Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-04
appointed to it; he wanted her statement to

| Ques.-Have you ever been approached by
| any one with view of affecting the charac-
ter of your testimony before this committee?
| Ans.-Mr. J. p. Harris, of New Orleans,
stated that General Anderson wanted to see
me, and L called on General Anderson, and
he said he wanted Harris and myself sum
moned before the committee for the purpose
of contradictipg james Z. Anderson's
statement; / told him that l had already
been used as a tool by them. AL | Ill not
propose to be used again; told him that if |
took any part in this matter at all the only
thing | could do was to corroborate Anderson
in many Of his statements; he replied that he
was astonished at my talking in such a
manner, and could not understand
it, knowing how my broth +
was killed; told him that had nothing to do
with the testimony | should give, and left
him; since have been here | met Mr.. Hus-
ted, formerly an ofice-holder in the parish If
East Baton Rouge; did not recognize him
at first, but he introduced himself to me;
Captain Tom jerks was present; the next
day he called at my room and l was not in;
in the evening he met me at the Briggs
house and told me how near he was to Mr..
Sherman. and stated that Mr.. Sherman felt
very kindly toward me, and would be glad
to have brief interview with me; l consid
cred that an improper approach on his part,
and l made no response and walked away; |
have not called on Mr.. Sherman.
versation with anybody? Ans.-I had a
conversation with Captain Thomas jerks be-
fore he testified, early last week: he spoke to
me in this way: "You know, Weber, if you
testify with us in this case we can be pro-
vlded for down there; we can get nice ap
polntment In the customhouse, and every
thing will be all right, so far as we are con-
cerned." J considered that as an improper
approach, and l told him that was not an
applicant for any position, and would not
have one under the circumstances.
Packard told me few days before the cleo
ton that if he and Hayes did not get any
votes In East and West Feliciana, he was 60
be President; he told me this in the presence |
of Mr.: Armistead, Mr.. Durcan, and others |
whom do not now remember; he said the |
best way to dispose of the Democratic ma
Jorlty was to throw out the vote of the parish; |
that that was better than making Repubi
can canvass, and | know of my personal |
knowledge that Kellogg employed l.. B. |
jerks to keep James E. Anderson away from |
the parish, and TO prevent his holding an |
election there as supervisor; | have letter |
from l.. b. jerks, dated New Orleans, Octo-
Der 26, 1876, In which he states that Pitkin |
requested him to hunt up Anderson, and to |
prevent his going to East Feliciana to hold an
election; jerks afterwards stated that he had |
been endeavoring to keep Anderson away,
but had failed to do so, and that Anderson
would go up there and hold the election; he
told me that kellogg, Packard, Pitkin and
others had given him money to prevent An
derson's going up, and that they wanted him
to go down town and get Anderson drunk, so
as to prevent his going; there were between
four and five hundred Democratic votes lost
IN East Fellclana because of the failure of
Anderson to come up there and register them;
had conversation with General Garfield,
Mr.. Sherman, and others whom do not re-
htrf -
stood that they were advising the stretching
OF the powers of the returning board to the
utmost extent in the same direction that they
were stretched in 1874, when they proved
successful.
Witness said that Mrs. jerks came to his
house and stated that she knew of the exist
ence OF the Sherman letter, and was IN search
of it and would pay we'll for it; she stated
how profitable it would he for us if could
get Mrs. ID. A. Weber to consent to her look
ing over the papers In her possession, as she
was certain it would be found.
Witness testified, according to his best
knowledge and belief, that after the election
the Republican leaders acknowledged that
they were beaten, but their hopes were re-
vlved and they were induced to make fight
by the assurances given them by the visiting
statesmen, and the coming administration
would sustain them in whatever action they
might take, and upon that the returning
board went to work and threw out other
parishes, IN some cases without affidavits be-
ing fled.
Witness then produced the following let
ter, written to Mrs. d. A. Weber by James
E. Anderson:
NORTH AMERICAN OFFICE. PHILADELPHIA
My DEAR MADAM-You are probably
aware that the warm friendship existing be-
tween your husband and myself remained I'M
broken until his untimely death. You are
also aware, no doubt, that we acted together
N all matters connected with the election of
1876, and that letter, assuring us that we
given us by Mr.. Sherman. Had the promise
made to us at THAT TIME been fulfilled, your
husband would not have been compelled to
return home, and to certain death. The man
who made these promises occupies to-day one
'f the most prominent places in the gift of
blood. They not only deny the existence of
he document, but that either your
hem, or that they had even
heard of us. Some days since party arrived
n Washington, who claimed that she could
produce the letter in question. Is this cor
:ect2 If so. has she possession of it? If
not, can you tell me where it can be found,
md on what conditions it can be obtained? I
In justice to myself. and the memory of Mr.. 9
Weber, it should be produced, and there will
never be more opportune time than the
present. Let me hear from you at your
earliest practicable moment. E. L. will give
you all the information you desire. Remem.
Der me kindly to him.
JAMES <. ANDERSON
Witness--I have the original of that letter,
which i will file with the committee.
Mrs. Weber did not reply to it. The
urther examination of the witness was here
and he was directed to appear
before the subcommittee at New Orleans on
he tenth of July, when Mr. Cox, who leaves
or New Orleans to-day, would be there and
conclude his cross-examination
The committee then adjourned until
Wednesday, July 10th.