The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-16
INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY OF VI. conquest CLARKE
KELLOGG's PART IN THE PLAY.
Me signs the Returns In Blank, Leaving
Them for the Electors to sign subse-
quentiy-NO One In Charge of Them
while Awaiting signatures.

while Awaiting signatures.
WASHINGTON, June 15-The Potter com
mittee met at 10 30 this morning
III. Conquest Clarke was called and sworn
and questioned by Chairman Potter Ell
stated that he was secretary to Gov. Kellogg
ls now Of Washington; is now employed b,
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue; wal
kelloggS secretary during his whole term o
office; was not present at the meeting of tn,
Electoral Commission In 1876; was In New
Orleans at that time.
It was subsequently stated to witness By
Anderson, on his return from Washington
that their friends In Washington thought thai
the names of President and Vice President
should be on separate papers. Witness tooA
charge of the original returns: took the copy
TO the printer, and had the forms changed by
taking out the Vice Presidents name from
one and putting 1t IN O separate paper
The names written In the returns were
written by one OF the clerks In the Office. The
certificate which Anderson returned, and
which he said he opened, witness took charge
Of These things took place about Christmas
Gov. Kellogg stated to witness: II wish you
would see Gen. Anderson. He says there is
something wrong about these returns" Wit
ness went Into another room and saw Ander-
son and got the papers from him. No one
was present, witness thinks. but himself
when Kellogg signed the corrected returns.
Witness then left the certificates for the
electors to come and sign. After they were
signed witness took them and sealed them up
and they were at once again dispatched to
Washington, One certificate was mailed and
one handed to Charles Hill, who was q SUBJ
Utitute messenger for Anderson. Witness
caused a duplicate copy Of the corrected re-
turns to be filed with the District Court. Did
not at that time ask to have the original re-
turns that had been filed returned.
It was two or three days after the first re-
turns came back that the second set was for
warded to Washington. It might be stated
that the whole proceedings took place during
Christmas week.
Anderson was duly authorized to bring the
first returns, but witness did not propose to
authorize him to bring the second set. KEEL
logg was the first one who signed the COR
reoted returns, and the electors signed AFTER
wards as they could be found. After they
were signed by Kellogg they were left In an
unfrequented room In the State building for
the electors to sign as they were found. The
room was left open for them to come In and
sign. The papers being In private room
were not especially in the charge of any one
In particular. The form Of the electoral GER
tifcate was drafted after consulting with q
number Of leading lawyers.
Witness was shown package, and recog-
nized 1t as the envelope that contained the
first set OF returns The seal used was an
old seal that was in the possession Of one OF
the clerks In the office. It was the seal of an
extinct bank that clerk possessed,
Witness was shown another package which
he recognized as the envelope containing the
second returns, and bearing the same seal.
It was sent by registered mail. The Cover
nor's certificate accompanying the returns
was prepared by witness before the electoral
college met. The electoral returns were pre-
pared by several clerks. There were several
excellent clerks In the building. and witness
impressed any OF them into service he could
get hold Of, being very busy himself prepar-
Ing the Governors message to the Legisla-
ture which was about tO convene.
The committee here took recess until o.
m, the presence Of the members being re-
qulred in the House chamber.