Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-28
Evidence i'm the Louisiana Case.

The Cincinnati Gazette publishes an interview
with Col. ID. j. VI. Jewett, of New Orleans, giving
some facts of the inside history connected with
the visit of Mr.. sherman, Judge Matthews, and
other republican statesmen to Louisiana in 1876.
Col. Jewett was Chairman of the Republican
Committee on Evidence and all the testimony
acted upon bv the Returning Board was prepared
according to his directions and under his immedi-
ate supervision. He was active in the campsg a.
and knew more of It's management than all the
other Republican leaders put together lie was
also one of the counsel relied upon by the State
Central Committee for the making up and pre-
-entstlou of its case. The overthrow of the
Packard government made hun feel sore for a
time, and the Democracy thought they could use
him. lie has been offered every inducc ment to
play into their hands. They had him in Washing
ton a long time asa witness before the Coogres.
sional committee, and sought to employ him to
work up the Louisiana case against The President.
lie is now the principal witness dept nded upon by
Potter's subcommittee for evidence IN Louisiana.
The charge of a conspiracy to obtain fraudulent
return by the Louisiana board IN case the Repub
llcans failed 10 cary the State in 1876, Col Jewctt
SAYS is false, and not particle of evidence can be
bad to support 1t The evidence Of fraud and
violence IN the null dozed parishes upon which
the Retui ming Board acted was brought before
them in I'll let accordance with the law. No undue
Influences were used upon the officers of
election TO induce them to make protests.
Promises were made by him and others that
officers who were in danger of their lives for do
ing their whole duty hruld he protected and
taken care Of As to Messrs. Sherman, Garfield
Hale, Matthews. and Stonghton, who are charged
with pledging certain Federal offices to Super
visors as AN inducement to them to make protests
which were fraudulent, Col. Jeweu saws the only
promises made by them such as seemed
necessary to reach the truth. No inducements
offered for the commission of flaud or for
the making of any false protests.
In many casts they found Supervisors reluctant
to make iii layits to a state of facts which hal
VIGOROUSLY existed in their parishes because of
the risk in which il involved them and their fami
lies. Mr. Weber, of West Felicians Parish
who made such sworn statement, returned to hi,
parish and was shot down like dog in the broad
light of day. In few cases the visiting sla'es-
men, or one or two of them, Joined IN promising
that these men should be taken care of If they
told the truth and did their duty without fear or
fsltciing. The statements of Mr.. Webber, OF
West Fellciana; Mr.. Anderson, of East Fell.
caua, and Mr.. Grant, of Morehouse Parish,
which are especially charged by the Democrats
to promises OF Mes-rs Sherman, Garfield, and
Matthews, were notoriously true Col. Jewett
stated further that he was certain no men her of
the Returning Board was influenced in his duty
by promises of reward. lie was familiar with
the expenditure OF the party funds and no men,
Der Of the board received a dollar under any pre-
tense. As to the Potter investigation, he was
sure the movement was not based upon any new
evidence. For year past the Democratic lead
eTs had been t;iing Inducements for new test
mOny, but nearly all they have discovered has
been published. You may rely upon one
thing, SAID Col. Jewett, at the conclusion If the
interview, " the Democratic managers have been
badly led sstray. la some particulars the ihvesti
gstiol and its sequel likely result solely to
the advantage OF the Republican Party"