The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-18
KELLoGG,s sHREWD sECRETARr.
Telling the Committee How Little he Knows
About the Forged Certificates.


WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE Potter Com
mittee held a short session this morning Worry
much the most adroit witness yet on the stand
H. G. Clarke. Kellogc's private secretary. was
cross-examned by Mcmahon with his usual
skill. but with somewhat less than his usual
success. due partly to the ingenuity OF the wit
ness and partly to an occasional interruption by
Mr. Potter who is anxious to be polite even to
n doubtful witness. Mcmahon devoted his
cross-examination to dssipatng the haze in
which Clarke's direct examination had left tho
signature Of the forged certificate. On Satur-
day ii appeared that Clarke had spread out the
unsigned certificates ON table in committee
room in the State House ut the accOnd meeting
Of the Louisiana Electoral College. and the cer-
tifcatcs had there been signed. nobody knew
when. nor how. nor precisely where, To-day
it became clear that two men did the work
Thomas G. Anderson. Il member of the Return
ing Board. and II. G. Clarke. One or the other
Of them committed tho forgery Clarkc's an
swcrs to-day went far to shift this responsibility
to Anderson. Anderson was subpTnaed by
telegraph on the It'll Of Juno. but he has not yet
appeared. and the developments o-day possibly
furnish an explanation Of his extreme disin-
clinntiOn t. testify.
Clarke testified that he kept tho two lists. 10
have them signed, in an up-sturs committee
room. Nobody in particular had charge "
that room IA it was not public one. Witness
had key to II, and there we're other Keys He
signatures to the second set Of certificates. He
always cousid"rcd this second set rs work of
supcrcrogaton. II" presumed that II was cN-
pectod that he and Gen. Anderson together
wee to see 10 it that the certificates were signed
and sent to Washington. hut nothing especial
was snid about II. Gen. Anderson was some
times In the room while witness was away. For
two days the electoral papers lay sprcad out
| upon the table, remaining there all night He
| sign the certificates and nobody else. witness
afterward sealed them, W, mailed one. drliv-
District Court Judge. He did not know who
put Leviscc's name t. them He saw Levi,
sre's name on them, He admitted that II had
become matter Of general noturieiy That l."-
Nisco and Juflron were not in town ut the timc
the papers were signed tut he had not talked
with Coy. Kellogg on the subject. lie was not
surprised to hear that some names had boon
forged to the certificates Asked whether he
rui the ngmes on IL, certificates. he answered
Q.-Didnt you know the State Of Louisiana
would settle the election for Hayes and Wheel
err A.-CrrtAinly. | was quito certain II n
genuine certificate could be made. the nrst
wore genuine.
tinrntc? A.-les that is my meaning
MIR. NlcNahon. who was questioning the wit.
hess, objected somewhat totne. Interpolation u
the Chairman. and said J." did not agree with
him A. to the meaning Of the witness.
Witn"ss-lct mo give you the train ufthought
runnnE IN mI s anc yen law WIZ Witch sgg VIZ nv
there shalt ho two lists also saws that 10 each II
these lists shall be- attached the certl 'ate ~ tho
Governor. and that same law provides that the
Governor shall prepare for this purpose three
certified lists. AMI never could see how three
certified lists could b" attached 90 six ccriill
Gates. u sin were required
y You arc SURF you l"ft those electoral GER
tihrateS lying on that table over nghty Al
would not say that left them on IN" table
sprrnd In tho way | would have put them
during the day. | may have. although don''
diNinrly remember. gathered them in "a hcaI
az night and laid them on the table ia that
room. ! had my manuscript and notes Of thc
message and everything else lying there
Q.-Nou found them cAN fly 49, You LETT them
Al never noticed any difference.
Odd you look to sec II any now names
were put to them A.-None that SAW.
Citizen who pat them there A.-Thero
you must leave me out. ! know absolutely
nothing about it,
Q.-What position does Marks holdnow A.
Collector 81 Informal Rev nue. IN NV Orleans,
Chairman Potter having asked senator KEEL
pg. To testify the senator lus rcspnES vi that
he win do So az the earliest moment consistent
with tho discharge Of his public dut.o
Tho committee will meet again on Wcdncs-
day and II Is possible TINT short recess may
then b" had.
Cnnsuliati ms between members oithecommit-
tee to-day have led them Ia the determine
to euieavor. during tho coming week. 20 ~
anime NIL the witnesses in Washington. and
next Monday To start subcommittee g.
Louisiana