National Republican., 1878-07-13
The POTTER COMMITTEE.

fCbntinped Jrpm Frs PuO,.

Richardson. He did not think Richardson was /
q Republican. Hc was sort Of free-lancc:
Mr.. Springer road an extract from the let /
ter, stating that tho 10000, or portion Of IT, |
was undoubtedly used In connection with /
counting tho vote.
The witness stated that II was undoubtedly |
not true. Ho had used portion Of the money |
In aiding the election. He remembered giving /
q check to Anderson for $50, n member Of
the central committee. II was impossible for /
him to keep the amount Of such expenditures. |
He spent great deal Of money for election |
purposes. The contents Of the letter were |
mere speculation. The samo writer, during |
the witness administration, had written TO |
the New York World just the other way. The |
gentleman who wrote II know nothing about |
the facts, and II was all speculation. The |
statements In the letter were not true. |
Mr.. Springer stated Mr.. William Simpson |
testified In New Orleans tho other day that
ho had been informed that one Of the member
Of tho returning board, In Governor Kellogg's
Office, had refused to sign the report until he
had received 5000.
Tho witness testified that ho knew that
there was such man as William Simpson who
was turned out Of the custom.house, and who
was carrying around q sore head, and who was
probably spcculating. Tho statement was not
true. Witness knew nothing Of any such
transaction. He was not prepared to say but
that there was some Conversation from which
the members Of the returning board got the
impression that they were to be protected.
Nothing was said regarding public offices that
he could remember. He thought that the
members believed that II Hayes was counted
In there would 30 q Republican State adminis-
tration, and they would not be subjected to
the odlum and ostracism that they would In
case Of q Democratic State government.
q. Did they not have assurances that they
would be rewarded with public offices "a.
No, sii don't think they did. They may
havo believed that they would receive consid-
Grafton from the State administration. Gov.
ernor Wells was nominated for collector Of the
port, and was appointed before this Admins.
tration came In. Anderson was special dep.
uty collector, and Kenner was deputy naval
officer. He was not aware that Casanavo held
any office.
Mr.. Potter then examined the witness who
testified that he was one Of the State electors,
and was present at the ileetiDg OF the electoral
college on the 9Th Of December. He signed
tho declaration. To the best Of his rccollec-
tion the declaration Of the vote was signed In
the State House. To the best Of his rccollec.
tion one copy Of the declaration was sent to
Washington BY mail and Mr.. Anderson was
sent with the other.
Mr. Springer, iuterruptiug, pot the follow.
Ing question: Have you ever made any state
ment In the Senate cloak room TO the effect
that you had raised $4,000 for political pur-
poses and now had To pay II from your own
resourccsf-A. / cannot recall any such con-
versation. have seen 1t printed. l may have
said that !, with others, had made financial
sacrifices.
Mr.. Potter then taking the witness, he tos-
tilted that hc had not heard anything from
Anderson while tho latter was In Washington.
He was receiving kilograms constantly, and
Anderson might have telegraphed, but he
could not recall 10 II he did. He first heard Of
the difficulty when General Anderson returned
to Now Orleans He heard II from Anderson
himself In witness office in the State. House.
Anderson showed him tho certificate he had
taken to Washington. Witness thought An
dcrson took II from the envelope and pointed
out the lack Of certificate. Witness did not
think he had taken II in his hand. Witness
thought that this was about the last Of Decem-
ber aud In tho morning. Witness could not
remember whether there were any other per-
sons present. Witness did not think that he
had heard before this timo about the difficulty
with the returns.
Anderson said that he took the return to
Mr.. Ferry, who seemed disinclined to receive
It, and pointed out the lack Of the electors GER
tifcate. He (Ferry) said that there would be
great contest about this master and consider
able importance would be attached to any IT.
regularity In the papors.
Witness believed that the returns were In
the envelope. The envelope had been opened.
Witness thought Anderson said that he had
opened II In Washington. or course no person
sould have known what the defect was with.
out opening the certificate. Witness charged
Mr.. Anderson, Mr.. Clarke, his private secre-
tary, and other clerks to have the necessary
corrections made. Witness did nothing more
than that, except to sign when the papers
were corrected. Witness did not remember
who was In the room at the time he signed
the papers. He did not recollect speaking to
any one except Anderson and Clarke before
signing the papers, He did not think that he
had ever seen the electoral returns since that
lime.
His present recollection was that he had
given one or two letters to Hill introducing
him as messenger to Washington in place OF
Anderson. Mr.. Hill brought the returns to
Washington on the second trip. 1t must have
been months aiterward that he first heard the
report that tho names Of some OF the electors
were forged.
Witness did not know what became of the
returns brought back from Washington by An.
derson. So far as witness knew, there was no
withdrawal Of the papers filed In tho District
Court. Witness had no knowledge In regard to
tho signing Of the names Of the other electors.
He did not think he said to any of the electors
that their names must be supplied. lie had
not heard, except by rumor, that kolly, the
police officer detailed as doOrkceper to the
Governor during witness administration, had
been summoned by the subcommittee IN New
Orleans, and had been taken away to I'll Fed.
man named Armstead stating that Kelly was
at Lake Providence and that Kennedy, Sem
ate employee, had arrived from Washington
and gone to SEQ Kelly. Witness did not know
where Kennedy lived or how he could be sum-
LOned to appear before the committee.
The committee, then adjourned until eleven
,clock this morning.
Tho Louisiana Sub Committee.
New ORLEANS, July l2.-Bofore the Potter
subcommittee to-day, L. l.. Weber was re.
called and testified regarding occurrences in
West Foliciana Parish. Suit was pending
against witness for nearly $4,000 Did not
go back to tho parish and settle the affair, bo.
cause his wife was afraid for him to go back
Cross-eIamined by Mr.. Cox In relation to
his connection with the Legislature and his
absence from the Packard Senate for ten days,
witness said his object was TO elect Pinchback
TO the United States Senate. Pinchback paid
witness II 900 for expenses. He explained
his return later to the Packard Senate and
submitted q portion of $4,000 Of warrants
au the State treasury, received from Twitch-
ell, as security Of good faith to carry out the
scheme of passing an appropriation of
100000, out Of which the insane asylum
claims for $4,000, held by Witness were to be
paid. Witness failing to get his claim cashed by
reason of the collapse Of the Packard govern.