Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-07-12
The House Presidential Election InvesitEa-
ton.

Jet. WINE refusing 10 menuOu any Dames
she said that the party who wrote the letter
from her dictation was prominent Louisiana
politician, and that he was in Washington
about six months ago. Witness stated there
had been two drafts Of the letter the trst
did not suit her because it was too definite, and
she dictated another, which, she said, was the
one copy Of which had been read to the COM
mittee The next witness examined Was Albert
G.. Haley, deaf man, who lived In the house
which Mrs. jerks stopped when in Washing
ton last winter. He testified that the lady in
formed him that she came to Washington to
assist Packard in his contest for the New Or
leans collectorship that the Sherman letter
was under her control, and that she had been
offered 81, 900 for it. Haley toll her if she was
offered 1000 it would bring $4,000 and
offered to become her agent to negotiate for its
sale. He understood from her conversation
that the letter had been deposited for safety in
a fre-proof safe in New Orleans, and that rs
she had deposited the letter with the instruc-
tions that it must be delivered only to Mrs.
jerks in person, she would be compelled to 90
to New Orleans for it. This conversation be-
tween Mr.. Haley and Mrs jerks occurred in
room at a time when several Uther persons
were present. Witness had known Mrs. jerks
long time Judge Campbell, of New Orleans,
was then called and testified that he drew the
form of the protest in 1876 which Anderson
signed, and which Anderson, in his testimony,
bhlu ne udu uOl sNOTAIOs JuuSo SdlupD6ll ulu
not remember whether Anderson swore to the
protest, but said il his signature to the protest
was genuine he did so swear. Witness stated
| that Anderson had made objections to certain
statements in the protest. After short dis
cussion regarding the order in which witnesses
should be examined the committee adjourned.
Mr.. Pitkin was recalled and examined upon
the points developed in his previous testimony.
| Witness testified he had no doubt OF the legal
ity of the Packard government in Louisiana
! and that it could have stood without the aid
! OF Federal arms. At this point discussion
arose, Mr.. Hancock Directing to going into a
! discussion regarding the legality of the Pack
! ard government and legislature, and MIR. But
| Ter sustaining this branch Of the examination.
! Witness testified further in regard to the part
! played by the MacVeagh commission, sent to
Louisiana by the President to investigate the
respective titles of Nichols and Packard. In
! answer to o question by Mr.. Butler, witness
stated that Messrs. Harlan and Hawley had
told him, after the recognition Of the Nichols
government, that the leading Republicans
| Of Louisiana who had borne tho brunt Of
work would be taken care of. but Mr.. Ander-
sons name was not mentioned in that connec-
ton. After issuing subpoena for ex-Collector
Packard the committee passed into the Florida
case. William E. Chandler testified and ex-
planned the meaning of various kilograms in
cypher that he had sent from Florida in 1876,
L. G. Dennis of Alacbua county, Florida, was
then sworn, and stated he was in Tallahassee
shortly after the Presidential election, and
there met Governor Noyes; he explained to
Governor Noyes the difficulty about Archer
precinct No. 2, and Governor Moves desired
that he should testify concerning that precinct
before the returning board; witness told him
that he had better not put him upon the stand
as he (wtness) might injure the case; II
fact, he said to Governor Noyes that unless the
L.. \ l,1Ak.
not put witness on the stand. The Republican,
in Florida regarded Governor Noyes as the
special representative of Mr.. Hayes. Witness
knows nothing Of any pledges made to mem
bers Of the canvassing board. Adjourned.
The examination into the Florida case wal
continued by the further examination of L. G
Dennis. Witness testified that Archer precinc
No. 2 was contested by the Democrats on tht
ground that 219 votes had been put in illegally
that the inspectors had informed him coniden
TALLY that they had added 219 votes to tn,
election list that he had told Governor Noye
it would be better for him (Deunis) not t.
testify before the Florida returning board. a
he should be compelled to acknowledge th
truth OF statements made to him in confidence
that he said nothing to Gov Noyes of frauds
but that he believed fraud had been committe,
, ON both sides in the Florida election. Edwart
F. Noyes, United States Minister to France, wa
next examined and testified that he was il
Florida in 1876, but not at the request of MI
Hayes, and that while there he made II
promises on behalf of Hayes; witness denie
that Dennis had told him OF Republican fraud
in Archer precinct. Witness also denied tn
1 statement of ex-Attorney-G General Cock, G
Florida, that Messrs. Noyes, McLin an
Stearns had conferred together in 1875, jus
( before meeting Of the returning board. Th
= testimony of McLin, who swore that Noye
had made promises that members of the return
ing board would be provided for, was also d.
MED by witness. General Lew Wallace was e.
amined next and testified to the matters n
ferred to in Noyes' testimony. On eros
examination witness said that on one o.
! casion McLin told him that Manton Ma
! BILE had visited him and said that there wf
. no reason for him (McIIin) to live and die
> poor man, when, should Tilden become Pres
dent, he could be rich and have anything |
, wanted. To this Mr.. Wallace replied that
a Hayes was elected President he knew him we
a | enough to know that he would stand by b
q friends. Gen. Wallace said that he did nj
I make this declaration with any corrupt pu
pose. Adjourned.
Mr.. Morrison, for the committee, has write
= a letter to Secretary Sherman, refusing to cor
q ply with his request to have 100 witness
4 summoned to testify concerning the freedo
= OF the presidential election in Louisiana al
. the alleged intimidation of voters in East al
= West Feliciana parishes The letter says tn
these witnesses have already testified in pr
yious Investigations and that if they were call,
}; again 500 equally credible witnesses would
ready again to contradict them. The lett
concludes by saying that the number of perso
IS killed in the Feliciana parishes will not affe
6 the allegation that Secretary Sherman wrote
o letter to Anderson and Weber. Secreta
Sherman has also furnished a communicate
4 for publication, in answer to Mr.. Morrison,
"a which he says: whether he wrote the lett
:. or not the real thing that the committee WAL
i to know is whether there was actual fraud al
violence in these two parishes to justify Z
returning board in what they did. M
Agnes jerks was recalled and produced lette
= that had passed between herself and the W
II ness Anderson, She expressed herself as st
!; unwilling to name the person to whom 8
u dictated the letter which Anderson swore W
u ! written by Secretary Sherman. W. f. Chandl
I; was examined and read number of Telegram
q he had sent and received regarding the Flori
D. election. He stated that he did not know
T. the existence of frauds in Florida, although
Y was 80 charged, and that the election there,
~ his opinion, had been fair. Witness furnished
10 list OF presidential appointments made mp
his recommendation after the Florida electio
= and described q conference at Senator Mi
thews' room, at which Representatives Gil
l. field, Hale and others we're present. the obje
"a of which was to dispose of the Gen. Packa
government. T. @. Anderson, of the Louisia
returning board, was briefly examined ne
o. touching the manner in which votes had be
d thrown ont. He was followed by L. G. DEM
!, of Florida, who testified respecting the effol
~ he had made to secure Office under the ADM
~ istration. Adjourned.
Mr.. Boulds Baker, Of Texas appeared
O. obedience to summons of the committee,
IN refused to testify. Several other witness
who had been summoned failed to appear a
r. the committee held a secret session to
termine upon what course to pursue in 81
10 cases. General Butler announced that he "
70 in favor of exercising the fullest power &C
~ ferred by the statutes, The additional G.
=, respondence between Mrs. jerks and Anders
III 1nAAnn rl,h..aiAIna