarded by Hayes if he became
President. A-Tbat remark is true, il it
applies to anything | said after | returned
to Florida. If he says it applies to any
time before the count he is mistaken. |
am positive never spoke to him prior to the
count except on this occasion that have
spoken of.
Witness was questioned in regard to the
vote of Baker county, and stated there
were two or three returns from that county.
The returns were counted for the republi-
cans. If the returns had been the other
way in that county the majority for Til
den in the state would have been about s5
Witness had no correspondence with McLin
while at Tallahassee. MeLin applied to him
to recommend him to some place, but
all the recommendations witness gave
him were delivered on a second visit there.
Witness stated that in no sense Of the word
did be conceive himself authorized to speak
for Hayes, or make any promises for him.
Gen. John Little testified that be went to
Florida at the request OF the chairman of
the republican state central committee of
Ohio. Witness testified regarding the call
of the Visiting statesmen" on McLin on
the day after the completion of the count,
but developed nothing important. Witness
said Hayes did not know of his going to
Florida. lie was attorney general Of Ohio
at the time.
Ex-Goy Stearns, of Florida, testified he
had no recollection of the doors of the secre-
tary Of states office having been locked
against Gen. Cooke. lie said it was untrue
that he was in the room at any time while
the canyassers were in consultation. lie
knew of no such occurrence as testified to by
Cooke.
Moves was then recalled and questioned
in regard to his purpose in going to Loui-
siana. and stated that he went there under
the apprehension that the State would
be taken away FROM Hayes, II whom he be
lieved it belonged, fearing that the members
of the returning board might possibly be
bribei or bought to return the vote differ
emit from what it was east, and that he
had rumors from various sources to the eff
feet that such attempts were made there, By
whom he could not state.
Hiscock stated that this covered all the
point, he cared about on this special
branch Of the ease, and the committee ad-
journed.
Alter the testimony of witnesses now in
Washington ia completed, the committee
will probably take recess until the LoniS-
Isna subcommittee finish their investigs-
ton, when the full committee Il again
convene at Washington. Ii il believed they
will be able to take recess in the latter
part of july.