Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-23
EntertaIns the Investigating Committee
with What She Don't Know about
that sherman Letter, ant with
aGoOd Deal She Does Know
about Politics Down
In Louisiana.
The PlucLy Lady Gives the Anxious Seek
ers after the Truth u Good Amount
OfShrewd Back-TaIk, but, WOm-
anIlke. Finally Gives Her.
self Away.
she ExOnerates Secretary sherman and
Jim Anderson from any Connection
with the Weber Guarantee, and
Thought that She Had said
Enough on the Subject.
She Plays upon the Feelings OF the COM
mlttee at the Conclusion, by Striking
a, MelO-Dramatic Attitude, and
She Wants to Testify All
Sammer, Etc.


Summer, Etc.
WASHINGTON. June 22.-The Potter COM
mittee resumed Its session to-day. General
Butler stated that he would be absent In
case Senator Mathews desired 70 testify,
having seen a publication that the reason
Mathews did not appear Was Tor lear OF be-
lug insulted by him (Butler.)
MIR Mcmahon explained that in his passage
with Mr. Red yesterday, that he had not in
| tended to reflect upon that gentleman 5 verac-
Ity, and the reports In the papers to that effect
we're a mistake.
Mr.. Reed explained that he had not under
stood Mr.. McMa hon had made such retlec-
ton, and that what the newspapers had pub
lshed IN regard 10 the matter was an error.
Captain Thomas jerks
was further examined by Mr.. NJ 'Mahon, and
stated that he was positive that he never had
heard OF The so-called Sherman letter until 1t
was mentioned by Pitkin; he thought 1t was
on the sixth of January, or about that time
Considerable time was consumed IL tae
examination OF the witness regarding the
visit of Mrs. jerks to Washington. Witness
stated that ne had paid his wiie's expenses to
Washington; she came at the instance OF
Governor Kellogg; Anderson, it was under
stood, had certain documents JudJ hTliORR
desired to get; Mrs. jerks was here for that
purpose, having received a letter from kel-
loRg TO come.
General Butler examined witness concern
ing the letters of Anderson to witness, re-
questIng hun to obtain the letter, the docu-
ment, etc, meaning the so.called Sherman
letter, and assuring him that II he could do
so his fortune would be made.
Witness dlscalmed knowing anything of
the letter or document Anderson referred to-
Mr.. BCtleT--Now, do you say there was
document by securing which you could make
your fortune; that you did not have some
curiosity as to what that document was?
Witness had written to Anderson for
description of the document, but had no idea
what that document was.
Mr.. Butler inquired of witness if his wife
had never asked him what the document that
was going to make their fortune contained.
Witness-She may have done so, but l do
not remember In so many words.
Ques.-lf she did ask you, what did you
reply? Aas.-That knew nothing about it.
Continuing, witness said Anderson had
never offered him thousand dollars, but had
written, stating that the document was worth
one thousand dollars.
Ques.-Was not an offer of. thousand
dollars made to you for the document IN qu-s-
ton before your wife went 10 DonaldsonVille?
Ans.-No, sir; Anderson had informed me
that certain Democrats would pay that sum
for the document.
Witness further said he had never author
lied his wife to pay Weber anything to pro,
duce the letter. She had never told him she
had done so. He had seen it published in
the newspapers that his wife had the so-called
Sherman letter, but she had told him the
statement was untrue. Witness never had
any intimatIon that his wife knew anything
about the Sherman document.
Mr.. Butler asked the witness If he was not
aware of the fact that his wife wrote to Gov
ernor Kellogg first instead of rice UerSd, and
he replied that ne was not
Mrs. jerks,
wife of the previous witness, was sworn and
testified that Anderson had written to her
from Philadelphia in relation to document
which he termed the Sherman letter." she
knew nothing of the document which Ander
SON termed the sherman letter" until last
Januaryi she had seen the document.
Ques.-Uid you ever have that document?
ADs.-I don't think | have eyer had the
original document to which there is so much
importance attached; might have had the
document in my hand about two minutes
and u half; was at the time in the street; no
one gave 1t to me; nobody showed 1t to me;
| asked no permission to take II.
Mr. Butler questioned witness with view
of aseertainIng from whom she got the docu-
ment or how she came In possession of it.
and that there might have been persona In
| the room; she did look around and after
picking it up went into the street with it and
kept it in her possession about two minutes
and half.
Qnes.-In what room was the table from
which y9S picked Sd IL the C document ~ Ans
sented the document to Dan Weber at the
entrance to the St. Charles hotel; it YAs
! about noon; Weber had left witness after the
/ conversation at the corner OF st. Charles and
| Common streets.
The witness here said sns desired to make
q statement before answering any further
questions. and G, neral Butler told her to pro-
| coed The statement was that she wished,
| in the presence of his august committee,
| and for the benefit of the country at large,
| to exonerate Secretary Sherman and Mr.. An.
derson from any connection whatever with
| this document, known as the weber guar
| autee." and she dad not think 1t was ne6es-
| sary for her to make any further explanation
| with reference thereto.
Mr.. Butler explained that it was necessary
| to give the committee the information re-
QuIred, and the witness proceeded to testify,
| stating that after giving the letter to Weber
! he Weber remarked that Anderson was not
satisfied with his treatment, but wished to
have u written guarantee.
| In reply to question as to the contents OF
the letter handed by her to Weber, the vit-
ness repeated word for word the Sherman
| letter heretofore published.
General Butler submitted a letter written
| to Mrs Weber, bs&rng the signature of
agnes jerks" and the witness recognized
| it as the letter written to Mrs. Weber by her.
self, requesting the former to look well for
the document, as 1t would be OF much bene
4 g. to her husband and Anderson, and in the
| event OF her producing ''the document" she
Mrs. JeuksI would see that she was well
| paid for her trouble. Witness then stated
that she never knew OF any other letter ad-
dressed to Anderson and Weber which con-
| tsiEed a guarantee; she had never seen the
| docunisot since she gave it to Dan Weber;
| her husband HAS told her that PItkIn had
| mentioned the existence u :he Sherman let
| ter to him on the sixth OF January iaSt; she
| came to Washington on her own account;
she had notified Kellogg OF her intention OF
coming before shs lett New Orleans; she
came here on business OF her own and bust
| ness concerning the nation at large. Witness
admitted having written Anderson iuquiring
| If he desired the letter.
AftsE further interrogation regarding the
| Sherman letter, witness asked Mr.. Butler
what he wanted With the Sherman letter.
Mr.. Butler-I will tell you. If that letter
can be found we can settle definitely whether
or not Mr.. Sherman wrote it.
Question by Mr.. Butler-Do you know, OF
have you ever known, where that letter is, OF
| whether or not = n existence after you
| gave il to We, aDs.-I do not.
Ques.-Do you snow of any letter purport-
ing to be signed by John Sherman, except
the one you handed to Weber? Ans.-Oh,
no, there was no other.
| Ques.-Have you since the twentieth of
| November ever written letter OF the same
purport as the Sherman letter, and signed
| John Sherman's name to !t2
Mrs. jerks answered: why should do
so; what was the occasion for my doing so =
ETC.; and then she said she had never done
such thing.
Ques-What document was 1t that Ander-
son wanted? Ans-He wanted document
| that he called the Sherman letter.
Ques.-Did Jon not know Of that docu-