Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-06-06
THE FRAUD HUNTERS.
Beginning of the Work of the
Committee on Revolution.

Sundays Washington special to the
Cincinnati Gazette says. The Demo-
Gratis of POtter's committee put their
leading sensation on the boards yester-
day, strict accordance with their first
plan, except that proceedings were open
to the press, and they found it Deces
sary to admit Secretary Sherman to
discredit the pretended copy of the
letter from him to Anderson and Web
err The witness, Anderson, had plac-
ed all OF his papers in the hands of
McMahoD, who acted the part of
Prosecuting Attorney. So fully did he
enter into this part that when one of
the Republican members asked him
about certain paper in his possession,
he replied by declaring that they
(mearing the Democrats) were not
going to expose their cases to the Re
publlcans. This remark has caused
wide comment, as an admission on the
part of POtter's committee itself that it
is conducting prosecution and not an
investigation.
AndersOn's opening testimony, de-
nying the existence Of intimidation
during the election in East Feliciana,
and claiming that he never made a
protest ascribed to him, is fiat con-
tradiction of the spirit and letter of
what he sWore to before the Howe
committee. Thus the Democratic case
has opened with witness who had
thoroughly discredited himself by con.
Trajectory oaths.
Touching the long heralded Sherman
letter, ON cross examination, Anderson
was forced to admit by Gen. Butler
that he did not even know it 10 be q
copy, but that he had taken down
what Weber had dictated. He also
swore that he knew of no original in
existence, or of any photograph copy.
The date of it would destroy half the
force that has been claimed for 1t, even
if it were genuine being November 20,
ten days after Anderson had made his
protest, the case had passed out of his
hands and beyond bis control.
The pretended statement between
himself and Weber, to the effect that
the elections mad been fair and free
from intimidation, is q fiat contradic-
ton of Weber's testimony before the
House committee, where he gave at
length, and in great detail, accounts OF
murders, whippings. and other out
rages, and described the intimidation
ljust preceding the election as an
organized affair, in which threefourths
of the Democrats of the parish took an
active part. The presumption is strong
that this paper is manufactured.
Secretary Sherman positively denie:
J all of AndersOn's testimony, in which
he pretends to give conversation with
the Secretary in New Orleans.
!, AnderSon'S cross examination will
, take place on Tuesday. The Republi-
}, cans have both written and oral testi-
mony with which to contradict him
/ Senator Matthews will make state
ment before the committee in regard
( to his part in the matter, at the Close
| of the evidence, relating to that branch
of the case, and will produce the
? original contracts Anderson gave him
, and explain the circumstances under
which they came into his hands
? There is one admission made by
) Anderson upon which the Republicans
} who have studied his evidence, arr
f basing theory, that Anderson wa
trying to set up case by which, il j
seemed best, he could play into tht
D hands OF Tilden's emissaries. and tina
: is the letter he produced ia which b,
3 wrote to friend that Majar Burke ha(
: offered him $4,000 to manipulate th'
vote of the parish so that Tilden shoult
8 receive it.
8 So far as any case compromising
: Secretary Sherman being made out b.
8 Anderson, the Repu blicans are resting
i entirely easy. There is a genera
e admission that Senator Matthews i
d placed in very awkward position b.
e his own letter, but in regard to thi
r there is disposition to await the eros
e examination of And erson an
g Matthew'S explanation. He will b
j. examined by the Democrats as to th
: presentations Anderson claims tina
he made of his case to the President.
:. The Republicans will probabl
:. occupy tomorrow and next day il
C testimony affecting the credibility {
/. Anderson. Mrs. Weber has bee
summoned, and Mrs. jerks, whom tn
e Democrats falsely claim sold the origi
j. nal Sherman letter to Weber to th
e Republicans.