Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-07
The Champion PerjIIrer.
OF POTTER'S CHIEF
WITNESS.


KESENTATIvE REEDS CROSS EXAMINATION
DRIVEN FROM STATEMENT TO STATEMENT
IN HIS FORMER EVIDENCE, HE cody CON
FESsEs HIMSELF PERJURER AND vENAL
ADvENTURER-HE BRANDS AS FALSE THE ONLY
sTATEMEET ON WHICH HE COULD CLAIM RE-
sPECT AS TRUTHFUL MAN.
Special despatch TO the Ne,c York Times
WASHINGTON, June 4. The cross-exsmination
of Anderson begun to-day, and although he
vas only examined touching statements made by
him with reference to the conduct of the election
at East Felicisns, he made a record which estab-
fishes beyond all controversy his utter untrust-
worhiness. 10 the history of Congressional in
vestigstlons, no witness ran be recalled who ex-
hbed such utter depravty, such supreme indiff-
erence to the sanctity of solemn obligation, as
this man, When confronted by Mr.. Reed. who
conducted the cross-eXamn nation, with statements
made before the Senate and House committees of
the last Congress- and questioned with reference
to them in the light Of his testimony on Saturday
last he did not even attempt to reconcile the con-
tradicous but coolly admitted that his first state
ments were false, and that he knew they we're
false when he made them. For the first half hour
Of the cro.s.exsmination he houndered in equivo.
testimony of Saturday by the effort to shield that
given Is months ago in reference to the same
transactions, he deliberately surrendered his f,st
testimony and freely admitted tina, it was false
Mr.. Reed commenced the cross examination by
asking the witness concerning his appoi ntmest as
Supervisor. the dates Of his going to and depart.
ure from Felciana, and similar questions, to test
the accuracy of dates given his direct examination
His answers to these questions were given with
glibness that showed he had studied well that por-
ton of his narrative He doubtless expected to
he attacked in this direction, and prepared himself
to make the hours of the day and the days Of the
week and month to fit with mathematical nicety.
Passing from his wanderings between Felicisna
and New Orleans, Mr.. Reed called Ander- IONS at.
iention 10 his agreement with Nah, in which il
was stipulated that A nderson should suppress evi.
derce showing that East Felicians was fairly car
ried hy the democrats, Nash agreeing, in cnnsii-
Grafton Of this suppression. TO secure for Adder
son the position of Naval Officer at New Orleans
l. Wa here that the trouble Of the witness began
He admitted that he had no evidence to suppress,
that he did not expect nor want the naval Office
and that he drew IN the agreement and sednced
Nash into signing it simply "to prevent Nssh from
throwing him overheard" He swore positively
that he made no pretense to Nash that the s'a'e.
ments in the paper were true, but that he knew it
to be false when he presented 1t 10 Nash. He had
no eVnPnCe Whatever OF IiAuus. lie knew the
vote of the parish was to be thrown out on forged
protests. but had no evidence Of that and al
though he had the Sherman letter at that time he
did not know that letter wnnld he accepted as evil
dence If fraud Mr. Reed questioned the witness
closely upon this agreement aud the EXPLANATION
made of it in his direct testimony, compelling him
to frequently contradict himself and gaining {, ON
him admission that the agreement va. II kind
of "immo,al promi-soiy' n7te which he obtained
from Nah, to he be nsed to sell out party or
betrtv the other. acco ding 10 the amount and
character of the induce ment held out
Mr.. Reed next called Mr.. And, r.on's attention
to the paper signed by himself and W.rer in
which they swear that the election on Nov Z,
1876 was the most peaceable and orderly ever he.
held bv either; that the large gain made by the
democrats was secured by legitimate means and
that they consented to protest against the count
ing of the votes for the reason that the votes Of
the two Fehcianas were necessary to give the
Electoral vote to Hayes. This joint statement Of
Weber and Anderson was cOntrasted with the
statement of the latter made on Nov. 10 ia which
he certified to acts of violence. Intimidation and
disturbance and corrupt influences which "dm
prevent a fair, Free peaceahe, and full vote of all
the qualified voters of said parish" This latter
statement the witness denied having sworn to-
He admitted that there were some disturbances
and intimidation in the parish hut they were
''verv slight" Mr.. Reed quoted from Anderson's
testimony before the Howe committee, in which
he testified in detail to numerous and fragrant
ourages, and asked him whether that testimony
was true. He admitted it true, but when he
was confronted with the statement in the paper
signed nv himself and Weber, that the election
was the most peacea BILE and ord rly ever witnessed
he foundered for awhile, snd then ack nowledged
that his testimony before the Senate committee
was fal.c, and that il WAS made to deceive the
committee. BIT he waa not permitted to fepudi.
ate all his former testimony. Mr. Reed quoted
several instances given nv him where outrages
were perpetrated notably on Sept. A. when
Gov Packard, Judge Campbell aud others, who
had visited Feliciana to address a republican
meeting were forced to get away on a special train
to save themselves from personal violence. This
he admitted was true, but was unable to reconcile
il with his later statement that OUT ages were
perpetrsted. Further on Mr.. Reed read from the
testimony Of Anderson and Weber fore the Sen
ate committee and asked Andei son if these sew
eral statements were true. He replied 10 each
case that they were not true, and explsined
that when before the Senate committee be sup
pres ed everything calculated to inj IRE he repub-
LEANS in acc rdance with his agreement made
with Secretary Sherman.
The democrats were thoroughly 1isgusted with
the exhihi ion made nv Ander. o. and It j. Ger.
tain th,t they viii not accent his evidence except
i, csu he corroborated. After his frequent admis-
sons Of perjury to day nothing tat he can az
would he accepted in police court. lie attempt
| ed TO exulsn hi, statement # Nov 10 upon which
the vote Of his parish was thrown out nv the Re.
| turning Board, and slgnailly failed. Before the
Senate committee he swore that he carefully read
over that statement. which had been prepared
from a draft made nv himself and the last para
graph of which he added with his own band. Now
he swear hat It is not the statement he made /;
| that he did not swear to il before u dye Campbell
and that he simply copied the last paragraph from
a paper pr pared nv Marshal Pukin. He Intend
ed, however, TO deceive the Senate committee,
and did deceive them into the belief thai he wrote
the last paragraph himself, and that he did swear
10 the luthfnne-s ~ the paper. This was the
character of hi. testimony thr ~ hou, the cross.
examination, aud not man. who head him will
'eheVe single sentence he may utter. The i'm
preston now prevails that the Weber paper Is q
'ase frgerv. Ii ia in diret, variance with the
evidence If Weber given before the Senate com
h"'ee eight months subsequent to the date il
las, am u Is hardly probable that, it'll such
a"ehm ent N existence, Weber would have tsti.
:. n.a IN 90 s'r,igh'forward and circumsiantiAl q
"alAsI ~ ne did lust prior to his assassination.