The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-07-11
who Wrote that sherman Letter.

W n WfOte tnat Smctn00n Letter.
The testimony of Mrs. jerks before
the Potter Committee in which she
assumed the responsibility of the au.
thorship of the celebrated Sherman
letter to Dan. Weber and James E.
Anderson promising them official re.
ward for their labOrs in carrying Lou.
isiana is furnishing a vast amount of
consolation to the Radical politicians
all over the country. Sherman, when
before the Committee, did not dare to
commit perjury by empbatically de-
nying that he wrote the letter, but he
did not hesitate to procure this Mrs.
jerks to assume the responsibility.
The cross-examination of the witness
and the existing documents were q ute
sufficient to demonstrate that her tes-
timony was tissue of falsehoods. But
the authorship of that letter is not left
to conjecture or inference: On the
Sd inst. Emile n. Weber, brother of
Daniel Weber, was examined before
the Potter Committee, and fully cor
rOborated the testimony of Anderson
and demolished that of Sherman's
suborncd witness. The following is
his testimony:
Emile n. Weber testified that the
conference held in New Orleans DUR
ing the count in 1876 was understood
to have been led by Secretary Sher-
man. In conversation with Senator
Sherman witness was assured that if
his brother should stand by his pro-
test he would be protected. With the
request of Sherman, witness went
after his brother and Anderson and
informed them the visiting statesmen
were desirOus of seeing them. And
erson, in reply, said: 'sTelI them to go
to h-ll." His brother, however, went
to see Sherman, and they had long
conversation regarding the protest.
Two or three days after this converse
tion occurred his brother showed Mm
the Sherman letter of assurance and
told him Sherman gave it to him at
the conclusion of the conference rela-
tive to him standing by his protest,
and remarked it was the best he could
do at that time.
Q.-Did your brother agree to stand
by his protest? Ale hesitated
about doing 80, but could not we'll
avoid it, considering the pressure
brought to bear upon him.
| BY Mr.. Springer-Q-Did you have
the Sherman letter in your hand
| Ayes. sir; l did.
Q.-What kind of paper was it writ
ten on2 Alt was written on doub-
le sheet note paper.
| Witness then showed the size of the
paper, which was about half the size
of the sheet that Mrs. jerks said the
letter was written on. She claimed it
.,,n -, al "a r>,,-ais.sslo ahnot cnmnnar-
cial letter paper. Witness said it was
arranged before the election by Kel.
logg, Thomas G. Anderson and Pack.
ard to secure the affidavits of intimi-
dation in the parishes of East and
West Feliciana for the purpose OF
throwing out those parishes. He was
assured by Kellogg and others that if
he would use his influence with his
brother toward having him make a
protest he (witness) would be return
ed to the Senate. He was defeated
for the State Senate by about twelve
hundred votes, and was returned by
the Returning Board as elected by
about six hundred majority.
In reply to uunton the witness
stated that some visiting statesmen
had an interview with Eliza Pinkston
in the Custom House before she was
brought before the Returning Board.
He thought one of those who inter-
viewed her was Senator Sherman, he
was of the opinion that the Eliza Pink
SION outrage was put up job.
Dy Mr.. Springer-Q.-Did you see
4. Isstta frdit4SihsHTa9u fqlEnaa III
New Orleans paper? A.-Yes, sir;
and to the best of my knowledge and
belief it is true.
Weber then related the circum STAN
ccs as told him by his sister-in-law
concerning the visits of jerks to
Donaldsonville, and read the follow.
ing letter, which was delivered to
Mrs. Dan Weber by Mrs. jerks:
New ORLEANS. May 26, 1878.
MADAME: - In the investigation
about to commence in Washington un.
der the Potter resolution, il is deemed |
important to have You there as a wit |
ness at once. Mrs. jerks will bear |
This to you. Very respectfully,
A. L. SHELDON,
To Madame ID. A. Weber.
Mrs. jerks explained to Mrs. Web.
,r that Sheldon desired her to 90 to
Washington and testify she did not
know of the existence OF the Sherman
etter. Mrs. Weber refused unless
;alled upon by the proper authorities.
vhereupOn Mrs. jerks threatened to
AVE her arrested and taken to Wash.
ngtOn.
AT this time a brother of Mrs, d,
Weber came to DOnaldsonville.
nd seeing Mrs. jerks, asked what
hat woman was doing there again,
nd whether she was after the Sher.
nan letter. Mrs. Weber told her
rOther not to meddle with her affairs
nd that she had the Sherman letter
nd knew what to do with it. At this a
lme E. L. Weber had not informed :
is sister-in-law that he had DESTROY
d the document. Mrs. Jenks has I
Did Mrs. Weber that the letter was
'orth thousands of dollars, and he !.
Iould pay her a. good price for it. = =
Irs. jerks meyer intimated to Mrs. =
Veber she had anything to do with /.
he authorship of the Sherman letter:
ways spoke of it as the letter writ
N by John Sherman assuring Web. Y
aud Anderson positions under the "
A paper containing the affidavit was
'oduced. but Judge Shellabarger OBJ
citing TO the affidavit being put in :
'idence it was laid over for the pres. G.
It. s.
Witness submitted In the evidences a
tier written TO him by Judge Marks.
w Internal Revenue Collector at
ew Orleans, wherein Marks request .
witness to inform him (Marks) -
neither he had received the appoint,
ant he had made application for, if 4
t Marks would look afteri it for him,
Marks also requested witness to in
m Mrs. Weber that he thought he
ald secure her appointment as post
stress at Donaldsonville, for which tic
} had once applied and been unsuc- -,
sful, Marks being at that time op- I'LL
sed to her appointment. Marks So