The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-07-11

Is the Way in Which the Public Be-
gin to View the Potter In
vestigation.
Several Witnesses Examined Before
the Louisiana Branch.
One Of Whom Says $4,000 was
the Price Paid one Man for
Signing the Electoral
Report of La.
The Potter InvestiGasiOn.

The Potter lnvest1galiOn.
WAsHINGIoN, July 3.-Before the Pot
ter committee to-day, Emile Weber testified
that the conference held in New Orleans
during the count in 1876, was understood
to have been led by Senator Sherman. In
conversation with Senator Sherman, wit
ness was assured If his brother should stand
by his protest he would be protected. In
compliance with the request of Sherman,
witness went after his brother and Anderson,
| and informed them that visiting states
| man was desirous of seeing them.
Anderson, in reply, said: tell him TO go to
hi" His brother. however, went to see
Sherman and they had long conversation
regarding the protest. Two or three days
after this conversation occurred, his brother
| showed him Sherman's letter of assurance,
and told him Sherman gave it TO him at
| the conclusion OF the conference relative to
his standing by his protest, and remarked
| that it was the best he could do at that
time.
Odd your brother agree to stand by
his protest? Ale. .Lesitated about doing
50, but could not well avoid it, considering
the pressure brought to bear upon him by
Springer.
Odd you have Sherman's letter in
your hand? A.-Yes, Sir did.
Q.-What kind of paper wa. Il written
| on? Alt was written on douole sheet
note paper.
The witness then showed the size of the
paper, which was about half the size of the
one Mrs. jerks said the letter was written
| on. She claimed it was written on a single
sheet OF commercial letter paper
Witness said IL arranoo1 hofora fb q
election by Kellogg, Thomas c. Anderson.
and Packard to secure afiidavits' of intimi-
dation in the parish of East and West Fe-
liciana for the purpose of throwing out
those parishes. He was assured by Kellogg
I and others If he would use his infiu ence
| with his brother toward having him make
the protest, he (witness) would be returned
to the Senate. He was defeated for State
senate by about twelve hundred votes and
was returned by the returning board as
elected by about six hundred majority. In
| reply to Mr.. Hunton, witness stated that
some visiting statemen had interviews with
Eliza Pinkston before she was brought be-
fore the returning board. He thought one
of those who interviewed her was Senator
Sherman. He was OF the opinion that
Eliza Pinkston's outrage wss a put-up job
by Mr.. Springer.
Odd you see the affidavit OF it in a
best of my knowledge and belief it is true.
At this time brother of Mrs. ID. A..
Weber came to Donaldsonviles, and, see
ing Mrs. jerks, asked her what that wom-
an was doing there again, and whether she
was after Sherman's letter? Mrs. Weber
|, told her brother not to meddle with her
affairs that she had Sherman's letter and
knew what to do with it. At this time f.
l.. Weber had not informed his sister-in-
law that he had destroyed the document
Mrs. jerks has told Mrs. Weber that the
letter was worth thousands of dollars and
said she would pay her a good price for it.
Mrs. jerks never intimated to Mrs. Weber
that she had anything to do with the au-
thorship of Sherman's letter, and always
spoke of it as a letter written by John
Sherman assuring Weber and Anderson of
positions under his administration.
The paper containing the affidavit was
produced, but Judge Shellaberger objected
to the afiidavitl lbeIng put in as evidence, and
it was laid over for the present
Weber then related the circumstances as
told him by his sister-in-law concerning
the visits of jerks TO Donaldsonville, and
read the following letter which was deliy-
cred to Mrs. Don Weber by Mrs. jerks:
New Orleans, May %, lS7S-Madame
In the investigation about to commence in
Washington under the order of the Potter
resolution, it is deemed important to have
you there as a witness at once. Mrs. jerks
will bear this to you. Very respectfully,
l.. A. SHELDON
To Madame d. A. Weber, Donaldville:
Mrs. jerks explained to Mrs Weber that
Mr.. Sheldon desired her 10 go to Washing
ton to testify. Mrs Weber refused, unless
called upon by proper authorities, where
upon Mrs. jerks threatened to have her ar
rested and taken TO Washington.
The witness said that on the evening of
the twentieth of November, while passing
by Moreans restaurant on Canal street,
New Orleans, he n oticed his brother, talk
ing with Secretary Sherman, but was not
within hearing distance and don't know
what transpired, but they We're there TO-
gether at n table, one on each side OF Sher-
man.
The witness submitted, in evidence, the
letter written by Judge Marks. now Inter-
nal Revenue Collector at New Orleans,
wherein Mr.. Marks requested the witness
to inform him whether he had received the
appointment he had made application for;
If not, Marks would look after il for him.
Marks also requested the witness to inform
Mrs. Webber that he thought he could Sc
cure her an appointment as postmistress at
Donaldsonville, for which she had once ap-
piled, and been nsuccessful-Narks being |
at that time opposed to her appointment.
Marks, seeing this letter, had been to Don
and requested Mrs. Webber to
make q statement to the effect that she had |
never known of the Sherman letter. Dur
ing this visit, Marks told the witness and |
his sister-in-law that they we both to be |
as witnesses before the invecti- |
eating committee. The witness stated that |
he was under improvision. The approaches
made by Marks were merely with a view to
influencing his testimony before the oom-
mittee. He gave him no encouragement
whatever. Marks had stated to certain
parties that he could control Mrs Webber's
before the committee.
The witness was, after some further and
1nimportant testimony, ordered to report
o the Louisiana subcommittee on the 10th
Instant, when his cross-exa animation will be
,egun by General Cox. The committee
hen adjourned until July 10th.