Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-06-29
The Potter Investigation
MAJOR BURKE PREPARING AsUR-
PRISE.
DENNIS or FLORIDA BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE.

NEW YORK, June 2S. A New Orleans special
says that Major Burke is preparing to make full
statement TO the Potter committee. when 1t arrives
TO morrow, which statement he thinks will cause
considerable surprise.
WAsHINGToN, June 2S The committee met
this morning lluntou, Springer, Mcmahon.
Butler and HiscOck were made a sub committee
to stay here and take testimony. Potter, Morri-
son and Cox act as relief for the subcommittee in
La. and also the one here After testimony of
witnesses now here IS completed the mttee
will probably take a recess till the La. sub-com
mittee returns, wheR the full committee will meet.
IL is believed here they will take recess the last
OF July.
Dennis testified the inspectors of Archer pre-
cinct, Alachua county, Fla, admitted to him in
confidence that 2l9 fraudulent names were added
10 the list of voters.
Gen Butler interrogatcd witness with the view
of ascertalLing exactly his belief in regard to
Archer precinct.
Witness believed the returns should have shown
2l9 votes 10 excess of what they did for the rep.
party, and that the rep. officials made up defcen-
cies, 50 AS to make the returns show the proper
vote. lie believed there had been fraud on
both sides.
Odd you see the election officers use the di-
rectory after they had told you 1t was their nteb-
tion to ill In the required number of republican
votes
Al saw them using the registrations books.
Q-These officers told you ll9 rep. votes should
snow IN returns tbat ala not appear owing TO raud
and they were going to correct errors. Did you
not actually see them at work making tue cor
rectioDsl
Al know | saw them using tine regstra-
tration book and writing, after they had told me
their intention to correct their error.
After further examination, it was developed
that when these votes were returned the missing
number of rep. votes appeared ss having been le-
gslly cast.
Edward F. Noyes was sworn and testified he
was in attendance ON the Fla. canvassing board.
Did not go at the request, or 80 far as he knows.
knowledge of Hayes, aud while there received no
communications tf any kind. He undertook to
find out the facts relating to the alleged frauds 10
Archer precinct. Owing to parties at one time
| swearing one way, and Immediately thereafter
swearing directly opposite, he lost all confidence
in them. Finally, from dgent inquiry and con-
slstent testimony of 40 or 50 republicans. that
they had voted the republican ticket, he reached
the honest conclusion that the count as returned
was correct.
He did not doubt Dennis word that he intended
to impress upon his (Noyes) mind that 1t would
not be safe for him TO 90 the stand for the re-
pubhcans, owing to h is knowledge of fraud but
he could sOlemnly swear no such impression was
made by the remarks of Dennis. Wallace, who
was present at the Il me and now in the COM
mittee room, would corroborate his (Noyes)
statement
Witness pronounced the statement made by
Cook, before the Fla. subcommittee, that wit
ness, Cowgirl, Stearns and McLin were locked up
| together in q room OF the secretary of state,
before the meeting Of the board, unqualified
falsehood.
lie had no conference with any of the gentle
men, that required closed doors, and with McLln
he had no private conference at all.