The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-28
THE INVESTIGATION.
Testimony Regarding the Louis
lana Commission.
william e. Chandler Tells About
the Florida Canvass.
The Potter committee met at II a. m.

line Pott6r committee met at IL a. NJ.
Mr.. Ptkin was recalled and after making a
number of verbal corrections in his testimony
was INTERCEPTED at length by several members
with reference to his statements relative to the
method of employing deputy marshals ia
Louisiana, and other subjects of no public in
terest
Mr.. Butler examined the witness as to the
probabilities of the Packard government being
able to sustain itselfin the event of recognition.
Witness replied he always believed in the
legality of the Packard legislature and that the
itself within three weeks after reeeg seu
without aid of Federal troops. Witness mar
rated the statement made to him by Geo. A. j.
Swasey of the conference held by members
OF the Packard legislature and members of the
McVeagh commission Immediately preceding
the withdrawal OF troops and the recognition of
Nichols. Witness also read translation of an
article in the German Gazette of New Orleans
to the effect that money had been used to over
throw the Packard government. The same
was not furnished by the McVeagh commission
but was expended with their knowledge.
The examination was continued at length
bearing upon the acts and doiugs of the
Mcveagh commission without having developed
anything new when Butler made request of
the chairman that Packard be subp osnael to
appear before leaving the country.
Hiscock said the minority of the com mission
were disposed to accept the testimony of the
witness now on the stand and suggested that
calling additional witnesses would only delay
the progress, whereupon Mr.. Butler remarked
that it was his idea to probe the great fraud to
the bottom without considering who it might
affect, and that he alone was responsible for
his actions and that if the committee did not
intend to establish the true and entire facts of
the case they may as well stop at once any
discussion.
Mcmahon remarked hat the question of
going into the investigation of the McVeagh
commission had bcsn decided in secret session
ondf hot ho rod for A. e
Buffers informing the committee that an
agreement was entered into whereby fraudu-
lent count of votes had been made
effectual, and that he could prove it.
Butler said that the question was "should
Packard be invited to appear before the COM
mittee before be leaves the country"
Potter suggested1that the question was one
which should be determined in secret session.
and if Butler was through with the witness
the committee would have secret session,
Butler said that the trouble with secret
sessions are that everything that occurs are
not Kept secret and as far as he was concerned
the doors should remain wide open. Butler
referred to the statsment just made by
Mcmahon.
Butler then asked witness il he had any con-
versation with Hawley or Harlan before they
returned to Washington, after the recognition
of the Nichols government?
Ayes sir.
Q-What YVES said about providing for those
vices?
A-They said that when they arrived in
Washington thew would see Hayes and arrange
to have leading republicans who had borne the
brunt of the work in louisiana taken care of
Odd that include Anderson?
A-Anderson's name YVES not mentioned.
q (By POtt9r)-Do you understand that if
the federal troops had t3en withdrawn that
down?
A-No sir. The Packard government would
have maintained within 4hree weeks after its
recognition.
Q-Could the Kellogg government have
maintained itself without troops?
Ayes sir; no federal troops were there in
Pitkin then gave detailed story of the eau
Gus which he received from member of the
Packard legislature. AT that conference, after
good deal of discussion, McVeagh said, IF
you want to fight you can do it, bat on next
the courts are in the hands of the Democrats
you will all / 3 hanging up t. lamp posts" The
next morning the Packard legislature was vir-
tually disbande1. Witness was prepared with
papers, newspaper clippings and the like which
Butler would call for 9 if by prearrangement.
Butler himself had scrap book in his hand
which contained a number of choice clippings
from newspapers relating to the McVeagh com.
mission and its work while 10 New Orleans.
One of these was stat ament by Mr., Dufrezs,
effect that three members of the Packard leg.
ls!ature who had gone over to the Nichols
body in order to make quorum, had been
heavily brlbed in the interests of the Demo-
cratic party.
The committee then agreed to go into secret
session, and afterwards take a recess until
O'Clock.
Testimony of Roger G. Glosscock.
After recess Roger G. Glosscock testified: 1
reside at $40 Ninth street, Washington and
made Mrs. jerks acquaintance December,
1873. She had rooms in house in which l
was and took her meals at my place on Ninth
street.
Odd you have any conversation with her
in regard to the so-called Sherman letter?
Ayes, sir, did. One day last winter she
came in to dinner and l took seat by her at
the table and she remarked that she was mad.
1 asked her what was the matter and she said
she had had conversation with Secretary
Sherman and he had insulted her. and if he
didn't look out she would make it hot for him
yet: few days after she intimated that she
letter that was in New Orleans, and on ques-
tioning her she said she referred to the letter
from Secretary Sherman to Mr. Weber, the
man who was killed. We had many conversa-
tons about that matter, and finally she came
in ore day and said she was going home, that
the letter was in New Orleans, and that she
would have to go home to get it, but that she
would be back in a few days. She wrote me a
letter after getting there, but it contained no
reference to the Sherman letter. did not see
her again until few days ago.
Testimony of Leonard WhitHey.
Leonard Whitney, manager of the Western
Union Telegraph Company in Washington,
appeared before the committee and stated he
looked for kilograms between Mrs jerks and
Anderson, and Pitkin and Anderson called
for by the committee, but had been able to find
only one telegram, as follows:
FEBRUARY, 1, 1878.
J. E. anderson North american office, PhitddeE-
phia:
Are you coming over tomorrow? Answer.
(Signed) A. d. jerks.