The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-29
POTTER'S INQUIRY.
MINISTER MOVES AS A WITNESS, AND
PICTURES SERENE COUNT
I'm FLORIDA.
sEe ana Lew Wallace Made Few Over"
tures. Rut, Christian Like, They
Didn't Consider Them


NE ana Lew wallace Made Few over
tures. But, ChristIan-LIke, They
Didn't Consider Them
as such.
WASHINGTON, June 2s.--The Potter COM
fnittee met at II :25 q. m. to-day.
Capt. l.. q. Dennis resumed the stand and
testified that the Democrats claimed there
were 2l9 fraudulent votes at box No in |
Archer precinct He was asked what he had
in his mind when he told Gov. Noyes 1t |
would damage the Republican party II he
were put upon the stand In regard to the vote |
of Archer precinct No 2. He replied he had |
known Of the fraudulent addition Of the 219
votes, and other matters which he did not
want to disclose. He said this addition Of
219 votes was matter
OF PUBLIC NOTORIETY
in Tallahassee. In reply to question by Mr..
Potter, Dennis said he was appointed to Office
bythis administration but did not know ex-
actly to what Office. He was on the rolls OF
the secret service, but did not do any OF the
work of that service. He was detailed TO ex-
anime the records OF United States courCss. ~
some Of the Southern States as to forfeited
recognizances. He resigned after having held
Office two months. . -
In reply to Mr.. Butler, Dennis said after he
had decided to. go upon the stand at 10y
'You are good Mt talking, Dennis, but you
don't do much swearing"
"A letter from Gov. Noyes to the Secretary OF
Line treasury was Tbtbu, GOlDIutuhlle
as an active and intelligent Republican In
Florida, and recommending him to the Secre-
tary's favor. Dennis stated, in reply to Mr..
Hiscock, that during the canvass OF the State
after the election his friends regarded him as
in personal danger from the attacks OF per-
sons favoring the Democratic ticket. In the
beginning Of the campaign he had been shot
ait, and that feeling had not entirely died
out. He thought that his safety and that OF
his friends depended upon the election OF Mr..
HAYES. Gov. Stearns, In fact, did not think 1t
would have been safe for him and his friends
to remain in Florida.
That there was anything fraudulent in the
one, he simply handed Gov. Noyes the ev-
idenee and LET that speak for itself. He threw
no doubt upon that; Gov. Noyes never said
anything which led witness to believe that
Gov Moves doubted the justice OF the Re
publican cause In Louisiana. In reply TO Gen.
Butler he denies having said he believed the
Republicans should have had some 400 Re
publican votes at box No. 2 in Archer precinct.
He
DID NOT BELIEVE
that somebody had taken some 219 out. He
believed there had been frauds on both sides,
but does not believe that somebody had al
tered the votes or returns In any way so as to
show fewer Republicans had voted than &C
tually voted. lie thought the Democrats had
taken out 219 votes, and the Republican cleo
tors had put in 219 votes TO offset that, and 1t
was for that reason he attempted to get the
affidavits Of $40 Republicans whom he be-
lieved to have voted at that poll. In short he
believed about 400 Republicans votes should
have been cast at that poll; that there were
about 200 votes less, and that the election Off
GERS made the return show what they ought
to show.
Witness saw two electoral officers at work,
using O registration list and making up q
deficit. He did not doubt at the time that
they did it, but since that time these officers
have sworn they did not do It, The election
officers were In witness house on the morn
IL h., v,nn1rr. 4I19r
turns. They told him 100 Republican votes
had been changed to the Democrats and they
proposed to correct it.
After they had done the work they told wit
ness the contents of the returns. Their names
were Thos. III. Vance and Richard II. Black.
Vance is now q clerk in the Sixth Auditors
office, and Black is employed In the Philadel-
phia Custom-House.
turns, and they were In evidence before the
canvassing board. Witnesses had been called
to testify before the board as requested by
Gov Noyes He would have been obliged to
disclose these facts, and hence he declined
He told none of these facts to Gov. NOyes,
and has made no affidavit concerning them
until to-day.
Q.-You said in reply to my colleague, Mr..
Hiscock, the reason you were so earnest and
active in
THE REPUBLICAN, CAUSE
was because you did not consider yourself
safe In case Tilden was elected
Ayes, sir.
o. want to ask you whether it is better
now?
At is not.
BY Mr. Hunton-When you say 100 votes
were taken from the Republicans and
changed to the Democratic side, it Is your in
ference, is it not?
A.-With me 1t is
Mr.. Hiscock said he proposed to prove
it at some future day by the evidence OF
Vance and Black that they did not raise the
no would allO chow that the
number Of votes shown by the return were
actually cast.
Hon Edward H. Noyes was then sworn
and stated that he went to Florida during the
count of the presidential vote. He did not GO
at the request or knowledge of MIR. Hayes,
and while there was not in communication
with him by letter or otherwise. When he
first went to Tallahassee it was not his inten-
ton to take any active part. but simply to see
that there was a fair count. He soon found
that there was no Republican lawyer there OF
sufficient ability to make the Republican case
before the canyassing board or the courts.
the arguments necessary to be made. He en-
deayored to ascertain the actual state
OF facts at Archer precinct No. 2, but two Of
the returning officers
SWEARING BOTH WAYS
as to frauds committed, he procured affida-
Wits of the electors themselves to satisfy HIM
self as to the true state Of facts No one ever
told or intimated to him that there was any
thing fraudulent, and he argued before the
board honestly believing everything was fair.
He soemnly swears that Dennis refusal to
testify before the board does not leave any
impression upon his mind that there was
anything wrong, but he thought that as Den
mis- life had been threatened his Discrimination
arose from fear Of other complications.
Gov. Noyes stated that he exhorted both
McLin and Cowgirl to do their duty
honestly and fairly, and that he made no
promises or intimated any to them,
After the vote Of Florida had been cast, Mr..
McLin came to him very much depressed
and said his course had drawn upon him the
hostility Of the people there and he was at a
loss to know what to do for himself and his
family. Witness replied that he (McLin) had
done his duty honestly and fairly, and wit
ness would take great pleasure in recon-
mending him to Mr.. Hayes, If the latter
should be declared President He also told
Cowgell if he ever desired witness, to com
Ynand him FrnnIv