Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-12
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.
Testimony Before POtter's Commit

terday, C. B. Darrall, Representative
from the third Louisiana congressional dis
trict, testified that he was candidate for
and had a certificate from the governor of
the state. HE has since been unseated by
Ackltn, deml Witness stated that man
acted as collector for the port OF New Orleans
up to the meeting of Congress last winter, but,
not being confirmed by the Senate, resigned.
He had been judge of the stat supreme court,
to be judge when the Packard government
was upset. Next Mr.. Lawrence was appointed
collector by Hayes, but was not confirmed up
to the recess. Then Packard was here push
ing his claims, and witness and Kellogg were
backing him. Witnesses name was mentioned
in case Packard should not be appointed.
George Smith finally RECEIVED the appoint
but did not know, of the returning board.
Witness first met
STANLEY MATTHEWS
in New Orleans as a ''viSiting statesman" He
and others called on him in connection with
the cOllectOrship for his influence with the
President. Some time before witness lost his
seat Anderson came here and had an inter-
view with Matthews in regard to that matter.
Anderson represented both to Packard and
himself that he had some influence with Mat
theWS, and volunteered to 60 to see Matthews.
Matthews authorized witness to say to Pack
ard that he would be acceptable to him, but
the trouble was the President did not want
Packard. Before that time Matthews was OPP
IL
AndersOn,S influence brought about the
change. He and others had talked with the
Senator number of times. Up to within two
weeks of the appointment of the other man.
Matthews thought Packard would get in then
Matthews had one or two interviews with the
President in behalf of witness. During last
winter, witness continued.
MRS. JENKS
was here claiming 10 have the Sherman letter,
and told witness she had it and would use it if
1t could be used to help Packard, who would
hn1r NN,r- fA-1.,- Wy:
not care 10 take any part in the matter, and
told her she had better see Packard or Kel-
logg. and that was the last witness saw of her.
The newspaper boys" got hold of it and pub
llShed 1t all III the newspapers at the time.
Witness did not care to see the letter, and did
not ask Mrs. jerks to show it, and did not see
it; Packard was not here at the time, and
when he returned she came out in the news
papers, saying she had no such letter, and
never had it. Witness thinks she had gone
when Packard returned She was here about
two weeks, but in the course of week or SO
there was an interview with MIR. Sherman, in
the course OF which he said he never had given
such letter, and Mrs. jerks admitted he
never had, and she published the card to that
and he saw her. Her husband at that time had
no employment. He had been in the New Or
leans custom house as deputy marshal and a
tax collector under Kellogg. He was not with
her here. Witness knew Of nothing Mrs jerks
said to Packard about the letter. Anderson
told witness that the document had been left
with Weber, and that he had a copy. Mat
thews never told witness that Anderson had
any papers (meaning his letterS) he desired to
take up. On the contrary, Matthews told him
the papers in Andefson's hands were of no ac-
count. Matthews said in regard to the Sher-
man letter that he did not believe there was
such letter ever given
written by, witness to Anderson from Wash
lngtOn, February H. 1873, was read, in which
witness, referring to the New Orleans collect
orShip and an interview with Matthews, in
which the latter said that Packard would not
be appointed, says to Anderson: "If you think
best, you write to me that in thinking the
matter over since You have gone home YOU
are more convinced that am the best man
and that it will suit you best. He wants to do
what is right by you, be tells me, and know
d. SireS that you should be satisfied. Write
strong but careful letter. L need hardly say
that II should by any means get the place 1
Witness said, in reply to a question why he
was led to believe there was any relation be-
tween Matthews and Anderson that would be
wrote to Linn that Matthews had given him
written assurances that if he withdrew any
claim he had he would ask either Packard's
had any talks with Matthews about any papers
or documents until a later date.
ANOTHER LETTER
was submitted: On February q Darrell writes
to Anderson saying that Senator Matthews is
working for him, the cabinet are all friendly,
and Packard, and that if no appointment is
made till tie following week he (Anderson)
Witness said up to the date of that letter the
interviews between him and Matthews had
contained nothing in regard to the documents
IN nAnderson,s possession. Shortly after that
date ne had a conversation with him in which
he (WltneSS) was first to mention the matter.
About this time witness was informed that ne
go.IatlonS were pending between Anderson
and friends OF Tilden by which the documents
placed hands dy
in New York.
DARRALL TO ANDERSON
The following letter was here submitted:
D. Mareh g. sMy bear SsasPgtoa sr bad d.
interview with M; this evening, and told him
what had heard from Potter, and that YOU
had been over and assured me the papers
remain go. He SAID lie had word from another
source that a proposition had been made by
some one. and in talking remarked that if all
Teat dit riSht @ you ought or We're to give them up
pc responsible. He of course spoke only of the
Sherman copy, and l referred to nothing else
You had best write him you were over, but did
not care to trouble him. and that you assured
me the papers were safe in your own posses
SION, and would be given up when went in.
You understand neither of us referred to ary
paper .tI1 from him you had, and all looks as
from Marks to morrow, and will at once let
you Know Write or not as you think best to
M, put 1t seems to me better to write Give
my love to Mrs. A, and tell her we are going
TO win Write any news from the SIS. Truly
Jas. E. Anderson, ESQ.,, Philadelphia Pa.
witness saw Matthews probably the even
ing before this letter was written. He wanted
70 see him because he had heard of the prOpo-
SltlOns made TO Anderson to purchase the pa
mn pers, ana it was the only time the papers were
ment The statement in the letter that the
papers were to be given up if all went right is
substantially correct, and the particular doe
ument Matthews spoke of was
THE SHERMAN LETTER.
Inc idea was that witness was to be aDpOinted
collector, and when that was done the letter
was to be delivered up. Witness further Stated
that Mrs jerks, in referring to the Sherman
lettef, produced the impression that it was
given, and signed by Mi. Sherman and Mr..
H0ughton. That Is what Anderson also had
always told him. "
Another letter was here read from Darrall
TO Anderson, in which he recOunts the result
OF an interview with Matthews, who had been
TO see Hayes, the glSt of which was that HAYES
was ''
DEAD AGAINST PACKARD"
Some c0ll0quy occurred in the committee az
70 uestiOnlng the witness as to the influence
OF lhe returning board, which ended by read
ing the following letter: ~
"Washtngton, d. c., March IS, 1S7S.-Mv
Dear Sir: You will see the action of the Loli
not such a document as could have been
forged. and this decision releases ali of tha
others as well as Anderson. Wells left New
Orleans for here last night. 1t looks yerv
much as IL there was some kind of a trade and
MellS was coming here to carry it out I saw