The daily gazette., 1878-02-15

We repeat that these are the votes of
the parish for the eight Presidential elec-
tors OF the State; and this table is enough
TO show how difficult 1t was to make an
involuntary mistake In the matter.
1t was proved on the trial that Ander-
sons attention was particularly given to
the circumstance that the Republican
candidates had almost no votes at all,
that is to say, only two each. 1t was
proved that after looking at the return,
Anderson remarked that "here toere not
many Republicans an The pdrish.' 1t was
proved that the forged return, rs produ-
ced in court, was the identical paper
looked at by Anderson when IN its origi-
nal condition. 1t was identified by a re-
spectacle Law yer by the marks which he
placed upon iJ at the time.
Among other testimony, a stenograph-
or was introduced, who reported the do
ings of the Returning Board. His record
showed that kenner, one OF the Return
ing Board, read the return in the hearing
Of A nderson; that Anderson's chair las
as near Kenner's chair as IL was possib BILE
for one chair to be to another; that An
derson made a public inquiry whether
these were the returns. ana was answer
ed by Kenner; the true vote was also
proved as stated ABOVE. Other testimony
was introduced showing the impossi bill
ty of Anderson's not having known the
| true vote of the parish.
The utteraDce and publication of the
| forged return as a true record was also
| indisputably shown. Anderson concur
red with his associates in using that for
ged return in the canvass by the Return
Ing Board. He included IL in the COM
pilatlon and computation of the votes.
He certified officially that the statement
In which the false and forged footIngs
of the Vernon parish were set out at
| full length was "a true and correct COM
pilation of the statement OF votes. He
certified the elections according to that
vote. He signed these certificates. He
Ijoined in making an Official and public
record, containing these falsehoods and
forgerins, and i'll using that record as an
Official ana public record, and in deposit
ing it among such records. His perpe-
tration of the offence defined by the
statue was thus complete and perfect
Ii liz not ne ecessary here to refer to other
evidence going to show the guilty intent
The Jury were perfectly authorized and
Justified inferring that intent from the
facts we have already stated.
Against this array of proofs there was
nothing that amounted to any defence
at all The main attempt OF Anderson
counsel was to contradict a witness who
stated that Anderson had avowed the
intent to disregard the real votes in the
conclusions OF the Returning Board; and
the capuous objection that there was
some wholly unimportant informally
In the Vernon parish return which de
prived it OF the character of public
record. We add that IN conducting the
trial Judge Whitaker was, from. fist &c
last, moderate, just, and judicial.
The history OF this Vernon parish for
gerry can be fonnd in the testimony be
fore the investigating committees of
Congress. 1t was there proved that tht
forgeries were committed by a deputy
! clerk of the Returning Board undel
the directions of j. Madison Wells, Pres
dent of of the Returning Boar 1; that the
precinct statements were burned up Il
!, prevent discovering that the consolida.
ted statement of the parish was directed
by Wells also to be burned ur; that wher
soon afterward the committee of Con
gress came to New Orleans, Wells was