The New York herald., 1878-08-15
Conclusion of the Louisiana EmiSSary's
Interesting Testimony.
PACKARD "LET DOWN EASY"
What Brought the Committee of
Visiting Statesmen South.
JOHN E. LEETE's TESTIMONY.
Glimpse Into the Inner Life of the
Kellogg Government.

the Potter Investigating Committee resumed it, ses
sion yesterday morning at John l. Davenports room,
on the fourth story Of the Post Onlce buidiDg-the
rom over whose possession there was only recently
suoh a heated contest. The room, by reason OF Its
larger size and better ventilation, was far better
adapted for the purposes OF the Investigation than
the miserable, spoky" little hole at the Naval Oice
but large as IL was it crowded before tho
proceedings were opened. During a portion OF the
session unknown elderly lady occupied prominent
seat near the committee, at which the whisper imme-
dia,ey went round .srhats Mrs. Jenks." As soon as
ths lady heard that taken for Mrs Jenks she
stole away. Among those present yesterday were
also some Washington newspaper correspondents,
who watched tho proceedings with interest. As will
bs seen from the detailed report below, much Of the
s.tsslimony" was OF the most aughabie description
and great portion of the day was wasted by the
Iarctcal outpourings Of the witness Leete
COLONEL ROBERTS RECALLED
Colonel Roberts, the witness OF the previous day,
resumed the stand and was Arst examined by tho
sbsirmAn, Mr.. Potter
@. When you left Now Orleans on your visit 70
Governor hayes the Returning Board still ia sss
sion or was Its business already compieteds A. They
we're still in session.
Q. Tho only letters you took to Governor Hayes
we're from the republican statesmen from Ohiof A.
Yes, sir.
Q. Why did you describe the then situation of the
psople Of Louisiana a. "desperate" yesterday A.
We had been cneatsd by the Returning Board in 1872
In 1874 and thought they would cheat again in
1876; the people were getting tired OF this sort OF
thing aud begin ming to think that II was OF no
uso holding any election at all; they wsrc beginning
10 be desperate.
@ Was the election which resulted IN . maJority
Of 13, 900 for the Tidsn electors tair one, A. we
took every possible make It SO, and did our
u.mos, TO 60. out every white vote We could.
Q. We're there any party efforts made to propitiAts
the coiorsd votersg A.. Yes. sir; we felt that our
colorsd votors Iaboring CLASSES; that they
had nsver meant to do any harm, and had only been
mi.ied in Whatever they had done; IL was for this
reason that Governor N,cholls hls speech OF ac-
ccptance announced that ho meant 70 be equally
lust 10 white and black II elected Governor.
Colonel Roberts explained that he thought the Re.
turning Board would not dare 10 cheat the people
again unless they were backed least BY the moral
support OF the republican visiting ttatesmen.
TIE REPUBLICAN STATESMAN.
O. Then II WAS the presence oil these gsntlsmsn and
abe knowledge OF what the Returning Board had pre-.
viously dono which gave rise TO your apprehensonso
beng cheated again and induced you 10 70 ana sec
Govsrnor Hayesf A. Yes. ,s.r
como represent tho dsmocrate sidsf A. He
couidn't have understood me my eshsr way, Tor
spoke Of our being counted ou and ths republicans
never were counted oui. Laughter.)
Pressed for a moro explicit explanation Of what he
uudersiood Governor Hsyes to mean by mis- promises
si .fairness and justice" the witness he under
stood that he (Hayes) would gvc them the same
ss nsv had elected ,nesr state government by large
msjori,y that govsrDment should be installed.
well what had you to oner Tor securing the state
Rovern ment tho result OF election IN which Gov
srnor Hayes had no more votes than PacksrdS A. l
haa nothing 10 oncr; l only meant 70 represent 10
bin that our people were get'Ds desperate and must
have lair treatment
O And that. while they nigh. not resist Hayes II
he TO be ia, they would certainly resist Pack
ardf A. That's what meant exactly.
