New-York tribune., 1878-06-22
A REPTRLICAN WITNESS.
PROOF or INTIMIDATION IN FELICIANA PRESENTED
TO THE POTTER COMMUNICATIONS OBJECTS
-JFNKs,s TFSTINOSy

-JENKs's TESTIMONY.
WASHINGTON, June 21.-The Potter Com
mitee OF Investigation met to-day about noon. In the
absence OF Mr. Potter, Mr.. Morrison acted chairman
The other members present were Mr. Mcdahon, Mr.
Springer General Butler Mr.. j. D. Cox, and MIR. Reed
James f. Anderson in attendance. Mr. shellabarger
watched the proceedings in the interest OF Secretary
Sherman
The committee was kept waiting until half an hour
after for the arrival OF Mrs jerks. At that hour
she entered the committee in company with
her husband, and attended by a Deputy-SergeaDt-
alarms. She is good looking, selfposscssed
woman OF about thirty-nye years OF age, OF
medium stature She was neatly but plainly
dressed Her husband is also about thirynve years Of
age. lie wears full beard, has remarkably pro-
nOuneed Roman and equally prominent bulbous
forehead. The husband first called to tho witness
stand, and Mr. Reed proceeded to examine him. He tes
titled follows:
had been assigned specially to the Parish of
East Feciana. 1 was there for about four days
freely with the people there. and had been told
by the Republicans that they were afraid TO register
A few OF them had registered, but they had been
brought in for the purpose by leading Democrats. Re
pubcans were thoroughly ntmidated and terrorized,
and were afraid even TO go near the registration ohce
Mr.. McMahon here interrupted the testimony, and
asked MI Reed whether this witness had been called in
Secretary shermans interest.
Mr. Reed replied in the Affirmative
Mr Mcmahon objected to any such testimony being
given on the part OF Mr. sherman until that gentleman
should admit that he had written the letter TO Anderson
Mr. Sherman had denied writing that letter be had
interest in showing what had been the condition OF
affairs IN East Feciana.
Mr. Reed complained of tho OF the majority In
ruling out testimony offered by the minority. and he
also commented the difficulty Of getting the scope
OF the examination fixed definitely.
Mr. Mcmahon challenged him TO give q single in
f, n0o ~ fba
minority had been excluded. lie said the charge had
been made publicly and he therefore wanted the matter
TO he definitely stated.
Mr. Reed said that he would repeat tho charge.
Mr. McAahon said that the charge was false, aud again
challenged Mr. Reed TO refer to single instance OF the
Mr. Reed referred to on offer OF testimony made in
Ccutiye session. about the inquiry In Florida and which
offer bad been refused.
Mr. McNialon repeated that the gentleman ReeJ) had
made a charge against the committee, which he must
either prove or admit 10 be false.
Mr. Reed said that intended 10 prove IT, and he
pcated that ne had been trying from the beginning 20
find out the Of the investigation but had not been
show single instance where the minority had not been
permitted to ask witness any question that was proper
"Gcs." Mr. Reed retorted' Il think SO on Andersons
crosse Examination"
before the subcommittee started for NewOreans, To re-
ect the proposition OF secretary sherman TO have about
have already testified once twice OF three times on the
In the course OF further discussion Mr. McSf,hon
stated that Mr. shermans list OF Witnesses had beer
ferred to Messrs. Morrison and stenger as suboon-
Mr. Reed ,nqerod yyheths, ,hat hed Vevn uone III
Mr. Mcmahon replied that Il had been done at q prl-
Mr. ReedIf YOU are going TO deal with this matter az
matter OF private caucus, all Hgnt. Only let us know
the result as soon ~ possible.
The acting chairman explained how the question OF
the Sherman application for witnesses had been referred
TO him Mr. Potter had handed 10 him az i1e I9De anu
asked hun TO look over and see what ought TO be done
about IT, that when the question up In commit
tee he might be able 20 what he thought about
that was al the " private caucus theTc was IN H.
Mr.. Mcmahon intimated that the Democratic mem
bers had as much right TO consult about matters the as
Republican members nad and TO fix their line OF conduct
Mr.. Reed admitted that ,,
Gr Reed said that be had not been "blowing about
IT, but that II WAS Mr. McMahon Who had hfsl mentioned
FPalip the discussion closed and the examination OF
Mr. jerks resumed. He went on 10 testify rs ioi-
lows:
OF East Fecians- Hundreds Of the people were driven
Of the pahpror 10 tie election ana forced to take
refuge In NewOrears, and few Republicans dared to
vote the Republican ticket because they did not think
healthy 10 do 50. James T. Anderson toldi me
that there was perfect reign Of terror IN
able to get any one 10 enter into
Republican Organization Ny own observation was that
tnat the Republicans were 80 thoroughly intlmdated
Rst r Ry m Tine NOT %Sess uar9 here pToSuced petition
signed in April, 1876, by residents Of the Parish
Of East FsAcana TO GenTrai AGSur reSIs G,rlR
ana ssAs er told me tat R could not make protest
against the election The $3.50 which Anderson received
In Baton Rouge pad on draft drawn on the Dem
the Democratic state Committee IN New-Oreans
Mr. Mcmahon intimated that tho draft In question
signed by Governor Kellogg, and indOrsed by the state
Supervisor. Mr. Hahn
The witness Anderson signed and to the protest
(Which he said he had not sworn tol. Andersen
came up in carriage TO my house and asked
mo 10 20 accompany him 10 Marshal Ptkin's
office where that document was, as he wanted
10 consult with me about H. We went 10 the Marshas
Office and read the protest sentence by sentence
and then advised Anderson TO sign It, as saw nothing
In II which he could not sign: We discussed some 9 ine
points In the protest, and finally Anderson concluded
TO sign it, and did sign II before Judge Hugh j. Camp
bell aud swore 30 IT, Three or four days aflerward An
dersOn wanted me 10 make an afdayit that he was IN
toxicated when he signed the protest and dld not
know what nc was signing. Anderson dld not ACTUALLY
claim that he had been drunk at the tme and he was
not. refused TO make any such statement. severhi
months afterward Anderson came TO me and wanted
me 30 make a statement that he had never made any
prot against the election In East Feciana, and thht
every thing In that parish had been quiet and peaee.De
40 tho election Anderson had paper written out TO
that effect, which refused 10 sign, had already
made an HnidaYlt 10 inc contrary. Anderson slatSu
at different times that the Democrats had made
propositions offers 10 him, and that he Thought he
could make pretty good thing out OF IT,. anderson
said that Major Burke had offered 10 give MN seyta
thousand dollars and position, II he would go back on
his protest Anderson never showed me the sherman
letter, ana have never seen such letter. nor did
know anything OF such document Ht the Time. Inc
first time that Knew OF buch eticr was on te @ Otn o.
January, 1873, when Marshal Pitkln met me ON Canal
". and asked me about IT,
The witness shown several letters which he iden
tilted as being the handwriting of ID. A. Webber, and
ucu ho was shown the signature Of Webber TO the An
6erson-Webber contract and asked whether he be
eyed Il TO be genuine lie replied that he did not think
II as; that Webber always signed his name In back
hand that LIE had seen him sign as this paper was
gncd: that IT might be Wcbbers signature, but that II
sas not his usual signature The witness said he HAD
never seen tue AndersonWebber contract before That
mart OF Andersons statement which mentioned the fact
Of Mrs jerks going to Colonel Potter, chairman Of the
Democratic state Committee, was true, but her object
WAS TO get guarantee for Andersons protection from
violence.
The witness was then cross-examined by Mr.. McMa-