The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-07

der again. Senator Matthews had not put In ON ap-
pearauce ana Tho committee went on 20 examine Mr..
Aaron Lsvisee, one OF tho Presidential electors Of
LOUISIANA.
TESTIMONY LEvisgg.
Lcvisec testified, IN answer 20 Mr. AcMahon. that
sided since 1855; that he has been actually residing
~ Masn'nston Tor over year, his only occupation
pcing that OF gentleman and man oil leisure; no
had hcid tho Office Of District Judge IN the Shrevc
port district and was aiterward (aLd until his resgna
states Commissioner; no had ,esiiaed fully be.
lore me senate committee last session and
io,m ~ ,ns n ASKED 70 state CONDENSED
toward bribing hun TO vote Tor Mr. Tllden; no went
on 10 state that on the evening OF tue 4h Of Dccen
per (whsie he was out dining with Mr. Parker, tho
postmaster; Mr. Smith. recently appointed Collector
OF the Port and 0thersl man named johnson called
at his boarding house, manifested RENE anxiety
next day., and lett note saying that no would call
tfc next morning; the ladies OF tho mouse had np-
peared worry anxious know the object visit,
Tor Johnson had been talking to them
WhaSnad be SAID TO tho ladisScf tho houseS A.
~ MAS perhaps, bis manner much what no said.
Tho ladies' sad 70 me that no was much excited and
seemed excessively ANXIOUS 70 sec me. Among some
wa. something like ths-I do not know that would
undertake. 10 give the precise words now after such
lepg,h o. ,ime, but ono Of ms expressions was
inns. In speaking OF me he said:-'l would like TO
be ~ his shoes. would make 500, 900 gu, al It,"
That Is the way u was reported TO mo shortly after
my return, tho evening. when tho note was
handed TO me- no SAID that II would DO too late after
10 morrow this was Monday night, the Atm OF De.
ccmbcr and Tho electoral vote was TO 10 cast OH no
5st; those were some OF the expressions which tue
ladies' reported 10 me whom thoy told mo OF hts great
anxiety, aud they suggested themselves that II hau
the meaning winch has boon iutmatcd; that tho
Inference which they drew. and they INN cdlato,y
veaed 10 me that tnat was what they understood Il
mean.
Q Who FRS, suggested the idea that you wero TO be
br'oed, you or the ladiesf A. The LADIES'; was not
looking Tor any bribc.
O. rne ladies therefore caught the idea from John
sons conversation with taemf a. And from his
manner; from tho whole thing
= Ana they wcro the nrst to get tho impression
from the interview ana 10 convey il to your A. Yes
q Had you anything in your m,nd that HIS bust
moss was 70 work on you with money before tho Ia
dies conveyed IT TO you by thor conve rsatonY A.
caunot say tnat, because did not know that was
there; did not know that ,hcrc any such cot
before l had read il the ladies (you know they arc
very impusivcl dashed right in 10 talk about II and
wanted 70 know what Il meant; pretended no. 10
Q. DID you know what IL mcantf A. did not
Q. Then why do you say that you pretended not to
kn"w itY A. Perhaps | used that word uuadv isedly,
but uid not know wnat Il meant any more than YOU
woud yoa received such q noto now. ! never had
z. DID u strike you singular that johnson
wanted 70 see your A. Perhaps It would It had had
tmc to reflect, but before had ;ime Tor moments
reflection tho ladies' revealed their idea the sub
joca
johnson wanted OF you lhoy had conveyed 10 you
that he wanted TO bride your A. That exactly tho
inct
.. And tho next day you saw him? A. Yes, 1 saw
johnson the next morning. Ho called at the house
quite early, before had got out OF my room. went
down 70 the parlor and saw him. ana then he asked
INC II would MAKE an appointment to liz Asher.
He SAID nothing about my seeing MIN. He did ailude
30 the note Of tho evening before and wanted TO know
marked 10 mo that Mr.. Asher was very anxious 10
see me, and be wanted know II ud make on on.
gagoment with him some time shat forcnoop.
