Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-06-07
FR1UD INyESTIG1yJON

|
perpetrators; but not to unseat Hayes. Sec
rotary Sherman and Senator Matthews arr
charged with abetting the frauds Sherman
is represented at the investigation by Messrs
Wilson ard Shellabarger. The investigation
is conducted with open doors. The first wit
ness was james e. Anderson, who acted a
supervisor of registration in the parish o
East Feliciana, La. He has lately been con
nected with the North American new spaper o
Philadelphia. He is young man Of gentle
manly demeanor, has thick, red hair and mus
tache, and speaks readily and intelligently.
The witness stated that be went to New Or
leans November 10th, to organize conspiracy
to steal the electoral vote Of the State. Tit
conspiracy was formed and Weber, supervi
sor of West Feliciana, and himself signed thu
following contract by the advice Of promnen
Republicans
"New Orleans, Nov. IA, 1876. The under
signed, James e. Anderson, supervisor of reg.
istration for the parish Of East Feliciana, and
| ID. A. Weber, supervisor tor the parish o.
West Feliciana, La, have respectively refused
to sign any protest against the counting of The
vote of our parishes cast at the election held
on the 7th day OF November, 1876, for The
reason that the election held on that day was
the most peaceabe and orderly one ever wit
messed by either, and the large gain made by
the democrats being secured by legitimate
MEANS and was owing in great measure to
| The disgust and hatred with which larger
proportion of the colored people regarded the
present State government, but the electoral
vote Of Louisiana being necessary to secsre
the election of Hayes and Wheeler and in Or
der TO secure such vote, it being necessary 10
throw out the parish of East Feliciana and
enough democratic votes in West Felicana to
make the parish Republican, we have for this
reason and no other consented to protest
against the counting of the votes as cast and
we have done this at the instigation and re-
quest OF s. B. Packard, candidate on the Re-
publican ticket for Governor; J. r. G. Pit
kin, United States marshal; Wm.'P Kellogg,
now Governor Of the State and Charles e.
Nash, member of Congress from the sixth dis
trict, and Others. D. A. WEBER,
JAS E. ANDERSON. -
The original Of this paper, Anderson said,
he had seen 10 the possession of the Hon.
Stanley Matthews six weekss ago.
This agreement was sworn to one day and
the next day Sherman and Stoughton said to
Anderson this is momentous crisis, you
should do your best to save your parishes to
the Repu blicans.
Weber remarked that in endeavoring 10 do
their duty they incurred the displeasure of
Messrs. Packard and Kellogg, and were com
PEELED to leave their respective parishes, and
in tho IF Mr. Da Do ~
ernor.we will get nothing from the admins
tration, whereupon they were assured by Mr..
Sherman that they would be cared for, as Mr..
Hayes would control the federal patronage
All he desired of them was that they stand
firm and let the record run along as it is
Witness then said to Sherman that be was
afraid of being indicted for perjury, because
they proposed to throw out his parish on a
forged protest. Mr.. Sherman held up his hand
aud said he did not care to discuss that sub
Ject, as that was matter for the State authori-
ties. But" said he, ''let me assure. you,
gentlemen, that if You act right in this matter
you will have nothing to regret" The inter-
view here terminated. He and Weber vent
away, and that evening he sent a. note to
Weber, in which he said that be did not
trust Sherman, Stoughton, Matthews & Co.,
any more than Kellogg, and would agree to
do nothing unless he should receive from
Sherman written guarantee that they should
be taken care of, and requested Webber to call
around the next morning. Webber called,
and they drew up letter to Mr.. Sherman, ex-
pressing the views contained in his note to
Weber. Weber took that note to Mr.. Sher-
man, and brought back letter purportiag to
be signed by John Sherman. The original he
gave TO Weber, and saw it twice after that
but does not know where it is now.
After some discussion the letter was read as
follows:
"Neso Orleans Nov. 90, '76.-Messrs. D. A.
Weber and j. E. Anderson Gentlemen
Your note of even date has jlst been received
Neither Mr.. Hayes, myself, the gentlemen who
accompany ME or the country at large can
forget the obligation under which you will
have placed us should you stand firm in the
position you have taken From a long and
intimate acquaitance with Mr. Hayes am
luslihed in assuming responsibility for prom
Uses made, and will guarantee that you shall be
provided for as soon after the fourth of March
MS may be practicable, and in such manner as
to enable you both to leave Louisiana should
you deem II necessary Very truly yours,
John SHERMAN"
Sherman took the stand Said he did not
recollect writing the letter. There were things
in that letter which he would have written 10
/ those mr. any othar ~ on ancarod T., .,,.k ao...
patton, but altogether he did not think he
wrote the letter. The original of Sherman
letter has been lost, buta photographed copy
was exhibited. 1t was placed iE care OF Weber,
and he has since died woman by the name
of jerks processes to have the original. An
derson says that he can very easily prove tina,
Sherman wrote the letter by representative
Darrell, who wrote to him that il he gave ur
Sherman's letter he would receive an Office
lie has barrels letter now.
Anderson was promised the position o.
naval officer by representative Nash for hi.
dirty work. In this he was disappointed
lie then logged Matthews, Harlan and Sher
man for an office that they had promised, but
10 no effect He then went to the President
having letter o. introduction from a friend
Of the Presidents, Mr.. Conn, of Ohio. The
PRESIDENT opened the letter and then took al
envelope and endorsed upon it: ''Give thi,
man eonsulship in warm climate. This /,
special case" Anderson then went to Sec.
re'ary Sherman and requested Of him an an.
poiniment. Sherman told him there was nc
appointment for him in the Treasury Depart
ment, and told him TO go TO Secretary Evar,s