The Portland daily press., 1878-02-02
THE RETURNING BOARD.
Sherman and Stoughton to be
The Evidence Against Them.
MIR. SHERMAN PRONOUNCES
II FALSE.
AndersOn's Conviction a F0regOne
Conclusion.

NEW YORK. Feb IA Washington despaicb
says it is stated definitely in Democratic circles
that john Sherman and Mr.. Stoughton, the
Minister to Russia, will be shortly indicted by
the state courts of Louisiana, for com plcity ia
the returning board conspiracy. A prominent
Louisiana Democrat known to be in the conf
dence of his party, announces that dur 2 the
coming month both officials named will be cali
ed to answer such an Indictment. The state
mept which is corroborated by many crcum-
stances. is that Gen. Ogden, leader of the Lou
isiana White League, has in his possession doc
umentary and other evidence which is ample to
procure such an Indictment.
He withholds the testimony until after An
derson's trial. There is no doubt of Apder-
sons conviction, and he has threatened that if
he goes to jail Sherman will have to so with
him.
1t is argued that Ogden thinks that Anderson
will become witness against Sherman, and
there ia no doubt that he and others in authori-
ty 10 Louisiana would gladly give Anderson
immunity If he would secure the conviction of
Sherman thereby.
Gov. Packard says that Anderson will be con-
victed; that the jury was chosen with the dis
tinct understanding that it would convict him,
and it is a matter of history that Louisiana ju-
Mr.. Packard also says that Anderson will suf-
| fer imprisonment before he will-even if he
| can-dO anything to iniure the reputation of
| Secretary Sherman. Other Republicans who
know Anderson intimately, join in expressing
| this belief.
The documentary evidence duplicating
| Messrs Sherman and Stoughton is said to con-
| sst of paper signed by them, or bearing their
| names, in which man named Weber, and
| one Anderson mot Anderson of the returning
board are assured of recognition and reward
in case they perform certain services in connec-
| ton with the vote in their parishes. The An
| derson mentioned was supervisor of the cleo
ton 10 the parish OF West Feliciana and D: A.
Weber held the same position in East Felici-
| ana. They brought their returns to the return
| ing board at New Orleans, and, as will be re-
| membered, did not accompany them with pro-
tests as required by law. They claimed. as was
| afterwards conclusively proved, that the CAM
| pa'gn had hsen one of fraud, outrage, blood
er, to make an affidavit to this effect or to re-
| commend in their official capacity, the rejection
| of the returns basing such refusal upon state
ment that they dared not make the necessary
affidavits and afterwards return to their homes.
/ Death they knew would be the result Pack
ard, Marshall, Pitkin, Campbell and other
| prominent Republicans urged them by every
means in their power but they still refused.
i Subsequently, as is now stated, Stoughton
and Sherman had interviews with Weber and
Anderson, but it is alleged that they would not
| yield even to their request until they had been
| given formal writing in which Sherman
and Stoughton pledged themselves to see that
| they were protected from violence and receiv-
L oeASAi ASSSsAssAoA-
| services.
Anderson did not dare to stay In Louisiana,
and declined the consulship to Fuuchal. He
| went to Philadelphia, where he now is.
Weber, after Mr. Hayes was made Presi-
dent, believed that he would be safe at home,
and returned there from Washington. He was
soon murdered by the White League, being
shot dead in a street of st. Francisville from a
| window of the court house. Weber wrote a
letter to Senator Mcmillan of Minnesota, say
| ing that if the report proved true, that neither
| Grant nor Hayes would recognize Packard 3
election. he could judge how soon the MUIR
derers under Nichols would begin their work.
He was himself shot the next day, as related.
A lady well-versed in Louisiana politics has
recently visited Secretary Sherman, and she
stated last evening that she did not believe
| Ogden had any papers on which Sherman and
Stoughton can be indicted, but that in two or
three days there may be important develop
mepts. 1t is believed that she has the only
important papers relative to the matter, if
there are any,
Secretary Sherman said last night that so far
as he was concerned, the whole story regarding
the paper said to be in the possession of Ogden,
was untrue. He remembered Weber, but
never gave him any assurances. He had heard
reports regarding an Indictment, but could
only regard them as wild and ridiculous ex-
aggerations. He said the lady described had
called on him and tried to talk upon the
subject in question, but he had positively
refused to listen to her. He intimated that the
whole affair was an effort to blackmail, which
would not succeed. When it was suggested to
him that the statements were cOrroborated by
number of circumstances, he said, "Then the
lie was made up to fit the circumstances"
AndersOn's Trial.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 1.-Mr. McGloin testi-
fed to the manner in which the Democratic
counsel were impeded in their work by the ac-
ton of the Returning Board. Anderson was
present and took hand in the proceedings
and never protested against any Irregularities
and improperties committed by the board.
Charles Cavanac of the counsel for DEM
ocrats at the CANVASS of the Returning Board
testified that Anderson was present when
| Kenner opened the Vernon parish returns.
He was fully aware of their condition when
opened by the board According to the
returns six of the Hayes electors received two
votes, two of them none. Each Tilden elector
received 647 votes. Cavanac gave lengthy
description of the action of the Returning
Board in discriminating against the Democratic
counsel