New-York tribune., 1878-10-26
VOL.XXXVIn.. No ,726,
JAMES E. ANDERSON AGAIN,

ANYWAY
THE TRIBUNE's special dispatches from Wash
ingtOn state that James +. Anderson, the wit
ness before the Potter Committee, has been
for some time trying to make terms with Sec
retary Sherman and Judge Shellabarger for
the retractlon of his whole story about the
mythical Sherman letter. The offers OF
Anderson have been refused, both because II
would be improper to bargain for retrac-
ton. and because Mr.. Sherman did not care
whether Anderson made a retractlon or not
A dispatch from indianapolis says that Ander-
son will print his retractiOn there to-day, 1t
having been given to one of the papers there
THE NEGOTIATIONS AT WASHINGTON
ANDERSON DIsGUsTED AT NOT BEING TAKEN CARE
OF BY THE DEMoCRATs-wHAT JUDGE sHELLA-
BARGER SAYS.
IBI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUNEl
WASHINGTON Oct. 2j.-Jamcs L. Anderson has
informed the Democrats who have had him III
charge that unless some of the promises made to
him are forthwith fulfilled he will make another
statement that will shock their nerves The men
who have been keeping the wolf from Mr. Ander-
sons door have recently cut of his supplies and
unless they are resumed, Anderson says that he
proposes to tell how, and by whom, and for
what consideration he was induced to relate
the remarkable story he told before the fotler
Committee. He has gone so far as TO make prop
osition to Judge Shellabarger, the counsel lor
Secretary Sherman. with reference to the matter
Auderson's story is that he gave his testimony
before the Potter Committee, and exposed TO the
public his private correspondence with Stanley
Matthews and Others for the consideration ol
81 900 cash, the payment of the fees OF
his counsel Mr.. Sypher, OF Louisiana, and a
prouise that he should ''be taken care off,
The Arrangement was brought about by
newspaper correspondent who resides in WASH
ington and who acted as pilot for the Pot-
ter Committee and coached its witnesses. The au-
thority under which this gentleman acted was ac-
gured, it is understood from Samuel j. Ilden him
self and the funds were supplied from his private
treasury. The agent himself sacrificed his profess
sional duties for several months in procuring EVIL
1ence for this investigation, and in directing It's
course when it had begnn.
After Anderson had given his evidence before the
Potter Committee, he was not discharged as wit
ness until the final adjournment of the committee
IN August and during these two months he drew
witness fees at a rate of So a day. In the mean
time, having lost his position as Nlght-EditOr OF
Philadelphia newspaper, he was provided with q
place as a proof-reader on The Washington Post at
salary of 81 per week. He was not cOntented with
tins position considering ii to be too humble and the
.alary too small for a man of his dignity and re-
'O4'i
ate him in either a reporters OF editors position,
however, and his connection with the paper was
severed Since then Anderson has been accom-
mOdated with small loans from persons who ad-
mired his candOr and who were associated with the
Potter investigation But having exhausted his
credit in this direction he has been insisting that
the contract With him should be carried out and
he be taken care Of" He complains that he has
been repulsed and insulted, and that his treat
ment has not been such as gentleman would
endure.
Finally Anderson warned his sponsors before the
committee that their agreement must be compiled
with or he would make other arrangements.
THE OFFER TO THE REPUBLICANS.
Anderson then commissioned q friend lately to
make a proposition to Judge Sheabarger which,
in effect, was that he should either prepare and
make oath to q full and complete denial of all mis-
testimony heretofore given, so far as 1t related TO
Secretary Sherman, and append statement OF the
manner and means by which he was induced to tes-
tify; OF when the Matthews Committee should re-
assemble he would withdraw his refusal to
testify before that committee and answer truth
fully all questions that should be put to
him relating to the Sherman letter-hOw the story
was invented md put in circulation, how he was
bribed to testify falsely, and reveal fully the full
story of the manner in which he was led to make
his statements before the Potter Committee AS
condition to all this, Mr. Anderson was to be
granted absOutiOn for all the sins committed IN the
past and immunity for the future. As guarantee
of good faith Anderson offered TO put in writing a
statement to be read by Judge ShellabarGer, which
he would make oath to- if an understanding should
be arrived at.
Thisis in brief the statement that is made by
Anderson aud his friends. 1t is of course partially
denied by those whom he has been serving. They
Eay that the trouble with him is his failure to
obtain money as a reward for his testimony. They
DENY that there was such an arrangement as he
asserts. His evidence they say was voluntary and
given for motives of revenge and that since he told
his story all his demands for a reward have
been denied. They claim that payments of money
were never made to him, and that he merely drew
his witness fees as did all Others who testified.
Money has been loaned to him when he claimed to
be in want but with the understanding that it was
loan, and not gratuity
The 'coparceners assert that they always regarded
Anderson as a dangerous man and unfit TO be
trusted. and that they have allowed no dealings
with him that could be construed as meaning
bribery. They admit having been warned by
Anderson that he would reverse himself" unless
lie was taken care of, and they acknowledge
an understanding that he has offered himself TO
Judge Shellabarger as witness LOT the ueIehCe'
Judge nellabaTgeT, they say, IS welcome TO hlm
and Secretary Sherman may have all the Denent
that can be derived from his statements; but how,
they ask are the Republicans to get around senator
MattbewJs lettersi They charge specifically that
Anderson demanded $1,000 as the price OF ms ST.
lcnce that amount beng necessary 10 SET MN upon
chicken farm III Louisiana, which Is MS present
ambition.
The gentleman with whom Anderson has been
conducting his negotiations only day or two ago
received the following letter from Anderson, who is
now in indianapolis visiting his wlfe's family:
NYDEAR SIR: wrote you last week upon my arrival