The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-21
THE HARD PAN.
now THE AFFIDAyITs WE'RE MADE
I'm THE CUsT0mHOUsE.
Hiram smedIey's Character shown Up
and His Veracity or Lack Of



and His veracIty or Lack Of
Et Exposed.
Previous to the committee assembling Mrs.
Agnes ID. jerks entered the room and took q
seat within the railing. Immediately her name
became known to the crowd in the lobby. there
was considerable of futter. She. however
paid no attention to the sensation her appear
ance oocasioned, but engaged quietly In con-
versa lon with MIR. Ray and Gov Cox.
The committee was called to order at about II
O'Clock.
]. ABDIGE,
OK member Of the State Legislature. was first
called.
To Mr.. Blackburn know Hiram Smedley.
His reputation for veraeity Is very bad. my
self would not believe him under OATH l was
chairman of the investigating committee OF
the House In relation to the Auditors books.
me and told me he knew something ABOUT the
books. ascertained that he OF himself knew
nothing about 1t, but that he mad been sent oy
him on Cont street one night at O. o'clock.
Smedley told me eknew where the books were;
were In charge Of a relative Of his. He said that
| he could get the books by filling this relative
| full OF whisky and finding out yhete they were,
money It would require. and he said no thought
| he could get the man full OF whisky for $500 or
s9 9Gnght u YVES aFg ZEE nm ant R sna
that was willing to pay. some money, but
wanted some guarantee, wanted q man OF my
own selection to go with him to Mobile, but he
| declined. We afterwards had him as witness
before the committee, and he testified that he
knew nothing about the books. / was told dur
from ms by several parties, that he was nm
worthy OF belief or confidence. Chief OF Police
Boylan was one, who told me that he was not
worthy OF confidence.
d. W. DALTON
fnOlaFadl
TO Mr.. Stenger-T am stopping now In New
Orleang Iknoy John s. Dula. The morning
told me he Wa going to testify; that he was all
right: that. Il have $1,000 now" l asked him
eb ha 2 nd en testify IL sad be @
made all out Of Weber that he could and had
COMMUNICATED IT TO WASHINGTON,
and had been told to testify to what he had
found out and he would be taken care OF.
In 1876 lived In West Felicana was con-
stable on election day. made an affidavit in
the Custom. House. Some ten or twelve days
after the election deputy marshal came to our
| parish. He told me that he wanted me 10 90 to
| New Orleans with him on the first boat came
down, and we went 70 the Custom House and
unite nR nnmbsr 81 geneme see one hers
who was in the room; that is him. that red
bearded man Lpoihting to j. w; Hagins, who
questioned about events in the parish, and told
some things which bad happened to me and
Which can sabssantiate 3 5eS Gays sIteg
and sign the paper. did not sign or swear to
we mt and when heard the AFFIDAVIT read
declined to. swear to il or sign IT,, was told
that II I did not sign 1t, even II did not swear
to it, could get no mileage and per diem, and
| then signed 1t. did not swear to 1t. IL had
not signed ii / would not have had money
| to get home. They brought me from the parish
Mr.. Steneer read copy of the affidavit, and
| witness. In reply to questions on 1t, said.
IT IS NOT TRUE,
as stated, that there were armed bodies OF men
at the poll of which was constable. 1t is not
prevented them from voting; II that had been
| so there would have been three or four hundred
e0lored votes, thrown out. did not say that
| they voted the Republican ticket. said that
had heard IT, It Is not true. as stated. that
was ordered to leave the parish and compelled
to sleep In thesWoods and swamps, There was
a crowd OF men came to my house, but alter
words heard that that they we're ell drunk. l was
/ have seen armed men oncs Or twice going
through the parish; think once in October
learned that they we're patroiiing on account Of
the stealing of seed cotton ArrOnstefn, the
gentleman for whom was working at the time
told me this was the object.
In 1876 I saw body of about twenty going In
the direction OF Bayou Sara. did not say that
saw them every day. AS far as can recollecl
not know the purpose OF the last band, bnt had
no reason to believe that it was out on political
men that they were compelled to Join Democrat
ie clubs through fear OF their life think there
was Demoef attic club OF colQred men some COG
strong organized. tried to induce some of the
eOlored men to keep out OF the club, working as
was in the interest Of the Republican patty. Dui
they toll me they we're tired OF the party. The
election was the most peaceable one ever held In
Witness was here shown the affidavit, identi.
fed his signature and said | See here that 1
reads sworn TO before me, etc." signed r. A
Woolhey. did not swear to 1t; they wanted mi
to, but would not
, who wanted me to swear to it, l.. B; jerks,
, think. advised me 10 sign. | would not hav
signed II gould s have got home n without M M
to stand by my affidavit, and said If did woult
be- taken care Of;
West Feliclana. tHereJ. W, Higgins, the red
headed man." came over and tooK seat b.
Messrs. Cox and Ray
parish until think, last October. 1877 cam
down here to collect q draft, and got work her
I and stayed. never held any office In the par
) ish except special constable on election day.
. do not think that any man who told me Their
/, was bulldozfng was frightened. and do no
: did not know why the marshal brouDht me &
} New Orleans. There were number came witt
, me. He did not tell as what he wanted of us
but said wewere wanted atithe Custom House.
: was not called on to swear before gave mi
: statement. ] was told then that they wanted b
, make out strong case to bring before the BE
Y
/ had seen. knew or heard for, perio
. of fifteen months >, or :, more. back; Al
: statements to me as he wrote then
! did not stay unit, he had completed, writing
t will state here the papers were all put in
pile and the day we were to leave New ore;e 4
!, called on us all to swear to them. He rea
: them, heard but three or four read.
!, Mr.. Cox then examined witness at length o.
j statements in his affidavit. but did not elic
g anything other than was developed by Nj
stenger during his examination on the sam
subject, and failed to change the character
the testimony, or to get the witness to contrf
dict hims eff
: Taking q new line. Mr.. Cox examined witnec
!, regarding interviews with Weber. Witness SAID
q have seen Weber 8 number Of times durin
II the time Of this examination. have yisjte
It Mr.. Armstead, who stops in the same houi
n with Weber. had no special talk with WEBB
8 I never talked about my testimony TO Weber {
% Armstead. | think there are good many VIII
j. knew that ii I ever got a chance TO testify
would state that the affidavit was not true.
+ stated 1t openly just after made it. was
U BEFORE THE HOWE COMMITTEE.
= There was pressure brought to bear on n