Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-22
The Potter Investigation
EXAMINATION OF T. A. jerks or
NEW ORLEANS.
POSSIBILITY OF FORGED PAPERS
ny ANDERSON.
NIX. MCMAHON ATTEMPTS TO
STiFLE INVfSTIGATION.

WASHINGTON, June y. The Potter commit
tee met at l2.l5, Potter being absent aud Morr-
presiding.
Capt. Thomas A. jerks of New Orleans was
sworn, and examined by Mr.. Reed lie testified
that ia 1876 his residence was in East Feicania.
lie held the position of |. 5. deputy marshal
Republicans 10 this parish told witness they were
afraid to register their names, 90 account of IN
timdaton.
Mr.. Mcmahon inquired If jerks was a witness
called At the request Of sherman.
Mr.. Reed replied he was.
MIR. McMahon said he objected to questions
be NJ put re aiing to affairs in East Felcaua, ex-
cept what materially affected sherman, and that
the question whether or not sherman wrote the
so.cacd sherman letter" shonld be decided be-
fore this witness gave testimony regarding intim.
idation experienced ty republicans III East Fell
CANA parish.
4 long discussion onsued the republican mem
hers taking he ground that they had been en-
deav DING ever since the organization vi the
committee to ascertain the proposed scope Of the
investigation.
Mr.. Morrison stated that sherman requested
that 100 witnesses be subppuaed by the sub-co N
mittee to visit La, the members of which are
not yet announced. to testify with reference te
intimidation and 1t was his intention at the prop
time TO ask the committee to hear stateme Ia t.
regarding intimidation.
Mr.. MCMahOn withdrew his obi. cion.
Witness continued. lie gave an account of TIE
iutlmlJatlon IN his parish. \Otb NJ not hereto
fore published was elected.
itness proceeded but a few moments when
MI Mcmahon again objected to question by
Mr. Reed, and another discussion en-ued.
At the suggestion OF Mr.. Cox tue witness WIS
allowed to proceed, with understanding that at a
future meeting, when the members are all present
it will be decided whether not testimony re-
lating to intimidation shall he accepted or stricken
out.
Witness produced a letter written bv Anderson
TO him, making the request that he would forward
Auderson's i na list, given to witness by Gen.
Anger, which contained statements of 10 murders
committed in East Felicania.
Question, by Mr.. Reed-Dd Anderson ever
tel you that the election wa, fair and free
A-No sir, he never admitted the election was
fair OF free.
Odd Anderson tell you he could make a
protest at Clinton or Baton Rouge
Ale Id me he could not do SO at Clinton,
as that would be unsafe
Witness was here shown An1eisons protest in
the sherman report. which Anderson heretofore
testified was not the document he had signed. aud
claiming that 1t had beeu altered.
Witness SAID to the best of his knowledge and
belief the document shown hlm was the one An
derson signed AID swOre to before Judge Camp
bell in his presence.
The petition was then produced by the witness
aud read by the clerk. 1t gives detailed account
of ~ murders committed III East Felicauia, men
tioning the names of parties killed and crcum-
Stances connected therewi lh.
Witness said he saw A anderson in Sept. oct,
when he stated it Impossible TO organize the
party IN hls parish, owing to the experience OF
terrorism. Anderson told witness he was attacked
by democrats, and said he thought hl. clerk Bat
Ter, had something TO do with it.
Odd Anderson ever request you to make
affidavit he was intoxicated when he sigued that
paper and did not know what he was signiugi
AYES.
Q-What reply did you make
A-Retused to do anything of the kind.
Q-Was Anderson underline influence of liquor
when he signed the protest
A--No, sir, no more tn ~ wa', aud | hadnt
drank anything.
Witness stated several months after Anderson
came to him aud wanted him to make a state
mcnt to the effect that he had document written
by himself, which he desired witness to sign.
Odd Anderson ever tell you he might make
some money 10y say ING that document was pre-
pared by him
Ayes. lie told me Major Burke had offered
him several thousand dollars and a position, If he
would 90 back on his protest.
After some uuimpoItant testimony, witness was
asked what he knew of the so-called sherman
letter, and said the frat he knew of ITS existence
was gu Jtn. 10th last when it was mentioned by
Marshal Ptkin, in CONVEX saton with him, 10 New
Orleans.
Odd you ever see letter written by She-
man to any one, about the election Of '16i
A-No, sir.
Witness was shown several letters, which he
identified being 10 the handwriting Of Weber,
and then he shown the signature of W eber TO
the Weber-Ander-on contract aud was asked
whether he believed 1t to he genuine lie said he
did not think II That Weber always signed
his name in back hand That he had never
seen him sign a. TIL, paper was signed. That II
might be Mehet's >iguatuIe, but 1t was not bis
usual signature before. He had never seen that
Anderson Weber contract before. lie also test-
fed to Gov. kellogg's desire that Anderson should
return to East FeiCiana and discharge his duties
as supervisor, and that the governor advanced
him 500 out of his own funds to Jay his expenses.
lie denied Anderson's tatement as to l.. b. jerks
tho relation OF wltness) being drunk at witness
house, and as to the facts OF the conspiracy (that
There would be no election in East Felcana) being
drawn out Of hun. That part OF the statement
which mentioned the fact OF his wife gong to
Col Potter, chairman OF the dem. State commit
tee. was true, but her object was to get guatan-
tee for Anderson's protection from violence.
The cross examination elected the fact
that jerks was tax collector in East Feliciana in
1869 and 10 Witness did not know when he left
New Orleans 10 whose behalf he was subpGnAed.
Judge Shellabarger told him on his arrival here
that it was on the republican side. Have met the
Judge several times and talked over La, matters
generally. His wife, on her arrival first called on
senator Kellogg and then called for witness at
Sheabarger's office, who first told her she was
subj tenaed on the other side.
Bv McMahon-W hat documents did your wife
bring with her when she came to Washington
Al don't think she had any. Witness said
his W lie had at one time been employed in one
of the departments of the treasury, when Gen.
Spinner was in office.
Q-Dont you know it after Sherman be-
came secretary of the treasury
ANo, sir.
How do you know your wife was in The de-
paltmeut under Spinner, by her telling you y
Aces, sir.
Without concluding the cross-examination, the
committee adjourned till tomorrow.