Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-22
FROM NEW YORK.



NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE Times says
Judge Blatchiord's statement in the income
tax case was tantamount to a decision
against Tilden. The statute, he said, meant
that tax of per cent was to be levied
upon incomes, not what the assessor said
was income. lie felt able to decide the case
at once by verbal decision, but deemed 1t
better to write his decision.
THE SILVER SCHEME.
A Washington special to the World says
over twO-thIrds vote is now apparently
certain for the silver scheme The bill will
probably be passed in the House, Senate
amendments and all.
THE RETURNING BOARD PROsECUTIONs-wEL
DEFENDS HIMSELF.
Nsw YORK, Feb. ID. Madison Wells,
in long article, defends himself. lie says
that five grand .juries refused to find an ir-
dietment against him at the behest OF the
encouragement, and the prosecution now
is ION information" He says :he indicted
deiaulter, Judge Whitaker, Is the central
tool OF the Louisiana traitors to prosecute
him. Whitaker stated before Anderson
trial that the jury was packed for cOnvIc-
ton, and that all motions before him for
removal Of the cause from his jurisdiction
would be oyerrued. During the greater
part of the trial. Judge Whitaker was in
& beastly state of intOxieatiOn. Mr.. Wells
says that Ogden made every effort to have the
grand jury indict the returning board. even
to taking Judge Whitaker before the grand
Jury and pretending to incarcerate witnesses
for not testiiying as Ogden desired, but
the grand Jury would not indict the board.
Assistant attorney general Eagan is under
indictment for numbering his brother-in
law. Mr.. Wells says Of the witnesses that
Cavenac and Smart are liars, and Burke is
an abscOnder. The names o. jurors were fur
nished by the democratic committee. All the
changes made in the Vernon parish returns
must have been made by democrats All
the court officers have thrown every obsta-
Gle in the way to prevent Anderson aud
Wells from producing witnesses. Mr..
Wells says congressman K. l.. Gibson has
seen fit on the floor of Congress to calumni-
ate the returning board, and has attempted
justification Of their prosecution. Mr..
Wells says. when | was acting foreman
of the United States grand jury in
1874, this cOlored representative of
LOui sana, Gibson, in the Congress of the
nation, was prosecuted Tor violation of the
election laws, fraudulently filling the boxes
with tickets that were never voted, and
would have been indicted By the jury, and,
IN Ill sent 10 the peOltcQLl1TS
but for nv leniency and forbearance. The
evidence Of his guilt taken before the Jury
is yet in the hands Of one Of its members"
Mr.. Wells gives the above as samples of the
principal tools and means employed to
secure the conviction OF members of the re-
turning board in the case improperly called
1.-The State Of Louisiana vs. j Madison
Wells and Others" but really it is a contest
for the Office of President OF the United
States. and the patronage OF the executive
department OF the federal government. 1t is
chiefly managed by David Dudley Field
and the national democratic committee. A
verdict procured in the manner above
pointed out will. it is expected, be accept
ed by the people of the United States as
judicial settlement of Tilden's title to the
Presidency. 1t is bold and desperate
game for great stake. Myself and col
leagues in the returning board are merely
outposts Of the picket guard which they hope
to capture, and then they will surprise the
garrison if possible, and claim the patron
age of the government as spoils OF war.
Mr.. Wells says it is o renewal in insidious
guise of the tremendous conflict of 1875,
perhaps OF 1861. 1t becomes republicans Of
the north to be on their guard, and give
our Louisiana hirelings to understand that
it is time for them to be quiet or be pre-
pared for open and unrelenting war.