Witness then went 10 rotate how he called on
Asher next morning aud how they walked 70 retired
portion OF the town.
y Who're was lnatr A. Directly back from the
river; II you have ever been IN New Orleans you
will know that tho business Is all done between
Baronnc street and tho river (Baronns street beng
paralie with river; whom you 90, 10 tho rear Of
Baronns street tho locality Is occupied by poor pco-
pie. blacks, &c; u y = quot portion OF tho town
not meet many persona.
O. About how FAR did you GO from the hotclf A.
Perhaps sevcn or eight ninc squarea
Q Yon walked on the street ioge,herS A. wc dsd
mol 80 N the street ~ all; we were walking tho
q In tho middle OF the dayf A. Yes: from ono
q. Did you stop At any point 70 talk shs matter
ovsrY A. do not think We stopped ~ all; pcrh apps
ws may have paused for nj o meat, bns AZ general
thing VIC Walked slowly along; we may have walked
the distance Of dozen squares, or may DO more; you
would not have " 10 moro than TWO thsse squares
back from baronno sseet 70 get 10 very quiet por
yss s.. a. ny m:ss y QUE: ~, Rers.
whore nobody who knew us would DO apt 10 SEQ US
took place on thc.strectsY A. Yes.
O. state what took place between you aOd him on
that occasonY A. II can only be rccted from momory
OF course, Impcriecty. but my recollection 10 QutlC
distinct as 70 Tho most OF u; VIII not undertake "a
recite everything precisely but tho substance OF
lie commenced With somo apologize remarks thal
he hoped would no. taxc umss what be about
10 say, Tor IN his view OF the case, u was altogether
. legitimate business, attnough IL was ono which
might DO misconsrued or misunderstood, but rely ing
on my friendship aud his long acquaintance WIN inc,
&c.. tor various OF that sort lie broacned
tho subject very slowly and l did not hasten INN.
Ny object 10 hoar what no had ~ say and let him
develop hts own plan.
wanted 10 reach you win morey prcpositionf A.
beIieved tnat no was coming 10 that. 1 iclt worry
certain OF u from the Indications
q From what indicatonsY A. From what tho
ladics said OF tho conduct OF this job nson
aud from the fact that instead Of Johpsons coming
aud stating 10 me tho business which no had with
lac asked mo TO see Mr.. Asher ana saiL not word oil
any tusiness no tJohnsonl had with mo. All these
things indicated TO mo that there something I'm.
usual about 10 takc place.
T. You were pretty certain In your own mind that
he was about 20 make money proposition A
say that was certain oil It, but had strung
suspicion that thcro was something OF She kind on
hand.
rhc exam nation was continued at great length,
with view OF extracting tho witness motive and
intent In listening to The proposiou OF Asher, bu,
without clicitiny anything OF importancc. The fol-
lowing Questions were asked
PLAIN STATEMENT.
q Was not the plain houcst truth that you though,
there WIS big th,ng lying around, and that II ns
would give you tho $200,vO0 you would take itY A.
Yes, cir correcting bimscif)-So, SIR 1 beg your
pardon, | ana not say that. want 70 make general
statement right hero winch the whole aud
" Is not worth whic for you to try 10 lead mo
on IRON tbs track one say The other here IL Tho
iact--I had m istnatton twenty-four hours IN nd
vance, aud moro that, that there was somcihin, (
wrong going on; these Iadics' suggestion to inc ect
thinking, and after reflection, was pretty we'll
satisfied that they were correct. Thus put mo upon
my guard aud accordingly won't to friend and told
him what anticipated.
q. Was " 10 Marshal Pitkin that you wcntr A.
Yos. Now, SAID this may be all fnistoko possibly
nothing OF The kind u intcndsd, out ~ looks much
u thero was something wrong, and told him tho cir
cumstanccs; did " with III. Wow OF putting myself
temptation AZ regards my political vlr,ue, al
though you may tnink " strangc that man should
be talking OF political virtue IN regard TO Louisiana
politics lI.augntcr.)
MI McMahon-lt docs seem strange.
q. Did not understand you Ia Gay that you went
TO Marshal PitNn for The express purpose ot guard
ing yourself IRON faliug from virtue ny letting him
know that ihcro was proposition pending TO briDo
your A. Yea sur; suspected what was going on: l
hut reason 10 suspect that thorc vas somcth q
wronr, ''und now said II am going at one O'Clock
10 The man bslievc rs all wrong, but possibly
~ tl.o t,.t. han