San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-15
THE POTTER INVESTIGA-
TlON.
TESTIMONY OF Ex.supERvIsoR ANDER'
SON.

NeSttgute inc hllekeu Ifuuus III flOTiuu anu
Louisiana In the late Presidential election be.
gan its examinations to-day, large mum
Der of newspaper men and others were pres
ent. Messrs. Hunton, Springer and Hiseock
Florida. Secretary Sherman was represented
by Messrs. Wilson and Shellabarger rs c0un'
sci. The examination OF James T.. Anderson,
formerly supervisor OF Registration OF East
session. The substance Of his evidence
was that the election In that parish
was properly conducted ana that ne Tor
warded the returns by mail 10 the Seore;
by any protest. A few days subsequently he
went to New Orleans and there had an inter-
view with Marshal Pitkin, who expressed SUR
prise that he had sent In his returns unaccom-
panied by any protest, and alluded to con
versation held with Anderson previous 70 the
election, in which the latter said he had been
intimidated and driven from the parish; 10
this Anderson replied that he did not know
whether the intimidation was from the
Democrats or Republicans, but that he was
willing to make statement ana swear 10
what actually occurred; sach ssat .n ~
was to the effect that he Anderson) had heard
of several cases of intimidation, but that he
knew of none of his own personal knowledge.
judge Jaas s0'H Mnsh JJp0eo a@pbsil and other
less, and Judge Campbell there:
upon drew up another protest, based
but containing several blanks, one OF which
was In reference to the number of voters who
had been intimidated. This paper Anderson
signed, but did not swear to, the understand.
the blanks after due consideration OF the
facts in the case. The paper closed with the
statement that he (Anderson) did not make
turns for fear of his life, this being explained
by witness to the committee as meaning that
If the people of East Feliciana knew that he
was going to cheat them out OF the
err than Hannah. This protest was made
and signed on the 10th of November, and
witness never saw 1t subsequently, Marshal
Pitkin informing him, when he asked 10 see
derson swears that he then and there pro.
tested to Pitkin and others against
the parish being, thrown out on
forged protest us ne suspeGc!Wsa ans %as SIN IN
pervisor of West Feliciana Parish, had va
rious consultations about this time as to the
matter of protest, and the result was the
drawing up and signing OF the Following Pc
culiar document: .
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. IA, 1S76-The under.
signed, James Il. Anderson, Supervisor OF
Registration for the Parish OF East Felieiana,
and d. A. Weber, Supervisor tor the Parish
of West Feliciana, Louisiana, have respect.
lively refused to sign any protest against
the counting of the vote OF our parishes cast
at the election held on the 7th day
that the election held on that day was the
most peaceable and orderly one ever. wit
messed by either, and the large gain MADE Dy
the Democrats being secured by legitimate
the disquiet and hatred with which large
proportion of the colOred people regard the
present State Government. But the Eiecto-
raj vote of Louisiana being necessary 10 SO,
cure the election of Hayes and Wheeler, ana
in order to secure such vote 1t being neces-
sary to throw out the parish of East Feliciana
and enough Democratic votes IN west Fellcl-
ana parish to make the parish KepuDncSam'
we have for this reason, and for no other,
consented to protest against the counting
of the vote as cast, and we nave
done this at the instigatiOn and request OF >.
ticket for Governor; j. G. II. Pitkin, U. S:
Marshal; w. p. Kellogg, now Governor OF
the State, and Chas. E. Nash, Member OF Con-
gress from the Sixth District, and others.
JAMES Il. ANDERSON.
This was signed in our presence Nov 10,
isisnedl GEORGE DICKS,
A. j. WILDER.
Sworn before me this 18th day of Novem-
Der. 1876 by the within. mentioned Jas. L. An
'i ''' '''' WI. Il. SEYMOUR, Notary Public.
The following, bearing date a week later
than the foregoing, is also presented:
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 81, 1s76.-By an arrange
ment entered into this day between James Il.
Anderson, Supervisor of Registration for the
parish of East Feliciana, La and Charles e.
Nash, Member OF Congress from the sixth
Congressional District OF Louisiana, 1t Is
agreed that said Anderson shall suppress
evidence showing that the said parish OF
East Feliciana was fairly carried by the Dem
ocratic party at the election held in NOvem-
Der, 1876, thereby electing the entire Demo-
cratic State ticket and Congressmen; IN con.
sideration of which the said Nash agrees to
secure to the said Anderson the position OF
Naval officer at the port OF New Orleans, La
[Signed] JAMES T.. ANDERSON,
The above agreement was signed In our
presence this 21st day of November, 1876.
[Signedl j. M. TOMLINsoN,
o. Is. MORGAN.
Anderson then gave detailed account OF
conversation alleged to have taken place at
an interview in New Orleans between Sena-
tor Sherman, Weber and himself, in refer
ence to the protests upon which 1t was pro
posed to throw out the returns OF the fenci-
"stand firm and they would find no cause TO
regret it, as "the Republican party would not
forget the men who stood by 1t In the hour OF
peril" Not satisfied with the result OF this
interview, on the next day Anderson and
Weber addressed the following note TO SEN
ator Sherman:
Strive have carefully considered the ar
guments advanced by you in our interview.
Your assurance that we shall be taken care OF
sue the course suggested by you we would be
obliged to leave the State. VIII you, there
fore, state in writing who we shall look to for
the fulfillment of these promises!
Respectfully, ID. A. WEBER,
JAS. 4. ANDERSON.
1t was here proposed to put I'm evidence
copy of Mr.. Sherman's reply TO the above
note, the original of which witness stated
was now or had recently been in the posses
sion of Mr.. Stanley Matthews. Objection be-
ing made by Mr. Sherman's counsel, Secretary
Sherman was sent for, and upon being shown
the paper, swore that he had no recollection
of ever writing such letter. but that II he
had done so il must have been at the time
when the returning officers first convened
TO open the returns, which was on the 10Th.
and he knew very little about the transaction.
The alleged copy of the letter is asfollows:
NEW ORLEANS, Nov, 20, 1s76.-Messrs. ID. A.
WEBER and JAMES T.. ANDERsos:-GeHfieRe
Your note of even date has just been re-