The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-28
REPORT on THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
Contradictory Testimony Produced During
the Investigation.
GUILT OF THE ACCUSED INDICATED.
A Woman's Degradation, Suffer
ing and Death.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


which resulted in the reelection OF Mr.. Ackien from
the Third Congressional district, grave charges
were made public affecting the moral character OF
that gentleman Ii asserted that improper rcla
lions had grown up between Nj. Acklen and girl
whose father had been engaged 10 manage his panta
ton; that subsequently marriage had been brought
about between the girl and a man named Wright.
who had been a hostlcr in Mr.. Ackicns employ.
These constituted the main facts OF the scandal
connected with which numerous incidents
highly detrimental the character OF the accused
Congressman. committee of prominent democrats
consisting Of Duncan T. Kenner. d. i. Penn. Albert
Worries, Paul y. Theard, ]. r. Mcee-Gautheaux
and II. J. Hearsey appointed TO invcsti-
gate the facts. The conclusion which the committee
arrived at adverse TO Mr.. Ackens innocence, OF
which that gentleman duly notified at the same
time being informed that the conclusion would be
made public. According to the statement OF the CON-
mittee the publication was at the request OF Mr..
Acklen, postponed for time in order that he
might determine after more calm reflection
whether lie would withdraw from the canvass
Or not. Pending this delay Mr. Ackien secured
favorable opinion from second committee composed
of prominent republicans. beaded by Ex-Governor
Hahn, who published a card giving IL their
opinion that tho charges against him had been in.
spired by malice This seems to have effectualiy
Acklen returned by largely increased majority.
AS the result. however. the democratic committee.
in justification OF their action, publish to-day
statement giving the facts upon which their
illusions were based
REPORT DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
The report. after reviewing the general testimony
Z says:-Mr Acken produced affidavit. which he
says was made by the girl, Mr.. Acklen's relations
with whom formed the base of the scandal, signed
with her full name. Matte p. Wright" and sworn
to before Mr.. Alfred Ingraham notary public in
this city. This affidavit in the form Of ques-
tions and answers Mr. Acklen called attention
to that fact and that fhe language of the affidavit
the language Of the girl herself when she
answered the questions p-opounded by the notary.
who took her very words. as he stated.
STATEMENTS THE AFFIDAVIT.
This AFFIDAVIT denied that there had ever been any
criminal intercourse between Mr. Acken and herself
but stated that there had been between Wright and
herself previous 10 her marriage with Wright. Mr..
Acklen. ON being asked what his motive for the
extraordinary interest manifested by him in this
matter and for his great zeal and activity in bringing
about the marriage replied he did because of his
regard and kind feelings for the family of the girl
AL the above facts learned from r. Acklcn him.
self when he made his first statement to us. From
others learned that Wright deserted his wife and
girl became a mother in February 1873. and after
4 that SAM. lower and lower in the social scale. She
died of yellow fever in September. 1873 We learned
from highly respectable witnesses, to whom the girl
at the time OF her marriage made the statement that
when she carried 10 the physicians Office on
Rampant street it was for the purpose Of producing
premature birth. Mr.. Acklen gave the name of
highly respectable physician Rampart street as
the who had been By him and the ladies'
We called this physician. and he said he conld
recollect nothing Of the matter; if such parties had
ever called him the circumstance had entirely es-
saped his memory.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
We learned. also, from very respectable witnesses
that on the eve Of the marriage OF the girl with
Wright Mr. Acken to the house where the
mother and daughter stopping; that Mr. Ack-
len. sitting in corner Of large parior had long
conversation with the mother; that several papers
passed. between the two and that they he witnesses)
asked TO witness the signature Of the mother;
that they consented 20 do When they were signing
the paper Mr. Acklen bent 1t down that they could
not the contents of the paper and held his thumb
the paper. This excited their curiosity
and induced them to ask what IL was about,
and either Mr.. Acklen or the mother replied
II was only money transaction, the two acquiescng
in the assertion This paper subsequently proved to
riagc license for the daughter. We received no ex-
PLANTATION why this mystery aud this deceit were prac
tiscd on these witnesses.
We also learned from respectable witnesses that
Mr. A:kicn on the morning % the marriage called at
the boarding house. and invited the daughter 70
walk ont with him. She did so, and he conducted
her 70 carriage stationed in o cross street ont OF
sight OF the boarding house. In this carriage were
seated Wright. the intended husband, and w. w.
wharton.
rEE AFrTpAvrTs.
We will now cali attention 10 two anidavits pro.
fcsscdiy made by the unfortunate young woman.
ore Of thes. asidavits presented to us by Mr.
Ackicn. We win call that afhdavt No. 1. The other
AFFIDAVIT was found among the effects Of Mr.. IT. L.
smith after his death: We call this afdayit No 2
Affidavit No. Il very important and very favorable
DE Aeken. the girl testihes in Il 10 his entire
Innocence Of any criminal intercourse at any time
with her THIS snidavit NO. u vas signed
Matte T.. Wright, the girls name in full.
The signature evidently that Of a person
accustomed 70 writing that il, the name
vas writtan III running hand; no hesitation mani.
tested IN the formation o. the letters. The namo
not written IN the handwriting Of beginner or
% person unsocuntoincd to writing her name.
1bss siids.it sworn 10 before AIR. Alfred Intrra-
ham, notary public. ln August, 1873, who attestcu
tte signature and II was in the form and nature Of
questions and answers, and when Mr. Ackion pre-
scntad u % he called attention 70 the fact aud
We we're told ~ him that tho questions pro-
pounded w The notary and the answers written
down by the notary spoken b. the girl and that
she signed 10 IN Tho notary's presence.
Norny's TESTIMONY.
We requested NJ. Insrabsm give his testimony
IN this matter. Nc met committee and testified
that one morning NJ. Aekien came into his ofice
accompanied W toung woman and presented him
an AFFIDAVIT with The questions and all writ
ten out and already signed. and that he only
read the caption 70 learn II the afiant
the person mentioned in tho sfidayit.
NJ TngraLasn asked The young woman II
that vas her signasur, and that ali Mr. inpra-
hafn Odd n the mnti,r. hc asked specially IL he
lnl ,-iilnd nrN u fln nnAstll. ot firth i ~.