Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-08-02


afIidayits in the Custom House, in which sew
enty-siX witnesses we're questioned as to the
occurrences in the parish and their statements
taken down. As far as / know no influences
were brought to bear to induce witnesses to
testify.
ATLANTIC Cry, N j. July "a.
Representative Kelley testified that he Wis
tied New Orleans in 1876 at the urgent request
of President Grant. In answer to the ques-
tion whether the Republican committee dis
cussed any question involving an interference
with the official duties Of the Returning
Board witness said that he never heard any
such conversation in private or at the meet
ings. If any one of the delegation had at
tempted such @ thing it would have been
treacherous to his associates as well as vio-
latiOn of duty.
Mr. Kelley, in the course of his testimony
said he never heard of any suggestion to ma
nipulate the parishes for any purposes, nor
did he ever hear Of the affidayits that were
signed with names of fictitious persons. He
did not know OF Sherman having conversa-
tion with Weber and Anderson. He had no
consciousness OF having ever seen Weber.
COrtlandt Parker, of New Jersey, testified
that he visited New Orleans solely at the re-
quest of President Grant. He did not, while
in Louisiana, hear doubts thrown on the pro-
test made by Anderson as to East Feliciana,
or that it was interlined, or that Anderson
wished to withdraw.
NEW ORLEANS, July "a.
Thomas II. Nolan testified that in 1876 he
assisted in the preparation OF sfiidavits; |
never took any pains to read over affidavits to
witnesses. They were generally told that the
a1hdavits would never be published. 1t was
the understanding in Republican circles that
the State had gone Democratic, and they
must by affidavits and protests make q case
for the Returning Board to throw out polls
enough to reverse the result.
Wesley Jackson (colored) testified: Lived
n RaVnu durinU 10 la al
the Sage Hill Club at the instance of Gilbert
Carter; he was President; didn't know until
after the second meeting what the objects of
the meetings we're; then Gilbert Carter told
Inc they wanted to kill certain white folks;
after that didn't attend any more meetings;
the club lasted about two weeks; when Gil
bert Carter was killed most Of us left the par
ish.
ATLANTIC CIrY, N. j., July Is.
Secretary She rman was before the commit
tee to-day and testified that the Republican
visitors to New Orleans in 1876 thought the
Democratic visitors were even more active
than they were in mingling with the board
and examining papers. In reply to the dues-
tion of did he or any of his associates meet
privately with any member or members of the
board lie emphatically denied it did not re-
member meeting either Weber or Anderson
except in a casual way; denied the truth of
the testimony of Anderson, about the alleged
conversation between Anderson and Weber
"A
restaurant; was shown letter said to have
been written to him by Weber and Anderson,
in 1876, and said he never received such a let
ter and never saw or heard of it until it was
published.
In response to further questions, Secretary
Sherman said he never suggested to these
men employment for any service they might
render in connection with the Returning
Board or in any other way, nor was any prom
Use of reward even intimated. With reference
fN hn oil Is afar- Sbar saf1
most empha hatically he did not write such let
ter. At the same time, however, there were
things in IL he would have written to these or
any other men who were engaged in the per-
foTmance of what he believed to be their duty,
if he had been asked, but he did not think he
wrote the letter. He believed he did say in
conversation with several gentlemen that all
the Republicans in Louisiana who stood by
| their guns deserved credit.
If he had been a citizen of Louisiana he
would probably have been killed, for he should
have resisted the rifle club, which in addition
| to other crimes, drove the negroes from their
| homes to the swamps. There never could be
peace and quiet while these things occurred.
In the fall of 1876 in Louisiana there was in
timidation, violence and wrong, he could not
| think of these things even now without feel
! ing OF resentment and without exciting his
anger. The testimony was overwhelming.
! Secretary Sherman, in reply to the question,
| handed in memorandum detailing the cir
| Cumstances Of Anderson's visit to him at the
Treasury Department in March last, and Civ
! ing an account of the conversation as noted
at the time by the Secretary's stenographer
New ORLEANS, July 25.
Maj +. A. Burke testified that he was sent
to Washington by Gov Nichols to represent
the interests of the Nichols State Govern
ment. Nichols was Informed that efforts
were being made to misrepresent the condi-
tion of affairs in Louisiana to President Grant,
who, it was alleged, was asked to interfere in
behalf of the Packard Government. Nichols
was also informed that there was a determi-
nation TO force on his Legislature the election
of two U. S. Senators in the interest of the
| Republican party as the price of yielding up
| the State Government.
He was instructed verbally by Gov. Nichols
to ascertain the true state of affairs at Wash
| ington and keep him posted. He was also 20
i'm Louisiana in the interest of the Nichols
Government. He was also instructed to con
fer and act with the managers and represent
atiyes of the National Democratic party. He
also received written instructions to the same
effect.
Mai Burke submitted telegrams, dated an
terror to his visit to Washington, which
showed the relations of the Louisiana State
Government and National Governmental eact
other.
The subcommittee then took a recess, tC
meet subject to the call of the Chairman, anC
left via Mobile for the North.
ATLANTIC Cry, N j., July 26.
Gen. Sypher testified to the best of his recol
lection he thought when Weber showed hin
the Sherman letter il was in the handwriting
: of John Sherman. Chairman Potter askeC
whether the allegations of fraud and intimi
, dation were not made after the election, AM
witness replied atlirmatively; witness salt
that In conversation with Republican speaker
l he learned that in Feliciana, Monroe an,
| Shreveport stones were thrown ut them in ad
| dition to other indignities; that undue in
fuences had been eXerted to secure Packard
:, nomination. Mr.. Hiscock asked whether tn
y Democrats sought to conciliate the colore
2 people to vote their ticket, replied "Yes
: in various ways they did as you did in NeN
q York-buy yotes,n
Ex-Congres sman Morey was called and sal
the fact OF intimidation, violence and nurde
in the bull-dozed parishes was not disputed
witness, from personal inspection, was satii
e fed that Eliza Pinkston had been dangerous
;, ly MANNED. She was carried into the room {
|, the Returning Board on a sofa. The impre
: sion prevailed that this exhibition would hay
a a good impression, and his own impressio
u was that IL would be an excellent thing to d
q in the furtherance of the cause. The non
l. nation OF Packard produced so much dissati
q faction that the leading Republicans discusse
= whether il wOdld not be best TO prote
{ against 1t and support the National tick,
:, alone. A couple OF thousand murders ha
J. been reported by the Congressional Commi
q sion In 1858, when the Republicans had col
:. troll OF about two-thirds Of the parishes. Il
- did not know of single conviction for polil
cal murder under the administration OF eith'