The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-14
The Potter Investigation Goes Msr.
rily 0n---GsneraI SIN iih has q
Bout with Genral Butler.
The Indian War sp'eading---set.
tiers Leaving their Homes---state
Troops Gathering In Force.
Troubles on tho Mexican Frontier
---Raidsrs Pursued Over the Bor-
der.--Exoitins News Expected.
Canada Strikers Quietins Down.
Large Military Force Called Out.
Potter Inyesligatlon CONTINUED

Potter investigation Continued.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-The Potter
Committee held brief secret session to.
day Immediately before the regular
meeting.
Gen. Smith, late Appointment Clerk
in the Treasury Department, was recalled
and testified that this morning he went
to the secretarys Office at the Executive
Mansion and looked over the record Of
letters and found that there had been q
letter referred to the Treasury Depart.
ment March 10th, 1877, which had been
written to the President by personal
friend, recommending the appointment
Of James E. Anderson. Witness had but
one interview with the President in re.
gard to Anderson's appointment. he
produced a telegram from Stanley Mat.
thews, bearing date January 3Oth, ad.
dressed to himself, taken from the files
Of the Treasury Department, which he
thought was reply to the telegram sent
by secretary sherman.
The telegram read as follows:
"The letter referred to has been re.
ceiyed. No answer needed"
Witness had written Matthews and
showed him one OF ARderson's letters, but
did not remember the contents OF II.
Mr.. Butler read from the evidence a
letter written BY Anderson bearing date
June 10, 1877, in which he said "Any
ward hummer who desires appointment
as Inspector OF Customs" &C., the full
text OF which has been heretofore pub.
lished, and also letter written to Gen.
Smith by Stanley Matthews, dated June
20. as follows:
DEAR GEsERALr-I have your favor Of
the goth. No one is under obligations TO
Anderson. / saw him on the cars going
to Baltimore. He told me he was salts.
fed. II he don't choose to take what you
think is proper, drop him. I promised
nothing but TO do what l could 70 have
him appointed.
Yours respectfully,
STANLEY MATTHEWS.
General Butler questioned the wituess
at length regarding a letter written by
Anderson, declining the position OF Inspec.
tor Of Customs and as to the time the let
ter was forwarded to Matthews. The
witness replied that to bis best recollec-
tion he sent the letter to Matthews the
day Of its receipt, June 10th. At the re-
quest OF Gen. Butler, after having said
that he had in his possession another let.
ter from Anderson, the witness produced
two letters and stated that he had no par.
ticular friendly relations with Anderson.
He had advised him on certain points
and had appointed his brother in the
Custom House at Baltimore. Another
letter, from Anderson to Smith, was read
by General Butler, inquiring wheth.
er Senator Matthews had said any
thing Of his (Anderson's) friend, a
clerk in the Philadelphia Custom
House, and upon being interrogated
whether he (Smith) replied TO that letter;
he stated It was his recollection that he
did and stated that he had not heard
from Senator Matthews on the subject.
General Butler called the attention OF
the witness TO his testimony in which he
said Matthews had written 10 the Presi-
dent from Cincinnati, recommending the
appointment OF Anderson, and asked II
that letter was on Gle. Smith replied
that It wrs not.
Q. Don't you think it very unfortunate
that the letter is lost? A.. No sir, l
don't.
Q, Upon whose recommendation did
YOU appoint Anderson's brother to
in the. Baltimore Custom
House? A. Upon the recommendation
OF Matthews.
Gen. Butler asked Gen. Smith II he
was in conference with counsel last eve
ming. A. | do not understand the qpes.
tion.
Gen. Butler, pointing to Judge shella-
barger, counsel for Secretary Sherman,
do you know that gentleman A. No
sir.
o. Do you know Judge Wilson, A.
/ don't know whether / do or not. /.
Mr.. Cox objected to the questions, and
Mr.. Butler said he did not propose to be
reproyed further by the gentleman from
Ohio, this being the third or fourth time.
Mr.. Cox said when the occasion, in his
mind prompted it, he would certainly
continue to offer his objections.
After further Discussion, McMahon ad.
vocating the competency Of Buffers ques'
tion, Gen. Butler said that his reason for
putting the question was 10 show that
Smith was an unwilling witness In con-
nection with the other side.
Smith said that Butler in his statement
claimed that he was Of the opinion from
the beginning Of the examination that he
(smith twas an unwilling witness, claim
ing "a his reasons therefor the fact Of the
receipt Of personal letters from Anderson
BY Smith, which led him Butler) to be.
lieye that Smith would not testify to any
thing unfavorable to Anderson, and q.
Butler did not know Of the character oi
the letters In question until within the
last Eve minutes he surely could not have
considered him an unwilling witneIi from
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