Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-05
THE NATIONAL SCANDAL.
Continuation Of the Electoral Inyestiga-
tIOn, with Jim Anderson still on the
WitnesS-BoX-The Orator Sub
jected TO Rigid Cross
Examination.
lie Never Did Anything Wrong in his
Life until he Came in Contact with
the Republicans or Louisiana
A sad Commentary.

WASHINGTON, June 4.-Ihe cross-eX-
animation Of James +. Anderson in the Pot
ter investigating committee was commenced
to-day by Mr.. Reed, one of the members OF
the committee. twas largely devoted to en-
deavor TO convict the witness Of the discrep-
ancies between his testimony last Saturday
and the statements heretofore made by him
before the senate investigating committee
that visited Louisiana last year. The bulk of
the examination was as TO minor details,
which would not be OF any general interest
to the public. The contracts between Ander-
son and Nash and between Anderson and
Weber were largely used for the purpose of
showing the contradictions and discrepancies
and the disregard Of moral considerations on
the part Of the witness. For instance, he
stated on Saturday, IN relation to the Nash
contract, thai at the time OF its date he had
no evidence Of ifanl ID his possession, and
had not pretended that he had any; yet the
contract r-cites that he is To suppress all evil
dence showing that East Feliciana had been
heavily carried By thu Democratic party, the
consideration for such suppression being that
Nash was 20 secure for him the posi-
ton Of naval officer. He was pressed
on that point rs to whether his
statement on Saturday that he had no
such evidence was correct or no., and he as
serted that It was, cx-apt that he had Mr..
Shermans letter Ia his pocket at the time,
If that could b. construed into such evidence,
the vote OF the State was to be thrown out
on a forged protest. he admitted also that
he did not expect 10 get the position of naval
officer. He was then asked:
Q1estion-Ihen that agreement does not
express the TRUTH Auswer-No, net in that
sense.
Ques.-You simply took this paper like
sort OF immoral promissory note? Ans
That Is about the construction which moral
man might put upon it.
Q1cs.-1ou werc not very particular about
stating the facts exactly in it. What you
wanted was to get the thing in that shape
that it would hut Nash If he did not carry it
out? Ans.-Ihat was it exactly.
Qdes.-Is that sort Of transaction one
which you frequently enter into? Ans.-No;
| never entered into anything OF the kind be-
fore until ! was brought in contact with the
Republican officials in Louisiana.
Ques.-lt i IA common sort of document in
louisiana. Ans.-1es, it is a common thing
in Louisiana.
Q1es.-Something like this: 81 hereby
confess that | stole one hundred dollars, and
in consideration of that | will give John
Smith al office, and you both sign it, and
that binds you. Is that the sort of an agree
ment you are in the habit of making? Ans
No; am not aware of its being a habit.
Ques.-GOu do not know how many of
these little promissory notes are out? Ans
That is the only one.
Qaes.-You tried it off on colored man
first? Ans.-Yes.
Ques.-This little arrangement which you
entered into with Weber was a sort o.
promissory note, tooI Ans.-No; | do not
know that we promised anything to any,
body.
Ques.-This arrangement with Nash was,
you say, so that Nash would not throw you
over? Ans.-Exactly.
Ques.-You got thing that would blacken
him IL ne did so! Ans Yes.
Qles.-Aud as for yourself, blackening
would improve you, would It? Ans.-I do
not know whether it would not.
Mr.. Reed think 1t would.
Toe cross-examination was then directed
with the object of showing a contradiction be-
tween the statement in the Weber contract,
that the parish had been carried by the
Democrats by legitimate means, and the
statement made in Saturday s testimony, and
that there had been slight intimidation in
the parish. A long time was consumed In this
branch. Witness having repeated what he
stated on Saturday, that III the protest which
he has signed the words Republican" or
Democrat" did not occur, was asked
whether he had omitted them purposely; he
said that he had, and that he had done so as
IN the Weber contract, with the object on his
and Weber's part Of protecting themselves.
QIes.-Gou mean putting yourself In po-
sition so that you couid take either side OF
the question or not at all; so that you could
give testimony ON either side Of the question
Aus.-No. sir.
Ques-You gave testimony on one side of
the question before the senate committee,
did you notg Ans-Yes.
QIes.-HOu carefully suppressed all evil
dence that had a tendency to help the other
side, did you not? Ans did; | was try
ing 10 carry out my implied bargain with
Sherman, and suppressed as much truth as
was possible without soaring to lie.
Ques;-And you did it by suppression
Ans.-l did 1t 10y suppression.
Ques.-Aud now YOU are stating it on the
oLhsrfside, are youY Ans.-I do not know
that am stating it on either side.
Qles.-GOu are doing it now entirely on a
level basis? Ans.-Doiug it entirely on a
level basis.
Qles.-But before you stated it on one side
Aus.-0n one side.
Oaes.-And when you made the protest
Won stated Il on one side? Ans.-l did.
Passing on TO Anderson's examination be-
fore the senate committee, he stated that he
had purposely conf0uuded the two docu'
ments. There were he said, 'One atfida'
Wit and two protests, and In my statement
tried II carry OUT, as far as possible, my inn
piled agreement with Mr.. Sherman, and con-
founded the affidavit with the two protests.
Qles.-Did you DO it purposely?. Ans
did.
QIes.-Th-n, under oath, you purpo= ely
committee purposely.
Qles.-So before that committee you meant
one thing IN your own mind and conveyed
another thing to the committee? Ans.-Ex-
actly.
Qles.-And you went through the whole
examination, uud r oath, In that manner
Ans-Just in that manner.
Coming down 10 his testimony as to the
interview with Mr.. Sherman at Moreau' S res
taurant, in New Orleans, Anderson was close
" cross-examiued and made to repeat in de-
tail all the circumstances of the interview
but his answers to ali questions put to hin
on that point did not show any notable varia
ton or discrepancy. The cross-examinatior
was rot concluded when the committee ad
journed TIL eleven o'clock this morning.