The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-06-13
THE POTTER COMMITTEE,
LISTEN TO THE STALE STORY OF
JUDGE LEVISSEE.
Stanley Matthews Invited to Appear Before the
Committee.

Washington June 6-The investigauonintoth the
alleged Louisiana and Florida frauds was contin-
ued o,day. Mr.. Cox, Of the Committee, said he
had received from Stanley Matthews originals of
the correspondence between him and james E.
Anderson, which the clerk read. The letters ap-
pealed in AndeEon's previous testimony with
the exception of one, dated Philadelphia April
23 wherein Anderson resigned all claims upon
The Administration, and requested Matthews to
secure for friend Of his in the Office OF the North
An erlCdn newspaper position worth from 81 go
to 81 40 per annum In the PhiladelI hia Custom
House.
Mr. Butler offered the following resolution and
1t was unanimously adopted
RcsO'utd, That Hon Stanley Matthews be invlt-
ed TO apIear before this committee at bis conye-
nieuCe and make any explanation regaI ding the
letters Just read as he may desire, and 10 answer
such questions as may be pertinent 10 the subject
under consideration.
Judge A. B. Levissee, of Louisiana, praclicing
attorney in this city, was sworn, but before his
examination was begun some of the committee
wishing q vote on the tobacco tax left the room
interupting the investigation,
Judge Levissee testified that he had been offer.
ed by one Asher 100000 to cast his vote as an
elector for Tilden. Asher was the only person
who had spoken to the witness on the subject.
Another person, named Johnson, formerly Ser.
peant Arms in the Louisiana House of Repre.
reptatIves, called on the witness at his lodpinps
and not finding him in, left note stating that Re
UohnSon) desired TO meet the witness at a certain
Motel Al 9 O'Clock next morning. on imnortant
bnsiness, but before that hour Johnson called at
the witness's lodgings and made an engagement
with HIM TO meet Asher a. one O'clock
The ladies of the house told the witness thar
tbey were under the impression Judging from
ND OF Tnh
nos desirOus of making a bargsin with tho mi.
ness TO change his vote, and stating as their res
son for 70 believing that the remark was made bv
Johnson the effect OF which was IF was IN Te.
Vissees shoes l would make 100000 out Of 10
Lobnson witness said, was Intimately acouainta6
with the ladies of the house.
Mr. Mcmahon here produced the note and ,bo
vitnoss recognized it as one left by johnson
vyben he first called Continuing, Leyjssea said
Itbar was previously cashier of a bank in Sbroro
nott Al the time in question he was in New ~
enns trans cling private business.
Mr. Mcmahon requested the witness TO state os
,,oor 6 he could remember The conversation bo-
tyoen himself and Asher regarding the transoo.
ton. In reply he stated mat after some prelim-
;norv remarks Asher asked him If he Womb ha
wiling TO accept round sum, say 100000 mr. eAO
Con and refuse to accept his certificate of ele, tio,
as an eleCtOr.
Ievissee said he did resign on the advice of his
friends whom he had consulted, including Beck
Win Judge Campbell and John Ray. He re.
signed because he thought he was ineligible, as
he Al that time filled federal office. He was mot
advised nor did he understand, that he would
he elected to fiji his own vacancy, but thought il
pOssible that such would be the case As 10 The
nIpr of thirty or forty thousand dollars il was not
often a man had q chance, ny simple vote TO
make the President of The United States ard the
service, therefore, ought 10 be worth large sum.
4 tt,.t . ,,oKo
conclusion of the conversation was this, He said
IN Asher: "Tell your man who has money that
he has not got up to the price yet" Levissee in
tended to convey the impression that he would
take two hundred thousand dollars, but at the
same time intended to put up the price so high
| that the sum could not be paid.
Mr., McMahon-YOu thought money was lying
round and that the payment to you would be all
| right2
Leyissee-I did not say that had an iniima-
ton twenty -four hours in advance that some
thing wrong was going on, and this put me on
nv guard informed Pitkin, of Louisiana, and
dld this to guard my political virtue. II may,
gentlemen seem strange that suCh a thing should
exist in Louisiana. LaughterI
Ievissee further said that in his conversation
with Asher he guessed wnat was coming before it
was mentioned, and therefore was prepared to
meet him. He listened to Asher instead Of bluff
ing him or calling the police. and listened in
such way as TO give an opportunity to Asher to
develop his scheme.
He wanted Asher and everybody connected
with him to believe the thing would succeed. He
merely wanted to draw Asher out, He knew this
was the only way TO get at the bottom of the
matter, and he said to Asher, Tell your hacker
| that Levissee is not unwilling TO consider your
I,Ja ONyiI u hnnnran
| ihousand dollars" He mentioned so large sum
| because he knew or believed 1t could not be
| paid.
The entire conversation was had during a walk
| of half an hour Asher appointed second inter-
view at the ST. Charles hotel. Accordingly they
met and Asher informed witness that the propO-
sit,on would have to be changed somewhat, al d
instead of refusing to accept the certificate as
electOT Levissee would be required to caGt his
vote direct for Iilden.
Upon being stked by the witness where the
money was coming from, Asher said: We will
,yo,l, IN the corner of Carondolet and Common
| streets. aud there we will see two men standing
In the plimmer of the gas light. One of them will
retire as we approach and the ore remaining you
| will understand is the man you are looking for"
| We went to the designated place and found the
mon mentioned AS we approached one with
| drew sn quietly that had known him l should
| moi have recognized him. The person remaining
| was Joe Hernandez, broker in New Orleans.
| After salnting him and introducing Asher (who
| did moi know him) he invited us to his office,
which was near by. Upon arriving there ex-
cuse myself and, although Hernandez insisted
| upon my going in, went home stating as left
! there. that there WAS 10 need of my going in
as Asher could do all the talking necessary
| That closed the second and third Interviews
| Ieyis,pe met Hernandez afterwards and told him
| that SlOO 600 was the extent he could go, when
| Levislee said. 1T is not worth while 10 longer
/ ma ~ IRVigepa raid hn yuaa
never brlbed nor did he ever offer to bribe any
| body -
IL reply to Mcmahon. he said he never made
affidavit of the affair, though be entered into the
| matter as a means Of political Justice LeVissee
| said he voted for Hayes and Wheeler.
| Considerable discussion occurred In regard to
the fcisI returns from Louisiana and those laid
| before The con miitee by the Secretary Of the
| Senate were called for
Witness said that a portion Of the documents
| shown him were not signed by him (although
lurpOrtiDg to be- const quently they were for.
geries.