The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-18
The Fraud Committee.


Orleans continued its sittings on July 8,
commencing at noon. Mr. d. Cox, of
Ohio, took his seat on the left of the Chair
man.
Mr.. George L. Smith sworn. Direct ex-
animation by Mr.. Stenger-I am Collector
of the Port of New Orleans. I assumed
charge on the 1st of June. My immediate
predecessor was Judge John E. King. He
was appoin ed in May, 1877. There was no
Collector wher Twas APP inted the acting
Collector was L. g. Anderson. Judge King
was Collector for five or six months / have
here u list of employees of the ustom-house
at the time Judge King was appointed. The
changes are shown in the center, with dates
and names; except those on the labor roll,
all are upon that list l have here list of
laborers in the warehouse department,
and here list of laborers in
its weighers' and gaugers' de-
partment. On this last there are some
tifeen names. In the warehouse depart
ment, about twenty of these are paid at the
rate of thirty-6ve cents per hour. Their
term of service is regulated by the chief of
the department. He has the right of ap-
pointment and dismissal. The chief of the
warehouse department is Mr.. VIM. Brown,
and Mr.. L. E. Sales of the weighers' and
gaugers' department. The labor roll is con-
stantls changing. Chief clerk, Joseph NJ.
Thomlinson has certified the Office list, and
D6l16V6 IL 1nCluQ6S Lle names all men
employed in the Custom-house.
The list was placer in evidence. After
consultation, the committee adjourned
until three o'clock, p. M.
The object of the committee in calling for
the list of customs employees probably is
to get the name of Simpsons friend, who
witnessed the bribery Of member of the
Returning Board.
The committee reassembled at three p. M.
| journed till tomorrow.
| Before the New Orleans Committee, on
| the 10th, William Williams, colored, was
examined relative to the affidavit made by
| h m and submitted to the commit ee in
" Washington, as to the conversation between
Dix, Fisk, and Hobb that Weber did no1
ST. the Anderson-W Weber agreemen anG
that Anderson did not swear to it. Wit
nesses waited on them at the St. james
Hotel who told witness that he was in {
hurry; that parties d been after him tt
| sign paper which he did not intend to sign
but was going away After this party hat
L. ft- the table Dix told witness the man
name was D. A. Weber This was on Satur
day, the 16 of November, the day befor
Weber was killed.
In cross examination by Mr.. Blackburn
witness did not seem very positive abou
dates, and did not seem TO remember tina
eber was killed in March. Witness sal,
he did not authorize anybody to put in al
affidavit the statement that Weber said n
was going home, and that part in whicl
SeymOur's name it mentioned was not rea
to him. Witness finally admitted that b
was confused by Mr.. Blackburn, in explans
tion of contradictory sta ements as t
whet er he had been told Weber was pres
ent or not at the time the Anderson w ebe
agreement was signed
r. T. Hobbs testified that he was presen
some weeks ago in Dix's Office when the cor
versation occurred, as related in William,
affidavit. Wilder told he that Weber di
not sign the Weber-Anderson agreemen
Dix came after me before breakfast on tn
morning of the conversation before Wi
liams. / knew he wanted Williams to swea
tv conversation. Dix was afraid that
would 60 back on him, and wanted me
make an affidavit of what Wilder had salt
Wi der told me that he and Anderson we1
to Seymour's Office together when Ande
son signed the paper, and that no one els
was present.
Supervisor of Registration in Richlan
, Parish, testified: Made up returns an
brought them to the city soon after the ele
ton. Delivered them without protest. L
l closed with them were two afidavits
, intimidation and violence. One of the
! parties he would not believe on oath. d
not make oath to the paper published as II
affidavit in Sherman's report. Believe son
of the statements mlde therein are tru
n and some are not true, though reports
4 stated were made to me by the parti
4 named. Witness detailed at great leng
g occurrences between the time he came
this city with returns and the time of b
P final protest, showing the efforts made
o prominent Republicans to induce him
make protest. Witness gave the names
persons in the parish who would swear
violence and intimidation, and went up al
l. brought some of them to the city. w
l. ness did not fee justified in making prote
p and would not have made it but for t
II persistent efforts of Govern Kel os
Campbell, and others importuning him
&c do so.
y The Potter Committee was engaged
il day July IL, at Washington, listening to t
~ examination of Senator Kellogg by Genel
!, Butler. The points of his case were thes
: A Packard Legislature was legally elect
a. and legally recognized. 1t made a 10,
il, canvass of votes for Governor under I
s. State law, and found Packard elected b,
m better vote than Hayes; that as a matter
l. fact, after assuming the election of Packa
:: it was necessary to make a t rther reiecti
III of parishes to two of Hayes Electors, who
Ill run behind the ticket; that the Nichols g
b. ernment was altogether illegal, and, m,
a. than that, revolutionary; that after
~. had overthrown Packard, by the help of
"A President and commissions, the Supre
gu Court stood in the way of Nichols as
to only obstacle, and that finally the Preside
ng on recommendation of the McVeagh &C
Id mission, made changes in the Supre
,rt Court Judges, by appointing them to ci
as positions. Here Kellogg foiled Butler, a
Vi his bricks fell short, as Kellogg swore t
OF the President had acted in making tn
ew appointments on the recommendation
nd General Anderson, of the Returning Boa
re. himself (Kellogg) and other Republics
~ On learning this, Butler adjourned furt
an hearing till tomorrow.
Before the Committee at New Orleans