O. And having ascertained that Hayes a. President
would secure you democratic STATE gove,nmens you
Colonel Roberts explained that as good democrat
he would Of course nave preferred 70 see Tiiden
seated, and As matter oil iact he did nothing toward
letting the count go unnindersd until alter tho
votes Of Florida anu louisiana had been counted and
the battle for Tilden had been already lost
TRYING IN KIrHER CASE.
.Whichevsr horse won IN the race, he said, Eve
came 10, they wanted to secure q democratic state
government tor the state
Coon,i Roberts was questioned again as to his con-
yersason with Foster aud Conkling. scarcely any
thing new was elected on these points except some
variations OF phrassoogy He told Conkiisg that the
dent OF the whole United states and not OF any
party, and Conkling said I'VE have either elected
pressions OF his dislike to any undsrhand operations
already en- Draced In tho proceedingso oil yesterday.
DID you have any eonve5s.,on n"a,s., WITH General
Mr.. Pouer-rnw General Butierr A. Yes, sir.
(Lsughtsrl
tho republicans had "disavowed the burglary" In
Leuisans, but had RETAINED the perquisitss'' y
Co.oncl Roberta examination was terminated after
. tew more qussrionr ana Mr.. Hiscock had NO ques-
Hous TO ask Dy way oi cross-examination
ESTER WITNESS LEETE.
The next witness John h. Lcete, Of che New Or
leans Tires large, round headed norid gentleman,
with luxurious wniskers and mustacne, loud ring
audience much amusement He was asked to narrats
all his autccedspts and did SO with the most refresh
ing frankness. He came 10 Louisiana and started
q school teacher alter having been refused employ
mcnt by several commercai houses because he WAS
the fret motive impeiling hm TO 90 into pohtct He
then took hold OF dying democratic newspaper"
tLaugh,er) subsequently mo had difficulty" with
sgen,isman, ou, as the gentleman twas deaf" no
would say nothing moro about IL
This cool mcut, which elected whispers In tho
room 'hc killcd the man, created loud laughter.
subsequently he ENLISTED IN tho "rcform wing'' OF
the parry tell in win Lieutenant Governor Dunn, "a
very popular colored man." and got position In the
Custom House from "Brother- -in-Iaw Casey"
DETAILED WRITE EDITORIALS.
MI. Pos.er-PioAse state your par.iculsr duties IN
Collector TO write editorials ior the Grant newsps-
per- laughter)-the National Republican.
Y. Does that paper slil exist A. tdrilyt-No, sir;
served It's purpose. tLaughterj rne hbera-
Greeley paper, the New Orleans Repsbiican in 1872
shcn u looked ms " General Grant would be trium
phsntly reelected, Topped back to the repupncan
partytisugh.er)-and the two papers we're 'nen con-
O. Aud in consequence Of this consolidation your
dutss as a writer OF editorials ceasedr A Yes SIR
q. And your ofhcal position alsos A. Yes, sir.
tIs~ughtsr.1
q. What did you do next2 A. In 1872 was n-
gased setting up facts, collecting arguments, getng
up stun for Congress TO show up democratic frauds
tIaughler.) Ssnator Norton sent In my compilation
alleged democratic frauds IN 1877 TO the senate,
which Is now q public document; one oil tho men,
bers OF the Returning Board sitsrward said that
Ksiloxs countcd IN on the strength Of these al
legged frpuds
y We're you rewarded for this services A. tcurtlyt-
understood that Kellogg wss 10 give me the best
thing he had tLaughtsr.)
q. Did you get itf A. Yes; ] got Congressman
Darrell to pick out the best onco that hadn't been
tradeu on tLaugbtcr)
Mr. Hiscock protested at this time that the Louisi-
aus beyond the scope OF The committees
inquiry.
had right show the n.ecedents OF the witness as
. preliminary to ms testimony.
--r- GETTING 'soPT PLACE
q Well, what offce did you geiS a. was ap-
pointed harhof master
a adj duties assjaped2 A. fserenelyl-