Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-06
The POTTER COMMITTEE AND
SECRETARY SHERMAN.
What is Said About the Story Of q
Forged Sherman Letter.
A Washington dispatch to the New Yorl

A Washington dispatch to the New York
Tribune yesterday contains the following:
In conversation to-day Mr.. Sherman said
" have let the witnesses before the commit
tee have their way. and have given them full
swing, but fOrbearance has ceased to be vir
all those who take part in it. React.'' repeat
ed Mr.. Sherman. II will send the parties
concerned in it to the penitentiary. IJ may
me can be carried out this fall, and that it
will have its effect on the elections; but the
people OF this country understand the tricks
fore that Potter committee, in New Orleans
have been guilty of subOrnaiiOn of perjury. 1
have nothing to say against the committee,
They do not object to killing men nor to
swearing mems lives away. 1t Is not surpris.
ing that their next move is to be forgery; but
they cannot attempt this without being found
What Secretary ss1s. snsr""n's Counsel
A reporter of THE STAR today called the
attention of Judge Shellabarger, Secretary
Sherman's counsel before the Potter commit
tee, to the article. The Judge read it care
us it true" asked the reporter, "that there
is evidence OF plot to produce before the
committee forged letter purpOrting to be
the Sherman Anderson agreement"
"There is was the reply.
Stdr;:-COud you tell me anything about 1t?
SheHdbarger:-Yes. We have Information
from various sources that there is plan of in
Producing from an alleged mistress of d. A.
Weber an alleged letter from Sherman to
Weber and Anderson, said to have been re-
Gently, procured from the woman. The pre-
tense is that the document +. l.. Weber Swore
he found in the shoe box and destroyed was a
mere copy, and that this woman will supply
the committee, and has supplied Jas. +. An
derSOn & Co, with this letter If these stories
IF tn
which has already so characterized this prose
cutiol OF Secretary Sherman.
What Representative Blackburn
Says.
The reporter next visited Representative
Joe Blackburn, of Kentucky, who is member
of the Potter committee. He showed Mr.,
Blackburn the Tribune article, and read him
burn laughed at both.
,Stdr:-Is there any truth in the statement
that your committee is going to put in eyi-
derson. Weber letter?
Blackburn:-Ther is not an atom of truth
in If, was the reply. II particle of truth has
John Sherman and his cOnfreres have first
TO hear of it. l am beginning to doubt if they
can tell the truth: 1 am glad, though, "c0n-
unetion,' that Sherman is waking up to a reali,
ZatiOn OF the OtfenSe of subOrnatiOn of per-
jury.
StdT:-1Ou give lne impression Dy your last
remark, Mr.. Blackburn, that there has been
subornation of perjury elsewhere.
Bidckburn:-I suppose l do. 1t may be that
when sherman declaims against subornation
he refers to KelOggs successful efforts to ex-
tract from Mr. Kelly supervisor of registra-
tion and elections for the Richmond district, a
protest against the parish, which Kelly swears
was false, and that he so told Kellogg at the
time, but that Kellogg, Jewett, Campbell 6.
Co. bedeviled him into making it after being
notified that it was a lie.
Stdr:-HaS the committee the possession or
access to the original of the supposed letter?
Backburn:I--I do not wish to say anything
whatever on that subject. / do not like to
talk much about the committee anyway.
BLACKBURN ON BUTLER.
Sdr:-Iou have of course seen Gen. Butler 8
denial of the report that he had stated to a
political friend that the committee has the
lette. and intends to produce it for effect in
the approaching elections.
BlQckburn:-1 have 1 believe the denial,
but do not believe that Gen. Butler ever
made the statement. 1t would have been a
foolish thing to do, and Gen. Butler is no
given to foolish acts or speeches.