The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-11

lOGte0 the crime alone, Out communicated
his intentions to some aequaintances, who
did not oppose it. His present statement
is believed.
The Fraud Committee.
The Potter Committee made but little pro-
gress on July 1. Boulds Baker (who tele-
graphed to Governor Hayes, through Lieu
tenant Governor Young, suggesting several
persons for places in the Cabinet) declined
to be sworn or to testify after the oath was
formally administers
Representative Foster, wanting to go
home to Ohio, presented himself for exami-
nation respecting the Wormley conference,
but was informed by General Butler, that
there is no hurry about that matter, and it
is not probably that he FOSTER will be called
from home to testify. Foster reminded
Butler of his boast of last Saturday that
he would prove that Fosters speech, in
which he said " that if Hayes was inaugur-
ated the flag should float over States not
Provinces" was written by Southern
Democrat. Butler denied that he had said
that, but what he did say was that the quo
tation in it had been taken from the speech
of prominent Southern Democrat, Ben.
Hill, at Manassas, in which the identical
words were used. Foster replied indiffcr-
emily that the quotation was alb ut two
hundred years DID, as he had told Ben.
Hill when the latter charged him with
plagiarism. In order that he might
get in the last word, Butler continued by
saying that Bouids Baker had told him that
while Foster was making his speech he cut
out the quotation, and it was laid on
Foste IS esk by the editor of the Memphis
Audtoache, which statement Foster did not
deny.
Mrs. jerks was examined briefly as to
certain details OF previ. us testimony, and
she was then discharged from further
j attendance upon the committee for the
| present, whereupOn she delivered her vale
| dictory, thanking the committee for its
courtesy and kindness toward her, and left
| the room maestically. The committees
| plans for the day were completely upset by
the refusal of Roulds Baker to testify, and
| the members sat fully two hours doing
nothing in the way of business beyond the
reading of Mrs. Jenks's correspondence
with Anderson ann Senator Matthews
| Subsequently an executive session was held,
! at which it was decided to take recess
from tomorrow until the 11th inst, SO as TO
afford the members slight re>pite after a
| session of continuous work scarcely equa1ed
since the close of the war. 1t was also de-
termined to report the case of Boulds
Baker to the q. S. Attorney for this strict,
| with a request that he be brought to trial
for violating the law which prescribes a
penalty for refusing to testify before the
committee of Congress.
The most important witness examined on
the I'd of July was Emil Weber. He was
permitted to read stat ment, on OATH of his
connection with the Republican party of
| Louisiana. This statement set forth that he
had no personal knowledge that Democratic
| intimidation existed in the parishes of East
and West Feliciana. His brother, Daniel
Weber, ,and James E. Anderson had informed
him the two parishes had gone Democratic.
Influence was brought to bear upon his
brother to make his protest, and he had
been approached very frequently to use his
influence with his brother to effect the sign
ing of the protest. He saw Anderson sign
his protest, and saw blanks therein After
Anderson had lef Judge Campbell attached
the jura' to the paper. 1t was not sworn tt
| by Anderson. 1t was a notorious fact in the
Custom House that Kel ogg, Packard, anC
other were pressing Anderson and Weber
to make their respective protests. Johr
Sherman was spokesman for the visitins
statesmen, and he (Weber) knew that Sher
man had given his brother assurances
which caused him to allow his protest tt
stand after it had been made. Weber had
in conversation with SHERMAN, explained t,
him that his brother thought his parish hat
gone Democra ic, and he was disposed t,
take back his protest, whereupon Sherman
assured him his brother would be cared for
He requested him to send his brother t.
him. His brother on the day he received il
showed him the Sherman letter of assui
ance, and said he had received it direct fron
, Sherman. Weber was familiar with tn
E handwriting of Sherman, and was satisfe
!. the letter was written by that gentleman
q In 1877 the Sherman letter was the subiec
of great modification to the Weber fami J
and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Daniel Weber
had endeavored to find it among the paper
0 | of her husband, wh ch were packed away i
| tyy0 kc a lar hov
q the summer of 1877 he (witness) ha
made search for the letter, and found it i
: the shoe box, and destroyed it forthwith
e Mrs. jerks had been in no way connecte
e with the authorship of the Sherman lette
e About the 9th of November it was di
A covered that only six of the Hayes Electol
could be saved, and Kellogg on that day r.
{ marked to me, "W We are after all, beaten
l. In regard to the agreement betwee
e James E. Anderson and ID. A. Weber, hel
l. state that I personally know that such a
q agreement was entered into, and was su
~ stantially the same as has been presente
My brother was murdered March Z In tt
issue of the Ledger (of which he was edito
n previous to his death. he Threatened
publish certain letters and a statemel
III emanating from the State Auditors offic
E. and that is supposed to have supple
% the immediate cause of his death, ar
At to that extent might suggest its author
|
u cause of his assassination, do not belle
n, that it would have occurred if he had n
It. made the protest which deprived the pc
n pie of their votes, and thus placed himse
r. in such p sition that his person
y, enemies were encouraged to make th
- murderous assault. In the Sherm,
N report appears a purported affidavit fro
lie me as United States Supervisor, contai
u ing somewhat sweeping allegation of
pr timidation in the parish of West Felician
or L declined, when requested to make
' affidavit on this subject, to do So III
d. paper was subse quently prepared by l..
a Jenks and, without reading or examinir
Ie signed it. performed no duties as Unit
It's States Supervisor. and should not ha
signed the paper if | had previously re
it. did not swear to 1t, but the jurat W
On attached by the Commissioner as a matt
ut of form merely. have no defense to ma
70 for my action, except to say that it W
w done without deliberation. Mrs. Jen
VI visited my sister-in-law in the summer
en- 1877, and urged her to hunt for the Sh
ed man letter. Mrs. Weber declined to
nd so, or to give her any informant
H. whatever. About the 9th of M
~ she brought letter from Gen. Sheldon,
ne fering to pay Mrs. Weber's expenses
N New Orleans and Washington, in conn
of tion with the Sherman letter, and thre
ar ening, in case she did not come, to hs
mo- her arrested and forced to go. Mrs. JeI
is5 and her husband have always called
iu paper the Sherman letter. Tom jerks,
mt fact, has claimed that his association &