The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-10
THE INVESTIGATION.
Stanley Matthews Concludes Not
to Testify.
McLin Before the Florida Conn.,
mittee.

naittee.
WASHINGTON, Jane S.-The Potter iuvesti-
eating committee met at noon. Mr.. Mcken-
ney, deputy clerk of the Supreme Court and
clerk of the electoral commission, was recalled
and at the instance OF Mr.. Cox, submitted
printed copies of the original certificates used
before the electoral commission and testified to
the originals now before the committee.
These were never read in full in the commits
sion, but were ordered printed, and at Mr.. Nc
Kenney's suggestion, they were printed in the
proceedings of the electoral commission, and
at the suggestion of Mr. Garfield, he recently
compared them, finding that they had become
mixed and were duplicated. The printed
copies circulated among the commission as
their material. He described the mode of cir
culation. The committee dealt only with
printed papers. excepting in one or two in
stances. He did not recOllect whether it was
in the case of Louisiana or in some other in-
stance, that certain members called for the
originals. He could not explain how the Ger
tificates were mixed and duplicated in printing.
During the examination by Mr.. MacMahon,
Mr.. Cox accused him of assuming that he was
counsel for the prosecution, and Mr.. MacMahon
said Mr.. Cox was mistaken, and that Mr.. Cox
was assuming a role entirely foreign to him,
Their conversatian, at the request of the chair
man, the examination proceeded. The witness
stated in reply to questions by Mr.. MacMahOn
that when Garfield came to him inqulring into
the matter of the mixture of certificates in the
printed volumes, he said, "You will prob ably
see the importance of this in few days.
There have been some charges made that some
of the certificates are forged In reply to
question by Mr.. Potter, the witness said Ora
field came to him in the clerks office of the
Gt,n ~ md c1yadh I,nr hos
ed any difference in the Kellogg Louisiana
certificates. He replied he did, but did not
recollect what it consisted OF, wherenpon at Gar;
ae,d's Iedaess ne GOT the octave volume called
peared, and while Garfield read certificates
number nineteen, he looked at number two,
and the difference was that one of them was
separate as to Hayes and Wheeler, the other
was joint certificate.
Levisse Recalled.
Judge Levsse was recalled and made some
corrections in his previous testimony, among
which he denied having told Mr.. Asher that be
would take 5000. 600 and refuse to accept his
electoral certificate.
In reply to question by Mr. Cox relative to
further facts concerning the attempted bride,
witness said he had very strong suspicion
beforehand and after a nights reflection
and before he went to see Asher the
first time, be thought he would see Marshal
Pitkin about it: aud remembering the teachings
of the Lord prayer, "Lead us not into tempta-
tion," he thought by revealing the facts to
offer. In conversation with Pitkin he proposed
to raw the parties out to find out who they
were and to keep them from attempting to
bride any one lse.
Chairman-Have you any idea who sgued
your named on the certificates which you
testified were not not signed Dy you?
A.-Not the remotest.
Mr.. Cox-Have you any recollection as to the
number of time or places where you signed
your name?
places signed, but 1 do not remember the
number of times. Should says at least ten or
dozen on several certificates.
Potter-Have you anything to add to your
statement in regard to your voting blank as
was charged?
A-Nothing special. I took ticket and
endorsed my name on it. There were no blank
votes L can swear positively, having heard
them read as they were taken out of the boxes
after they were voted. There were eight
pieces, and I am confident, Hayes and Wheeler
were written on each.
MI. Potter announced vice president pro tenn
OF the Senate, Ferry, could not appear before
the committee until o'clock, and the com.
rnittee at 1.3O p. m. adjourned till that hour.
Testimony of senator Ferry.
The committee re.assembled at 22O D. m.
when Mr.. Ferry was sworn, and testified in
reference to the receipt of electional returns
from Louisiana stating, 6rst returns were
received by him by mail December IA, 1876.
The initials q. u. r. on the envelope were
those of his Secretary, Mr. Moses.
MIR. Ferry said the next returns were
received by mail Dec. 81, 1885, and a duplicate
thereof by messenger Jan. 2, 1877, and the next
JAN 3lst, when both certificates were received
the same day. He understood the first set OF
returns reached Washington by messenger in
advance OF the copy mailed, bnt the messenger
fol cd 70 dali <1n
peared and reported they had the electora
returns. 1t W IS the custom to exsmine them
and ii found not according to requirements Of
law, the messenger was so notified. Witness
did not recollect iany difference between the
certificates. No one had doubted in his pre-.
sence that the signatures on thes certificates
were genuine. He had recently heard how.
ever from Gen. Garfield, that there were
forged returns amongsthe Louisiana certifi'
Gates.
Stanley Matthews Position.
At the close of Mr.. Ferry's examination, the
chairman laid before the committee the follow
ing letter from Senator Matthews:
WASHINGTON, June s, 177s.
Hon. Clarkson N. Potter House of REPRESENTATIVE
Sir: have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
from Mr.. Irwin B. Swinton, clerk Of the committee
OF investigation, etc., of which 1 balieve yon are
chairman OF letter inclosing copy OF resolution
From the manner and extent in and to which they
seemed to affect me, deemed it due to myself and
to the honorable body of which am member, on
Wednesday, the 9th nst to bring them to the atten-
ton OF the Senate In statement and explanation
OF personal nature, and as matter of privilege,
moved resolution of inquiry, which was adopted
and of which the following is copy quoting it.
have just submitted the whole matter 10 the Senate
which, BY the adoption Of this resolution has taken
jurisdiction and entered upon the investigation
quested That body alone, SO far as my conduct is
concerned, is competent to render effective judg-
ment upon the question. So far, therefore, as your
resolution invites me to submit to your committee
explanations Of my correspondence with Anderson
IN evidence before it, consider that it would be i'm
proper for me under the circumstances to comply.
am not officially informed of the subject under in.
yestgation by yuor committee in reference to which
am also. by its resolution invited to appear an(
"answer such questions as may seem pertinent" but
from the copy OF the resolution of the House O.
Representatives, from which your committee derives
its existence and authority, as reported in the Con-
gressonal Record. learn that it is limited to an
inquiry into certain alleged frauds in elections in
Florida aud Louisiana, and the connection Herewith
OF certain named gentlemen, of whom I am moi
mentioned as one have no knowledge whereof Of
any matter relating to this subject except far as
appears in the corresponce before your committee
aud as for the reason already given reserve thai
for explanation before the committee ordered by the
Senate 1t only remains tor me TO subscribe myself
respectfully, STANLEY MATTHEWS.
Mr.. Butler argued at considerable length
that Senator was amenabe to subpoena al
much as any private citizen and cited several
presidents to sustain his position.
He then offered the following re solution:
ResoIved, That Hon. Stanley Matthews, seeming
to be an important and competent witness in The
investigation with which this committee is charged
subpoena be issued to summon said Stanley
Matthews in due form to testify before this COM
mittee.
The resolution was adopted.
WASHINGTON, June 9-It is currently re port
ed that Senator Matthews has been served with
subp9 ma to appear before the Potter commit
tee, but the sergeant-at-arms received no report
from bis deputy subpe IA clerk in whose hands
it was placed. If it is not yet been served there
is no doubt it will be tomorrow morning.
THE FLORIDA COMMITTEES.