The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-31
THE ALLEGED CIpHERTELEGRAMS.
Interview wifi, Col. ~. =. CatI,csrt. Late
Manager of the Wentern Union Telegraph
Company mt Columbia.

The publication of alleged kilograms
in the New York Tribune, purporting TO
have been sen. f-::n Columbia pending
the count of the electoral vote in 1876.
anC which seek to establish an attempt
tc purchase the Radical Returning Board
Of this State, has induced reporter of
The Register to interview Colonel w.
X. Cathcart, of this city who WINS man
ager Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company at the time it is alleged these
from the report below that Colonel
Cathcart thinks the publication in the
Tribune has been manufactured for
political effect, rs he denies that any
such dispatches were sent or received
through his Office. The following is the
result Of the interview:
Representatives, you connected with
the Western Union Telegraph Company
during the campaign of 1876 and the
winter following2"
Colonel Cathcart-"I was manager of
the Western Union Telegraph Company
in this city Mt the time mentioned, had
been for ten years previous, and remain
ed in that position until November,
1877. when resigned TO GO into another
business"
R.-As manager Of the Office, did
you SEQ all the kilograms sent and re-
ccived during and after the campaign?"
Ut WIS my duty rs manager,
which was strictly carried out, to inspect
every telegram that passed through the
office; if not possible on the day Of send
ing c: reaa:-:ng, always d;iI so tic
;;sSs morning. l'..:= "as done 10 u,ai,
:::;:, =='.=: :,c3F;:4itiare:i : .a-1pe- Cnnt.a.
or the business OF the Office
R.-"Havc you any distinct recollcc-
tion OF the kilograms forwarded in the
early part of November relative to the
electoral vote in South Carolina, by
whom they were sent, from whom an.
swers were returned, and the nature OF
the Dispatcher"
CT regret my inability to answer
that question. 1 have always regarded
kilograms as privileged communica.
tions, and the contents could not be made
known with any greater propriety than a
postmaster could break the seal of let
ter. was summoned several times be.
fore the courts and legislative commit
tees, ordered to produce kilograms which
were claimed to have passed through my
office, but refused to testify or produce
the dispatches, and was directed BY .he
company to procure counsel. My idea
of doing justice to the public and pro.
tecting the company's interests being
sustained by points of law produced by
counsel on the different occasions, there
was nothing disclosed in relation TO any
communications passing through my
oiiiee, anu III every instance was sue
cessful in defeating any ,:.empt made to
violate the privileges of the public. l
am unwilling even now to disclose any.
thing that came to my knowledge as
manager of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, and would regard it as
d violation Of honor to do so."
R.-"If you have seen the dispatches
printed in the New York Tribune of the
10th instant, please state whether or not
you think them authentic ?'
C.-"1 viii state in reply TO that
question, that while have already stated
my inability and unwllingness' dis.
close the contents of any telegram pass
ing over the company's wires, on read
ing the kilograms alluded to, I was not
only surprised at the pretended contents,
but they impressed me as being gu.
premely ridiculous. There was nothing
transpired, to my present recollection,
that warranted the slightest suspic.
ion on my part. While stating my
opinion as to what was not done, do
not pretend to give what was done by the
managers of either political party"
R.A"Do you remember Smith NJ
Weed, who was here soon after the
election. and whether any of his dis.
patches to the North indicated that he
was trying TO purchase the electoral vote
of South Carolina from the Republican
Board of State Canvassers ?''
CT remember Mr.. Weed, and do
notknow of his having a purp $50 OF
that kind, never suspected it and never
mad it intimated, and know of nothing
to indicate such pun pose on his part.
Ills aojourn was quite brief, and he
visited the Office very seldom, transact.
ing very little business with it.,' ,-.-.'---'.
2. 2 itVero you called ppon by the
Congressional committee, Of which Mil.
ton Sayler was chairman, TO furnish
evidence from your Office, and what be-
came of the telegrams sent and received
during that period Z"
C.-"Anticipating the arrival OF that
committee, and what would naturally
be one of their poinfs of investigation,
1 teIegraphed to headquarters of the com
pany, asking instructions what should
do in the event n d1mand was made for