Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-06

over year; am gentleman OF leisure: was
in 1876; was witness before the Howe Senate
committee; the proposition was made to me
In New Orleans day or two before casting
den: man by the name of S. NJ. Asher. of
Shreveport, said could get 100000 for cast
ing my electoral vote for Tilden. Asher was
the only person that spoke to me directly on
that subject man by the name of Johnson
said to me in note that he wanted to see me
on business OF importance; saw him after
ward, and he asked me to call and see Mr.
Asher. johnson never said one word about
the casting of the electoral vote; had suS-
plclon that he wanted to see me on the same
business that Asher spoke to me of; johnson,
when he first called to see me, being absent
from home, said to some of the ladies in the
house that he would like to be in my shoes
Tor 0ne one day. IG that ne would n5, make s?M09;
acquainted with the ladies of the house.
When johnson first called to see me was
dining out with Mr.. j. M. ID. Parker. the post
master. There were present besides myself,
Mi. George L.. Smith, recently made collector
of the port of New Orleans; Dexter Smith, a
clerk in the post office; Mr.. Mclean, and an
other gentleman, whose name l don't recol-
lect; Mclean was broker in the city; John
son came again in the morning, and / made
an engagement through him to meet Asher at
his note of the night previous, nor did / ask
him what Asher's business was met Asher
pursuant to agreement at CaSSidy'S hotel;
walked together to a retired portion of the
town back from the river. eight or nine blocks
from the hotel; the conversation between us
TOOK look P place &c e. on the street; Asher had been
dozen years; on this walk, after some apollo
getic remarks, hoping that would not take
amlsS the remarks he was about to make, re-
lying tn upon my friendship, &C., Sc, he opened
the conversation imagined that Asher was
aD0ut TO make me money proposition, and L
did not hasten his remarks. After these apol-
0gles Asher said, as nearly as | can recOllect,
NOW Judge, would you be willing to accept
around Sum-$30, 600 or $i0,000-and refuse to
accept your certificate as an electOr; - there
was some dispute at that time about the le-
morning of the casting of the votes, | notified
Governor Kellogg that / would not be present
at the counting of the vote; was advised by
BeckWlth, U: s. district attorney, Hugh j.
Campbell, Judge Cotton and John Rey, coun-
sci 1Or the returning board, to stay away, be.
cause was ineligible as an elect0r, as at the
time. of my election held another office; 1
considered myself elected however. 1t was
not understood that If abSented myself from
the electoral college that day that should be
elected TO MI the vacancy caused by my alb
Sence; there was some conversation among
Gov. Kellogg, Packard and others about cleo
ting me il l should be absent from the meet
ing OF the college; did absent myself and
was elected to fill the vacancy caused by my
Coming back to the conversation with
Asher the witness continued: II made no i'm
mediate reply to Asher In response to his Of
fer. Isuggested to him after rejecting little
that his offer was small consideration for
such big job. 1t was not often that a man
could decide the Presidency, and thirty or
forty thousand dollars was mere bagatelle.
only talked enough to keep him talking; he
conceded the fact that the amount was not
enough. told him two or three hundred
thousand dollars would not be large sum for
the magnitude of the work required. The
conclusion. OF the conversation was: Tell
your man" said !, that Levisee is willing to
listen h IT. to proposition of this sort, but
We ended our walk in about half an hour NV
intention in talking with Asher was to put the
nigure SO high that he could not reach it, and
on what responsibility he was making the
offer; Inever intended to accept anything: |
didn't bid 100000 because l thought that by
afiklng asking such high price could protect my
tue, strange as it may SEEM and intended to
protect my virtue: Before my interview with
Asher told Marshal Ptkin of my suspicious
ana IL was my Intention to leave OH Ashers
mind the impression that 1 would entertain
ms proposition, | wanted to draw him out /;
nhd OUT where the money was,
could hnd out where the money was when he
put up his price to figure that he (the wit
ness ISL DeIeVed % could not be reached.
san ne neo "btnesS;a hoosMs sa,d that 1 would take
higher figure than he could bring me. If /
mad entertained his proposition for $4,000 he
mlght nave given ME the money, and as a man
OF honor might have felt bound to abide by
my word.
MEET DE BY MOONLIGHT ALONE
Had another interview with Asher on the
same evening had moonlight walk together
The first thing he said about the matter was
that he would have to change the proposition:
instead Of proposing to me to refuse my Ger,
vote direct for Mr.. Tilden I told him 1
thought it was very different thing from a
simple refusal to receive certificate of cleo
was to getit. Asher was to have a per cent
age OF the money paid. Asher said he would
60 20 TO tne hotel and see gentleman there, find
6aI OUT a6oqt h Inc money, and meet me again in
time at a coffee shop. Asher said the
name of the man he had been to see was
Sn,e walter rngh. Asher said that in half an
OF Carondolet and Common streets. There
you VIII see two men; one of them will be
myself; Will retire as you approach, and the
to see. We went to the designated place 5c ." at
the DESIGNATED time and found two men. One
Withdrew rapidly. The man who stood there
Mas Ma JosteRh iiernandez nan broker in the city.
70 him. In front of his office excused nv
sell, saying that Asher could do all the buSi.
ness ne Necessary, and went home. 1 did not ask
MI; hernandez anything about the money
The next interview was on the next day.
met Asher at eleven o'clock the next day.
ie He told old me that he didn't think any more than
thought be ms aefee as 5hoagh
Grafton. He left me saying that he would 90
and see Hernandez. He met me again and
SAID hernandez said 100000 was the largest
sum that could belgiven. Then told him not
worm While talking any more of the matter
ana there the business was dropped.
The Florida Sub. Committee at Work.
dispatch from Jacksonville, Florida, last
night says:
The subcommittee commenced work this
a1ternOOn, opening their investigation with
Baker county. That and other counties will
De investigated while waiting for McLin
There is but little local interest felt, and only
small attendance. The sessions will be pub.
lie, at the suggestion of Mr.. HiscOck. VIM
y. Bloxham, Secretary of State, testified:
nave III my possession papers relating to the
last Presidential election. Produces papersl
These are copies of the original precinct re-
turns OF Baker county at the election of 1876
There are four precincts in the county. Have
also the returns of the canvass from Baker
county. Produces paper which will be desig-
mated as No. IL. This is the original return
On file in my offices (prOduceS paper No ~
There is another return in regard to Baker
county This purpOrts to be canvass i'm
Baker county. 1t differs from the other in re-
gard to the vote for Presidential Electors,
Governor and Congressman in the first paper.
In dhe hgureS are as follows: Tiden electors
2SS, Hayes l43, Drew 256, Sterns 1i2, Finley
2SS, Blsbee l43 In the second the figures are
as follows: Ttlden, SO; Hayes, 130; Drew, So:
Sterns, l3O; Finley, 80; Bisbee, 130. Don't
know when paper No. 2 was filed. By throw