The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-31
The Truth about the Sherman-Anderson
Letter,


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-A story is being
circulated here to the effect that the notori-
GUS James E. Anderson, who figured as the
champion witness before the Potter COM
mittee in connection with the so-called Sher-
man. Weber-Anderson letter, has prepared a
state ment, in which he recants his testimony
given before that committee. There is little
doubt that Anderson was induced to play
his part before the Potter committee by the
promise OF liberal pecuniary reward, and
it is quite likely that the promises made him
were not fulfilled, which would account for
his threat to make public his dealings with
prominent Democrats. He is known to have
made large demands upon the Democrats of
the Potter committee for money since the
adjournment of the committee, and before
leaving Washington he attempted to place
himself in communication wi tn Secretary
Sherman, with view of disposing of some
kind of lecantation of the false testimony
given by him before the Potter committee.
He is also said to have made similar efforts
to communicate with Judge Shellabarger
Secretary Sherman's counsel, but could find
no one base enough to assist him in the
scheme. Finally, he is said to have called
upon well-known newspaper correspond
ent here, who was interested on the Demo-
cratic side OF the investigation, and demand
ed the payment of $2,5C0 for services rem
dered, threatening ''to blow the Potter in
vestigation out of the water' unless the de-
mand was complied with. His efforts to OBJ
tain money from both sides falling, he left
Washington and went West. On Sept. ~,
he wrote from Indianapolis to the newspaper
correspondent above referred to, again de-
handing the fulfillment of the Democratic
promises. In this letter he said: 81 wrote
you last week upon my arrival, but as yet
have had no reply. wish you would at
tend to that matter at once, and let me hear
from you by a night despatch. I have an
opportunity OF making an excellent invest
ment in fancy chickens here, but don't wish
to do SO before l know definitely what will
be done. Should you see Sypher, write me
the result of your Conference. | am deter
mined to go South, should nothing occur to
upset my plans.'' The s'matter'' to which
Anderson refers in this letter is the 50, 500
which he claimed as balance due on ac-
count Of his perjury before Mr.. Potter's COM
uittee.
1t is said that in his alleged recantation
Anderson does not admit that Sherman did
not write the Weber-Anderson letter, but
claims that certain Democrats attempted to
induce him and others to FORCES a
letter and to swear that he forged
instrument was the original. tits prob
able that the Democrats had a scheme
to produce letter purporting to be the fam
GUS document alleged to have been written
by Sherman to Weber and Anderson, but if
such scheme did exist it will have to be
established by more competent witness
than self-confessed perjurer like Anderson.
Secretary Sherman claims to have evidence
tending to show that certain Democrats were
in, inc Il
that 6e proposes to institute ta' proceedings
against the conspirators for perjury, subor-
nation Of perjury, and forgery. 1t is proba-
BILE that further developments in this matter
will be made next Winter before the Senate
comm ittee, created ON motion of Senator
Matthews, before which Anderson was called
last Spring and refused to testify.