The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-22
Washington.
THE POTTER INVESTIGATION.

WASHINGTON, June 21.-Thomas II. jerks
testified to-day before the Potter committee.
He had been deputy United States marshal
in the parish OF East Feliciana, where An
derson was supervisor Of election, and he
stated that the Republicans were so thor
ouglily intimidatcd and terror stricken at
the presidential election that not one Re-
publican vote was cast in the parish.
Mr.. Mcmahon, OF the committee, asked
whether this witness was called in the in
ter est Of Sherman. and on being answered
afiirmatirely, he objected to that line OF testl-
mony on the ground that il Mr.. Sherman
did not write the letter to Anderson the
condition OF the parish was matter which
did not concern him.
After discussion, in which Mr.. Mcmahon
charged fellow-member (Alr. Reed with
making a false assertion as to the action OF
the majority, and in which Mr.. Reed
"countercd on Mr.. Mcmahon, the latter
Withdrew bis objection, and the cXamna-
ton proceeded. 1t was principally directed
| to contradiction Of the testimony OF An
derson so far as that testimony was connect
ed with this witness. Another point OF it
was to show that Webcr's signature to the
| Anderson-Wcber agreement was not genu-
| ine The witness was familiar with We.
ber's writing and believed that the sigma
| tura was not his.
| The ross-cXamination brought out the
| fact that the witness had been in trouble as
| q taX-colector in Louisiana, the defalcatIon
amounting TO $4,000; but he asserted that
| his deputy and namesake-anothcr jerks
was the real culprit. 1t also brought out
| the fact that since he had been in the city
himself and wife had been in communities
ton with Senator Shcrman;s counsel.
Mrs. jerks. who is supposed to have had
the original Sherman letter to Anderson,
will be examined tomorrow.
TIE STANLEY MATTHEW'S INVESTIGATION.
WASHINGTON, June 2l.-Thc Stanley Mat
| thcws committee met and was in secret scs-
sion to-day until 1880 y. NJ, when James
Z. Anderson was called. He asked TO lie
represented by counsel. The room was
| cleared to consider the request. The COM
mttee then decided not to grant it. and An
derson peremptoriIy refused to testify, when
| the doors were again closed TO consider
what to do. When they were again opened
the chairman informed Anderson that he
should answer the questions they might see
proper to put.
| When asked his age and occupation An
derson replied that he had no desire TO
throw obstacles in their way, but that SEN
ator Matthews was lawyer and was here
| looking after his interests, and Anderson
did not see why he should not have lawyer
! to look after his own interests. The cnalr-
man asked his age and occupation. Ander-
son declined to answer. The chairman
then asked him whether he had placed any
papers in Matthews's possession, aud If so,
what? Anderson declined to answer.
Senator Whvtc said: s. You mean simply to
say that you set at defiance the will OF this
committee:" Anderson replied: You put
it too strong. l simply wish to say de-
cline answering. / have to propose that
il Senator Matthews will 20 before the Potter
committee | will testify" The room was
cleared for consultation concerning Ander-
sons refusal to answer. When the door
was opened Anderson was Informed that
the committee had decided that they would
require his testimony then, and asked, care
YOU now willing to answer such questions
as may be propounded to you?" Ander-
son answered, 81 am not.' The chairman :
"Thcn, in refusing to answer any question
pertaining to the matters of this inycstiga-
ton, YOU set this committee at dcfance!'
Senator Whyte said, lin the absence OF the
Senate we have no power to PUNISH 1or con-
tempt, and therefore ! move that the COM
mittee adjourn, subject to the call OF the
chairman.'' The motion was agreed to and
the committee adjourned.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Cabinet to-day discussed the omission
in enrolment of the sundry civil bill OF the
clause concerning the Hot Springs. The
subject was referred to the Attorney-Gen
raj and the Secretary OF the Interior for the
purpose Of asccrtaining what authority, II
any, exists in the bin as ut present shaped
for carrying out the expressed wish OF Con-
gress.
Among the nominations which failed to
receive final action by the Senate, and conse-
ouentlv failed, are those OF Daniel Ii. Baily as
Consul-Gencral at Shanghai; Elk Shatton
as inspector of steam-vessels in the Second
district; John Z. Hoyt as Governor OF
Idaho; William Thompson as Register OF
the Land-Oflicc at Gainesville, Florida ;
and James Hill as postmaster at Nicksburg.