The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-06
THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

The Stenger subcommittee engaged in
sitting the crooked villainies Of the Louisiana
election. has been at work scarcely o week,
yet it's labors have been by no means fruit
, less, while we are promised in the immediate
future the most startling disclosures. So far
, two facts, established by documents, have
been elected which have most important
bearing. The first Of these was the jerks
affidavit, for which Anderson has accounted
In the most satisfactory manner, and
whose evidence, taken in connection
with Seymour's testimony, must con-
vince any rational mind of the
authenticity of the document. jerks has, of
course, come to the front with a sweeping
denial, in which he swears, not only that he
never made any such affidavit, but that he
does not know Seymour, the notary before
whom it was subscribed, and actually that he
never saw him. This affidavit is a most i'm
portant link in the chain of evidence which
leads up to the guilt of Sherman and the
completely and guilty knowledge of Hayes,
and for this reason its authenticity is a
matter Of interest. OF this we think there
can be no question-Mr. Seymour swore that
he knew ThOs. A. jerks we'll, and had known
him for years-that he recognized him
when he came into his office to swear to the
affidavit, and greeted him as an old acquaint-
ance, and, therefore, that there could be no
possible doubt of his identity Mr.. Seymour
furthermore identified the body of the aft
davit as being in Anderson's handwriting, but
the signature as that of jerks. Now, what is
the confederation of this direct and positive
/ 4ozA L. -
the document itself being testimony in a
court OF justice? When the document, with
Seymour's testimony, reached Washington,
jerks was summoned before the Potter COM
mittee, and made the pointed reputation OF
the document recorded above. But when he
had done this, Anderson was again called to
the stand and asked for an explanation. He
said that on May II, 1877, the day he left New
Orleans and the date of the affidavit, jerks
came to him and asked him to use his influ-
ence to secure him Jenks) position in the
Custom House. His reply was that he had
as much as he could do to secure a place for
himself. Whereupon jerks said to Anderson,
"Wel you know your iurat is forged" refer
ring to Anderson's signature to the East Fee
liciana protest To this Anderson replied,
"Do you sit down and write an affidavit to
that effect" Anderson swears that he him
self then sat down and wrote the affidavit in
question at jerks dictation; that jerks
swore to it before Seymour, with the distinct
understanding that it was to be shown to
Stanley Matthews to help jerks to an ap-
pointment The concurrence of Ander-
sons and Seymour's testimony, given be-
fore different subcommittee, one at Wash
ington and the other at New Orleans, is con-
elusive and must overcome the mere arbitrary
denial of such man as jerks, at least.
The authenticity Of this document being es-
| tablished beyond peradventure, let us see
what are the facts it sets forth. We cannot
state it's contents more succintly than they
are stated in the affidavit but we shall merely
subdivide it in the order it is given to disclose
the different facts it sets forth.
The affidavit begins by stating that the
afiant, Thomas Ell. jerks, was commissioned
deputy marshal for the parish of East Fe-
liciana by Pitkin during the month Of August,
1876, and that he went to that parish in that
capacity. jerks then goes on to say:
1. That previous to his departure for said
parish of East Feliciana, JAM E. Anderson
sn ., oe ~ won 40
logg. Governor of the Sta @. And he further
states that be has rsonal knowledge of the
such resignation. believing that said Anderson
would not return to said parish, although he
ostensibly desired him to do SO.
2. And he further states that 1t Is known to
him personally thai said Kellogg and other Re-
publican leaders did not desire the r, turn of
Anderson to his parish or the appointment of
to hold no election in said parish ami that said
Kellogg and others induced one L. B jerks to
watch said Anderson and prevent his return.
after he had promised several citizens of said
parish to do so.
8 And aff1ant further AYERS that both himself
and said Anderson were in said parish on the
said election was conducted under tn If super
vision, and was the most peace4 BILE and fair one
ever witnessed by him 1.-THE afffp MT.
4. And he further states that said Anderson
made no protest against the eturns fsaid par
ish, owing to the ABOVE mentioned facts, and
after the return Of himself and said Anderson
that the election OF Hayes and Wheeler de-
pended upon the electoral vote of Louisiana.
s; That in consideration of this. fact and in
order to secure the election of said Hayes said
Anderson signed, in the presence of atfiant. a
protest partly in blank, said bank being after
wards filled out by parties unknown.
| g. Tnat both he and said Anderson would not
| have signed any protest for said parish had it
| not been necessary to throw out said parish in
order to secure the election OF said Hayes and
| Wheeler.
| Supplement this statement with the testi-
mony OF Anderson, that it was made for the
purpose of influencing Stanley Matthe WIS and
was so used, and we have direct, positive
and full confederation of Anderson's whole
story, from beginning to end. The convic-
ton it brings is overwhelming Such evil
dence as this could not be manufactured.
The analytical genius of Edgar Poe and we
believe he stands first in that high order of
literature, could not construct an imaginary
case in which the proof could be made so
unique and the conclusion SO inevitable. 1t
would be folly, then, to attribute any such de-
l.sign to Anderson, or even II that were reason