Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-04
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.
Meeting Of the Potter Committee.
Anderson Cross-examined.


Anderson Cross-examined.
The Potter investigating committee met
again this morning. Mr.. Stenger, who was
absent at the first meeting of the committee,
was in his place to-day. Judge Shellabarger,
representing Secretary Sherman, was on hand
early, and the vivacious Carter Harrison. of
tigatiOn, occupied one OF the best seats in the
room. Joseph E. Anderson, the witness, had
not reached the Capitol when the hour for
called to order until II 20 a. m.
THE ORIGINAL RETURNS WANTED.
MI Potter said that he had sent note to the
returns OF the electoral vote in Louisiana and
Florida be laid before the committee. A let
ter from Secretary EvartS was read in reply,
saying that the returns in question were not
on file in the Department. Mr.. Potter said
that Mr.: McKendrick, secretary of the cleo
tOral college, would be summoned to try and
MIR. McMahOn made verbal correction in
the printed minutes of the meeting last Satur-
day.
MIR. ANDERSON AGAIN TOOK THE WITNESS
and at Mr.. McMahon's request the witness
corrected two or three verbal mistakes in his
testimony. Anderson looked over the teSti-
mOny. None of his corrections in any manner
altered the meaning of his original testimony.
The changes were, f0r instance, ike the iol-
court COrfectiOn.-"King was collector OF
the port"
ANDERSON CROSS EXAMINED.
Mr.. Reed conducted the cross examination,
during which Anderson testified as follows:
Am native of Pennsylvania; went to New
Orleans first in 1868 or 1864 was appointed
clerk in custom house in 1873; was made su-
IerysOr of registration in the parish of East
telclana in 1876; the parish is about l2O miles
from New Orleans; the parishes are divided
into precincts; there were eight precincts in
IS inC CrrNI1 nfTnao oI,
precinct had list of names of voters under
the system OF registration; voters held regis
trat1On tickets, which gave them the right to
vote in any precinct in the parish: never
knew that system of voting to be for the pro-
lection of the voter don't know that arrange
mentS were made for voters to go to precincfS
Orleans first on the 25lh of September from
Feliciana: the pistol was fired at me on the
night of the 18th of October; left the parish
again about the 10Th of October, and again
went TO New Orleans, where | remained until
about the Sd OF November, when l returned
TO East Feliclana; remained there then until
after the election; saw Webber in New Or
leans about the 18th of November; Nash was
candidate for Congress from the 9th dis
trict;.- the Feliciana parishes were in
the 6th Congressional district of Louisiana :;
had no practical evidence to suppress of frauds
in Feliciana; at the time witness made that
statement he was not in possession of evil
dence of local frauds in the parish had the
Sherman letter. but did not think that that let
ter would be used as evidence; knew at that
time that the parish would be carried for the
republicans by forged protests, but had no d.
rect proof OF it; Nash also knew that the forged
protests were being prepared; witness didn't
want the naval office at New Orleans; didn't
expect to get it: did not want to be thrown
overheard by Nash; the only proof of fraud
witness had was that the officers refused to let
him see his protests: never entered into any
agreement with any but republican officials
Mr.. Reed pusI ed the witness closely, and
MIR; McMahOn submitted that the witness was
entltled to falr consideration. He submitted
the proposition 10 the committee. 1t was de-
clded that the witness should not be abused
by counsel
Witness continued entered into an agree
ment with ID. A Webber on the 18th of No
vember. Witness then quoted from the agree
ment, which said that the election was fair
free and peaceable, and the democrats carried
the election by legitimate means, and contin
ued: Intimidation is not the legitimate
means of carrying an election; at the time We
drew up our agreement mad no idea 1t would
be made the subject of Congressional inve 5ti-
gat1OH. and the document was not drawn as
closely as we would have done had we believed
the paper would be closely examined
MIR. Reed examined the witness as to the
testimony given by him over a year ago be-
fore the Senate committee. Witness said: II
remember the republican meeting on the 14th
OF September when Campbell and Packard
spoke; majority of the white men were in
toxicated; the speakers were interrupted ;
there was noise on the streets; heard threats
made to clean me out of the parish testified
proposition to the democrats that the repubIi-
cans might be allowed to organize without in
reference"
ing that Anderson had testified before the
Senate committee that he had informed Gov
Kellogg that there was intimidation in the
parish OF East Feliciana, and the witness ad-
mitted the truth of his testimony at that time.
/ had personal difficulty in the parish
MIR. McMahon objected to the Introduction
OF Irrelevant testimony taken by the Senate
committee to show Anderson's reputation for
yeracity. He did not object he said, to the
fullest tcrOss-examinatiOn in the proper way
Mr.. Reed desired that statements made by
should go on the record of the investigation
Mr.. Reed continued the cross-examination of
witness as to his testimony in previous inves-
legations
The witness testified: Was shot at on the
road from Jackson to Clinton l told Cover
nor Kellogg that could not swear, that there
would be q fair and peaceful election, but
could testify that there would be peaceful
election; the object of the democrats would
be to have peaceful election.
Witness was asked by Mr.. Reed to mark out
that portion OF the protest not written by him.
were not in his protest The first paragraph
OF the protest was somewhat altered, but how
much @ he could not say. Instead of '''deponent
statements attributed to him as direct were
qualified by the words lit is reported"
ANDERSON ACKNOWLEDGES SURPRISING THE
TRUTH.
Cr0SS-eXamlnaliOn continued: Witness said
he did not swear to the protest: had no actual
knowledge OF violence or intimidation beyond
my own persona, experiences; the Senate and
Morrison committees were both in New Or.
leans at the same time; in witness protest he
had no recollection that the words "demO.
cratic or republican appeared; Webber
and witness wanted protection for that rea-
son they drew ND the agreement; in order to
carry out witness bargain with Secretary
sherman witness suppressed as much of the
truth as possible. without swearing to lie
Witness swore before the Senate committee
that the last clause OF the protest was written
by him wrote 1t from copy given him by
Marshal Pitkin; witness did the writing him.
self; there was one affidavit and the protests !:
witness cOnfOunded the affidavit with the pro.
tests before the Senate committee purpOSeIy
to deceive the committee.
recess of the committee was taken at this
hour until 2:15 p. m.
THE ORIGINAL RETURNS.
At 2:30 p. m. the committee reassembled
MI. Potter said that he had learned that the
original returns of the electoral college were
given TO the Vice President, and by MIN de-
posted with the Secretary OF the Senate, Mr..
Potter said that he had made requiSition on
the Secretary of the Senate for them.
ANDERsoN'S CONFESSION.
Mr.. Reed continued his ossexamlnation
OF Anderson, who said: / told the truth to the