The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-01
THE VERNON RETURNS.
AFEw CHAPTERS FROM THE RETURN
ING BOARD BOOK OF NUMBERS,

ING BOARD BOOK OF NUMBERS.
Unenaced by the Touch of Times Destroy
ing Fingers.
When the glaring fraud perpetrated In falsi-
flying and forging the electoral returns of Yer
non parish was first brought to light. it most
failed to create any considerable stir
among our national politicians, or to startle
those most interested in the manipulation of
the figures numerating the votes. because it was
only one OF twenty-four parishes where votes
had been fraudulently counted.
During the canvass of the vote OF the State by
parishes. Vernon parish was brought up in due
course of time, or at least was the consolidated
statement Of the votes thereof
TRICKERY FROM THE START
These returns were received by mail, In
registered letter, by the Secretary of State on
November II. 1875. and then su pposed to have
been kept In the custody of that officer until the
time when Wells; Ss Anderson L %: saw fit to ex
protest at that time las required by law, should
1t be deemed proper, to file protest against
their being counted). but nevertheless. Vernon
was placed among about dozen other pro-
tested parishes. whose figures were unaccepta-
BILE to Packard, to Kellogg, and others more or
less interested In protesting the vote of Demo-
cratic parishes on general principles.
The papers from Vernon were opened on the
tws nty-ninth of November. in presence of the
counsel @ ter the Democratic parry and the two
North; and. ws believe. were inspected BY
Honest John Sherman. and also BY ex-Gov.
Palmer; The results ! Of the consolidated state
and according to Mr., Chas. Cavanac OF Demo-
cratic COUNSEL while Kenner was reading them.
Gen. Thos. G. Anderson. who denies having
been present at this time. asked If there were
any commissioner returns with these?"
Kenner answered There are no commissioners
e s e 3
before the deputy clerk OF the court of that
THE FIGURES.
The results we're then announced in the pres-
ence of a the board members. the Democratic
counsehl, and the dtstinguis he'd visiting commit
as follows: For Hayes eiectorsNKeIogg Hsl Q,
Burch Q. Joseph 2, Brewster e. Marks 2. Levisss
3 Joffrion 2; these two votes being cast at poll
The Democratic electors received each o47
test from a any OF the eommlssioners or other
datlon from any OF the voters in the parish.
THE FoRGERIRs.
Now. after all these witnesses had seen the
consolidated statement of the votes. he promul-
cation Of the returns by the board. one week
dental electors: Kellogg 17s. Burch 17s, and the
o. her Hayes electors each 1s0 votes.
Each OF the Tilden electors received 400 votes
or 17s votes had been added to the Republican
side and a like number subtracted from the
DEMOCRATIC vote. Before entering on the testi-
menK ts OF as 1T to nov hse
made by experts as to the manner in which the
thing was done In the tabulated statement Of
electors. straight mark had been run down
making it 81. At poll No. 9 adding a small top
circle to an made it 8, and placing after it
made 81. In the Democratic e1inmn sim pta
erasures were made. and the new figures that
TIE board voted for the people OF Vernon put IN
figures at the bottom are completely erased, by
chemicals, it is supposed. and the numbers 17s
and 1870 inserted in their PLACES. In q like
ated AID 46s paced where 647 was when
the statement was frst opened. From the
TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES,
more especially that Of Littleneld. given before
pears that Wells motive i in Il making these
feated candidates 9 IN tie NE1h Judicial Dis,
Rapides parishes. Mr.. Huater ; was their Re- Re-
publican candidate for District Judge against
Mr.. Blackburn. The Returning Board had
amounting to nearly so, Votes but s. Iii III this lett
Blackburn elected District Judge. until the
transposition Of the agures OF the Vernon vote
Lttleflsld swore before Fields committee
that he was instructed by Gov. Wells to trans
I}t poee ths agu,es ct two Of the Vernon polls,
number Of votes and placing them ON the Re-
publican side. The changes we're made accord
ing, t. order; thus. ninety seven votes cast at
other candidates on the Democratic side and
placed to the credit OF the Republican candi-
dates and at poll No. eighty-seven votes were
necessary erasures were made to do this. and
other figures put in their places. James An
drsws. the Republican, candidate for District
ffr rr Nv DO al, 4 ~
accept, the place if SO obtained. and said
that he was not fairly elected. The pa
pers Wells had given him uttleheldl TO
polls Nos: 2and were given back to Wells by
Littletield the day after the official promulga-
tion was made. Wells put them In his pocket.
ana according to his own statement Ii tleteld
asked Wells IF it was not indscreet in him to
carry them on MS nefIson % IS they might be dis
advised Me desp them
they were then burned. Witness saw them
burned ;,tns The Returning Board president told
daed to fTay Ella wh ga m tbs oons n b
pocket with the avowed intention OF destroying
it. IS he could not destroy It there in the room
hands Of exGov. Palmer OF Illinois. whence it
found its way. to the Field committee and was
Of ansS o 5r1 the
too volumlnous for reproduction here
THE FIRST DISCOVERY
ei the Vernon frauds was made by Mr. chas.
Cavanac. who was looking over the returns
the earlier part ofsthe session Of the Morrison
committee here. This committee had this
fraud placed under their noses, but whether
from g lack Of sufficient kesnness Of scent to
track it home. or from an utter aversion to fol-
lowing the best clue presented to them. the YER
non Investigation was dropped; though the
attached proper importance to it and tele-
graphed the nature OF the forgery all over the
Littlefield says even. that Wells told him he
felt uneasy when Morrison's committee started
TO investigate him on the Vernon returns, and
that he wanted to have another copy of the con-
soidated statement made out changing the re-
suits In some other way and gettiDg, affldavits
TO justify the subsequent changes. These affi-
dayi 8 were prepared before D. j. M. A. Jewett
they were forgeries. were never sent In with the
returns, and never appeared till they were used
in Washington. The fictitious names there
u unto affixed were Thomas Brown. Sam Collins
and Sam Carter the date of the affidavits was
November IA, whereas they were not gotten no
III :aF
and Wells-the Lord knows where