The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-29
The Fraud Investigations,

The Fraud Investigations.
The Potter Committee resumed its session
August 10. John E. Leete's apparent in
sanity was discussed. His wife and chill
dren are sick with the yellow fever in New
Orleans which with the excitement of testi-
| flying before the committee may have caused
| a arrangement of mind. telegram was
received from Governor Kellogg in Chicago,
! denying several statements of Leete, in his
testimony, and saring that Leete had
been, for months past, begging for Office.
Latterly threa ening and denouncing him
| because he didn'G receive one. Any state
ment that Packard and himself or leading
Republicans ever took Leete into the party
councils would be received with derison in
Louisiana.
As Mr.. Horn, who was expected to testify,
did not come, the Sergeant alarms was
directed to compel his attendance before
the Committee, tomorrow.
General Butler then called attention to
his request made last week regarding the
failure and refusal of Senator Matthews to
appear before the Commissioners. He now
moved that the fact of his service by
subpoena, and mis- failure to come before the
Committee be entered on the minutes, and
this committee report him to the House for
their action.
Mr.. Potter said he had lost sight of Cen
eral Buffers motion, last week, but remem-
| UeTcu 1T, anu WOulu cAlSTbdln Ii now
put it to the committee, and it was resolved
to report Mr.. Matthews to the House, as be-
ing in contempt. There being no witnesses
before the committee, adjournment was
taken till tomorrow.
On August 20, the Potter Committee
called Major E. A. Burke to the witness
stand. General Butler did all the question
ing of the witness Witness said the highest
Tilden electoral vote was 1859, and the
lowest Hayes elector received 1920, a
difference of S,619. Witness could not give
The vote for Nichols exactly, but he had a
majority of 1000 votes. The Returning
Board threw out some $1,000 votes to count
in Hayes.
Witness said he religiOusly and sincerely
believes that Hayes aid Packard were de-
feated, and Tilden and Nichols elected, and
that was the opinion of every honest man
there. I went to Washington, said the
witness, on the 18th of January, as agent
for Governor Nichols, to secure non-inter-
vention by the Government troops with the
State Government. We felt we had the
/, moral and material force of the people of
Louisiana sufficient to establish curse YES.
We never attempted to have a collision
, with the United States troops. We were
: determined to protect the interests of our
l State against any source whatever, and if
I an armed attack were made on the Nichols
Government it would have been repelled.
We had become sick and tired of the
state Oh GnlnSS. Cnedteu OUT OF Two elec'
tions and plundered, we determined not to
: stand it longer, and would have forced a
v military Government in preference to stand
9 ing such things. General Grant modified
his ideas after my visit to Washington.
was in Washington for the purpose of get
ting the troops not to interfere, and got ar
a order 10 that effect, on the afternoon of the
I'd of March.
Q. Then you got that order on that day
/ when General Grants term expired a.
twelve o'clock that night Now, did yor
S not know that Hayes called on Grant tha
d same day at eleven o'clock in the morning
A. No, sir, l did not hear of it. Die
n not know of any conference between
Hayes and Grant. A telegram was sent th
1. l st of March, 1877, from Grant to Packard
d in which he states that he does not believ
e public opinion will sustain any action b,
the United States Government in Louisiana
: and that the troops would be only used t.
\ protect the peace. Witness admitted to b
correct. Witness said that " we in Louisian
n were not in favor of the Electoral Com
: mission. We understood, through crud
8. reasoning, that if Hayes was recognizes
ct Packard would also have to be recognized.
~ Witness saw nothing in Hayes's letter Q
r. acceptance about the State going both ways
n. Here another telegram from Grant to Ger
~ 1877, was read, in which, Will
Id deprecating interference on the part or tn
er Federal Government in the State Cover
re ment, yet said that the Packard Cover
III ment should be recognized, as the Electors
H. Commission had declared them elected
y When the hope of seating Tilden, whom b
m knew to be elected, passed away; ON tn
at 10th of February we were ready to confe
with Hayes, and see what he meant doin
for Louisiana Among some of the prom
m ises made to Senator Matthews were tt
IN. suppression of crime, the education of tf
Il wi tha MI
on friendly relations between both, and equ
civil and political rights. The witne
~, afterward had conversations and confe
ny euces with General Grant, Stanley Ma
mt thews, Dennison, Sherman, Foster an
ne Others in regard to the Louisiana electio
ed and withdrawing the troops.
or August 81, Major E. A. Burke again toe
on the stand. By mutual agreement, said tt
US witness, friends were to visit Gen. Gra
an with view of ascertaining what his vie,
lid were on the question of the establishme
ON of the Nichols government, but there W
ON nothing said, as far as l am aware, abo
VII any commission. j was assured
or, Mr.. Hayes and others that all t
troops would be Withdrawn. Witness re
,ve from some paper, which he had in his p'
ts session, that there was letter from n
lor Hayes TO Mr.. Foster, under da'e of Febl
ers airy %, con aiming The basis of guaranre
of and assurances, and verbal guarantees
ion Messrs. Sherman, Matthews, Foster d.
tho nison, and Garfield, both at the intervi
VIZ, which was held in the committee ro,
'hu of the Senate, and al Wormley's Hot
'pi. This letter embraced all the guarant,
oc. and assurances we had. Said.
ars witness, 1 acted as messenger myself, a
om. we did not scratch Tilden until the pa
sna shook him. gave the copy intended
'hs' Matthews to Sherman, whom met oD
zee, stairs leading to the Finance Commit
A room. | never stated that received q
21st letter of assurances from Sherman or 9th
low at the conference. Major Burke said
,;. his knowledge, that there was
.ihs note or memorandum in writing.
ION. met Foster subsequently at his room,
ness there was nothing of any conversation ct
,eht mitted to writing. General Butler ente
rho into a cross-examination for the purpose
drawing out of witness the statement t
anne Mr.. Hayes had entered into personal
pro- gain, but witness denied he ever told
and one Mr.. Hayes in person had authori
ying guarantees or assurances.
Burke continued his testimony before
Potter Committee August o. He said [
es a the census of 1875 for New Orleans
70 of fraudulent and in the interest of the Rer
ro1a lican party, by increasing the negro
las1 25,000, and that the State was carried
pea Nichols by 5000 majority and for Til
by about 5000.