American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-07-06
THE ELECTORAL INSESTI-
CATION.

Proceedings of the Potter Committee.
Capt. Thomas A. jerks, United States
Deputy Marshal under Fitkin In East Teici-
ana Parish, La, in 1876, was examined at
length on the 2lst regarding his knowledge
of the so-calcd sherman Anderson letter.
Witness testified that the first he ever heard
about the letter was ON Jan 9TH last, when it
sation never saw the letter, nor had he any
reason to believe his wife knew any thing
admitted that his wife came to Washington
in January last, in response to request from
iieve that il she had "iie some documents n
or some information of some kind
that e w9nId nslR then in
son TO jerks were introduced, requesting
the latter to obtain the LETTERS" the
"documents, etc, and witness testified that
Anderson had written told him that the
document wanted was worth $1,000, but wit
ness never had any knowledge of what the
valuable document was. In this connection
it was shown that Mrs. jerks, wife of witness.
lent to Dpnaldsonville to see Mrs. Weber,
who was supposed to llnve the Sherman let
ter In her possession. Capt. jerks was also
examined at length regarding the state of
affairs in his parish during the canvass. He
said the Republicans there were afraid to
register on account of intfmida; ion,
son requesting him to send him (Anderson(
the original list of 10 murders committed
Gen. Anger. Witness testified to seeing An
derson sign and swear to the protest which
the latter subsequently claimed had been
Mai. Burke had offered him several Thousand
dollars if he (Anderson) would go back on
his protest. Being shown the Anderson
Weber agreement, witness expressed his
opinion that Webers signature was not gen
uine.
On the 22d Mrs. Agnes D. jerks, wife of
Capt. Thomas A. jerks, underwent long es-
animation, lasting nearly the entire day. She
proved to be very voluble and entertaining
witness, and her testimony contained q num-
Der of surprising statements, notably the one
that she was the bearer OF the message from
Weber and Anderson to Sherman, asking for
a written guarantee; that she went to the St.
Charles Hotel, where the visiting states
men" were stopping, and inquired for Sher-
man, hut, he being engaged, did not gee him /;
that in order to crafty her curiosity she open
the contents, and that she herself dictated
the letter in reply, signed John sherman, re-
garding which there has been so much CON
troversy. Who wrote the letter at her dicta-
ton she refused to tell, but said that Anderson
honestly believed the letter to have been
written by sherman. In this connection she
said, I'm a most theatrical manner: a. Wish
to state in presence of this august commit
t tee and to the country Mt large that l. dis,
sherman from any completely direct or in
direct in the so-called Anderson-Weber
guarantee. IT there is criminality in the doc
ument or political dishonor attached to it,
alone know the Alpha and Omega of it, No
one else knows aught in regard to it, and
do not think shall tell you any thing more.
1t is sufficient that eyonerate Mr.. Secretary
Sherman, and also MFR. Anderson No one
do not think am compelled to tell you,
gentlemen, any more"
Cen Butler here read in evidence the toll
lowing letters: ~ From Jas +. Anderson to
Capt. jerks, dated Philadelphia, Sept q, 1877.
requesting the latter to "get possession of
that letter sent to Weber and myself" and
guaranteeing a cool thousand dollars if he
succeeded in doing 50. This letter is indorsed
here referred to long ere the within was writ
ten. Pray do not fail to return this to me. L
A ID J. Y From
logg. dated New Orleans, Nov. II, 1877, and en-
closing preceding letter. The writer assures
the letter referred to, and he may rest assur-
ed that he will never get it. 81 From Mrs
leans. Oct. 10, 1877, asking Mrs W. to look
over her late husbands papers and see If she
can not find the letter ~ went up to Donald
sonville to speak to you about" The writer
says she feels sure 1t must be there, as he
(weber) had it when he left the city the last
return to New Orleans in few days other
wise Anderson and Capt. jerks would have
letter." she adds, was addressed to Ander-
son and Weber. After reading it you will see
that it is of no use or benefit to you, but real.
ly it is of use to u.s." a. From Mrs. Weber to
that she has made another careful
search through her late husbands papers,
but failed to find the letter spoken of. Being
interrogated in regard to the letter mentioned
In these several go witness ae
Sherman letter was the one referred to /;
thought II alluded to another document en-
tirely- Witness said in re .erence to her visit
to Washington in January that she had sew
eral interviews with Stanley Matthews, and
endeavored to see Secretary sherman, but
the latter refused to grant her a private inter
view. Witness produced q letter from An
derson to Capt. jerks, dated Washington,
June 10, 1877, the pith of which is as follows !:
al will give you bit of information never
given to any one before. and you must use it
beats came to Louisiana last fail to have a
fair count. Weber and refused to
dal into line line. until we received a written f
am convinced it was on Weber's person the
day he was killed Tile had charge of it, Now
get I possession Of it, we viii make this Hd
ministration hump: My own impression is
it played an important part in bringing
about the present state of affairs. III you can
prosecute any inquiries in regard to it, do SO.
but act carefully. Let me give you one word
of advice: In case you attempt any thing, for
Gods sake doit outside of Louisiana. 1 would
not give a nickel for you if you do not"
The examination of Mrs. jerks was
further continued on the Gath, Mr.. Springer,
Gen. Butler and Gen. MacMahon each ques-
tioning her at some length regarding the
writing of the so called Sherman letter. The
witness evated, or refused to answer, leading
questions, the substance of her testimony
being that she wrote, or dictated, the spuri
Weber stand firm, she being fearful that if
they failed to get the written guarantee they
would sell out to the Democrats. As Il reason
for not presenting the letter from Weber to
Sherman, she said that she wanted to main
tain the dignity of the party and did not want
the visiting statesmen to know what con-
temptible stratum there was in the party in
Louisiana Mt that time. In reply to the
question whether she knew that Sher-
said that Weber told her they had been
sured they would be taken care of, but Sher-
mans name was not mentioned in that con-
nectiOn.... Gen. ii. V. Boynton, Washing
ton correspondents of the Cincinnati Gdeette,
being called, testified to his protesting to the
President against the appointment of Ander.
son, on the ground that it had been charged
by the papers that AndersOn's appointment
was due to his disreputable political manip-
ulations in Louisiana. The President re.
efficient services rendered the party, and in
reply to further inquiry the President said he
did not think Anderson would retain his Of
flee. Witness denied that he had stated to
any body that the President had told him
that it was necessary, or proper, to give An
of Louisiana affairs, but said that he (wit-
ness) may have conveyed that impression by
what he did say.
Ex-Marshal John r. G. Pitkin, of Louis
lana, appeared before the Committee on the
25th and read a written statement, after which
he was cross examined His evidence was
contradictory of several statements made by
Anderson. The latter, he testified, had com
planned to him t'itkin) of intimidation in his
parish, and exhibited a bullet hole in his
coat as evidence he had been shot at. Re
garding the Anderson protest, witness said
signed and sworn to by himself (Anderson}.
Did not observe but that the paper was com
plete IN all particulars, ana knew or no inter
lineations being subsequently made. Witness
corroborated the evidence given by Judge
Levissee as to the latter infoI ming him pit
kim of the alleged attempts being made
Electoral College. Gen. Boynton was recall
ed and said the President never gave him to
1Ar fltnf And