The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-03
The Potter Committee.

The Potter Committee.
WASHINGTON, July AT the conclusion
OF Jenks's denial James E. Anderson eX-
planned how he came in possession OF the
affidavit in question. He stated that he lett
New Orleans on The 18th Of May. He met
jerks, and the latter asked him to use his
influence to get him place. Witness con-
tinued told him / had all / could do to
get place myself. He then said, "Well,
you know your iurat is forged" said,
" You write an affidavit to that effect" lie
sat down and dictated an affidavit, anu
swore to it before Notary Seymour, and
asked me to show it to Stanley Matthews TO
help him to a place.
Conquest Clark was called with reference
to the mailing Of the second set OF LOUIS
lana certificates to Washington. be had no
positive recollection OF any one but Kellogg
signing the second set; thought, however,
that Brewster signed; did not KNOW VINO
signed the names OF the other electors, and
did not know at the time that any OF the
names were forged.
Ell. Weber, brother of G. Weber, who
was killed, read lengthy statement, which
he made under oath, that he bad no personal
knowledge that Democratic intimidation
had existed in parishes East and West
Feliciana. His brother, Daniel Weber,
and James T.. Anderson had informed him
that the two parishes named had gone fairly
Democratic. Great influence was brought
to bear upon his brother to make his
protest, and he had been approached very
frequently to use his influence with his
brother TO effect the signing OF protest.
He saw Anderson sign his protest, and sa"
blanks therein after Anderson had left.
Judge Campbell attached the jurat TO the
paper; it was not sworn to by Anderson.
It was notorious fact in the custom-house
that Kellogg, Packard, and others were
pressing Anderson and Weber to make
their respective protests. Mr.. John Sher-
man, he said, was spokesman for the visit
inc statesmen, and he (Weber) knew that
Sherman had given his brother assurances
which caused him to allow his protest to
stand after it had been made. Weber haa,
in conversation with Sherman, explained to
him that his brother thought'the two parishes
had gone Democratic, and he was disposed to
take back his protest, whereupon Sherman
assured him that his brother would be cared
for. The statement further AIDS that the
Sherman letter was the subject OF mortlhca-
ton in the Weber family. Mrs. Daniel
Weber had endeavored to find it among her
husbands papers. 1t was afterwards found
and destroyed. In this connection the state
ment adds that Mrs. jerks had been in no
way connected with the authorship oil the
Sherman letter. Witness referred to his
readiness at one time to believe anything
against the Nichols government.
Mr.. Cox exhibited letter to witness,
dated March "a, 1877, which the latter &C
knowledged was written by him to his cou-
sin, J. II. Weber, OF st. Louis, but which
he did not want to form part OF the re-
cord, for the reason that it would place him
in q false position, as the statement therein
concerning D. A. Wcber's death was not
in accordance with the facts. lie founded
his statement in the letter and in the news
papers on information which had been
given to him. Having been misinformed,
he accordingly misstatcd the facts as
to his brother having been killed for
political reasons. The letter, he admitted,
was written for political effect; circEm-
stances were exaggerated for the purpose
of creating sympathy for Packard. He was
q party in interest, but at the time believed
that Packard was fairly defeated. Although
in his letter he said the Republicans de-
manded a recognition OF the lawful Pack
ard government to secure the maintenance
OF law and order, he knew Packard
had no Just right or title TO the gov
eminent, his claims being founded on
cheating and false returns; and this
he knew at the time he wrote the letter.
Witness admitted the falsity of other state
ments made by him. In reply to question
by Mr.. Potter, witness said the letter,
though private, was intended for publca-
ton, to show how horribly the Democrats
had been bulldozing Republicans, and vas
intended to bring the Government to the
support of Packard. Witness also wrote
letter to Kellogg for political effect He at
this time was ready to believe anything
against the Nichols government. 1t seemed
that it was common in his country to write
such letters for political effect in order to crc-
ate sympathy for the Republicans. Witness
had statement prepared by him six days ago
relative to his brothers death. Democrats
and Republicans alike deprecated the act.
Certain persons are suspected OF murder,
but none have been arrested. His brother
had threatened to publish in his paper the
deiaulting taX-list, and several gentlemen
whose names were mentioned therein were
his brothers personal enemies. Previous
to that his brother had difficulty with
Colonel b. Fl. Barron. He beat the old
man terribly,