New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-17
THE POTTER COMMITTEES PROCEEDINGS
THE TESTIMONY OF GOVERNOR KELLoGGs PRIVATE
sTENOGRAPHER.

sTENOGRAPHER.
WAsurNGroN, June 16.-The Potter Investi-
eating Committee met yesterday morning at 10 o'clock
and called TO the wness-stand H. Conquest Clarke,
stepographer who was Governor Keoggs private sec
retary IN NewOreans az the time the Electoral College
met Nr Clarke stated that his present temporary resi-
dence was Washington. and that he was employed by
the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue. His story about
the making ont OF the new certificates was - fooWs
General Anderson, after hs return from Washington,
said that there defect In the first certificate Cen
era Anderson gave toe duplicate copy OF the rst Ger
tfcats 60 witness and stated TO MN mat lllenos IN
Washington thought that instead OF the names
OF President and Yice-President being on one
sheet they should be two sheets The witness
prepared forms. and took one Of the blanks TO ne re
publican printing Office and directed them to be printed
Some OF the clerks IN the oudng ueu III tne "a
Rutherford B. Hayes and Mr. wheeler Tor president ana
m H sd ~ 1 be ELECTORS whom he knew or
resided In the city, aud AS they came INTO the once
rerfidcayes i'm the room 80 that they could
be- signed by Others The witness sealed up the cerf-
aud forwarded them two or three DAYS after Cen
efal AndersOn's return-not more than that one was
forwarded by mall and one he handed to Mr. Charles
il who was substitute for General Anderson,
the latter saying that he did not feel able 70 take another
trip 10 washington As ne uRde5t9ou' T mn no. no.
fret signed IN his presence lie THINKS ne t0ok
the papers around TO the different electors aud got their
spafures whether II was the following morning after
the meeting the same day he does not know, bat
QYou ala not think it necessary to 60 about with the
the time was engaged in writing the Governors mes
sage, and WAS exceedingly busy
The committee here took a recess until p. m, Mr..
Potter desiring bo present in the House at - o'clock
After recess the committee reasscm5ed at l p. M,
and Clark again took tho stand and corrected bis or
lgnal testimony follows;
In my original statement. said the original certi
Gates were handed around by me 20 the electors and
should have said process verbal accompanying tie or
Iginal certificates handed round The hrst SET or
By Mr. POtter-Whom did you see sign the second
ccrtincatesi A.-Goyernor Kellogg ana MI Brewster
4 lt,au Rfr Rurp hO was "a
reoolect whether saw him sign the second certicales
or not Beyond Mr.. Kellogg and Mr. Brewster could
not say saw any sign the second set
Q.-Where did Mr. Brewster sign Al think they
ali signed in that committee room where the certificates
o-Mr. Brewster thought he had signed in an inside
room OF the Governors object Ale was mistaken
about it The papers quite numerous; they were
spread ont on the table 20 my knowledge they were not
removed until folded them up and sent them OH.
O-When did you first hear II alleged that some OF the
gentlemen whose names were appended TO tue second
set had not signed them really Al MINK the nrsI IN
maton had Was In % G P3Ts sSoI om G
cinnat paper Ihat was SrtS1 o ~ ia lei Iran
sion had met aud MADE thelr decision IL Was 1etMSe
u week and month afterward In the nelghDorhood OF
the 4th OF March Nobody showed the paragraph TO me-
1 happened 10 sec IT, The paragraph mentioned my
name and that attracted my attention IL said some
thing was wrong IN the certificates but dd not say IN
WHAT respect as far as recOeet II is probable spoke
10 Governor Kellogg about IT, although did not see HIM
letter 10 hIm might have said, What is the meaning
OF this paragraph had no reply about It, Gover19r
/ remained in New-Oreans as secretary 10 Governor
o%Did this reflection upon your conduct cause you to
sncak IN the electors about IL Al did understand
m Ia be a reflection upon Understood IL 10 say
that had some mysterious connection with IT, don't
think talked with any OF the electors about the matter
O-After you first heard this reference 10 the mater,
when ala you next rOfiti Al think the next refer
ence was in The National Republican some three weeks
ago aud that the first thing that gave expeitness
oEWhen You we're in New-Orleans, did you hear any
thing about the letter said to be signed by Secretary
SberInnnf A.NO, sir; have not heard OF t at all,
except from publications from newspapers nave not
spoken about Il except 70 discuss the newspaper reports
III nave expressed any opinion nave spoken OF u
without any means OF knowledge.
O-Returning now 60 this second set OF signatures,
there was nothing IN the papers which excited your ss
pielOn in that regard when you sealed them upf A
oDo you mean to say that II any OF these signatures
IN fbe second set OF certificates are not genuine you
don't know who supplied tnomf Al say 80.
Fx-Congressman Darral recalled for question or
two by Mr. Potter, who asked him where be was in
Louisiana when the visiting statesmen came to New
Oreans and he replied he lived eighty miles west
Of New orleans and visited the city or twice and
staved one or two days He not sent for, but re-
membered going up and seeing Mr. Hale and one or two
others Some of them had left Governor Noyes had gone
across to Florida He asked il he had any converse
ton with them about the election, and said possibly he
did although nothing that was fixed In his mind.
o-Were you requested to confer with any OF the gen
tlemen OF the Returning Board Al Junk was asked
the 0uesOn whether thought the members OF the ne
turning Board would be INUNDATED Dy the t1rea OF
stand firm and resist any offers OF purchase uid NOT
hunt 40 any Of the members OF the Returning bOaru
while was there or see them; ,.,.u..
A-You lefI them TO stand firm without youi A.
Yes, sir.
The committee here adjourned until tomorrow morn
IN ob.Taa