The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-22
The Fraud Investigations,


The Fraud Investigations.
The Potter Investigating Committee re-
sumed its session on August II, but in the
absence of several members no witnesses
were examined.
Gen. Butler asked that Stanley Matthews
be summoned.
Mr.. Potter said the Senator had been
summoned Saturday, and he replied an i'm
portant engagement at Newport would pre-
vent him attending, and whatever he in
tended to do, he deemed of no consequence
to the committee. From this reply, Mr..
Potter said, he inferred that Senator Mat
thews did not mean to respond to the sum-
mons.
Gen. Butler remarked that if the Mat
thews answer meant that he would not at
tend or obey the summons of the House of
Representatives, the sooner an issue was
made the better for the House and the Sem
ate, so that the powers of both can be de-
termined. If the House has not the power
to compel the attendance of witnesses, then
the investigation is useless or subject to
suspicion. He did not know what credit to
give to certain newspaper articles he had
seen, butif they were true, Mr.. Matthews
had been testifying to newspaper
reporters. He tells to them
as much as he pleased, and we want him
here to tell as much as the committee
pleases. He, therefore, moved that it be en-
tered on the record that Mr.. Matthews re-
fused to appear before the committee, and
that the same be reported to the House for
their action in the matter.
MIR. Potter said he would entertain Mr..
Butler S motion, but thought it better to
await the presence of Mr.. Hiscock and Mr..
Stenger before voting on it: he, therefore,
adjourned the committee till eleven O'Clock
tomorrow. The committee then went into
executive session.
On August 13, the Committee examined
VIM. II. Raberts. edilor of the New Orleans
Times, who testified that he was selected,
as a man not actively engaged in politics,
to go to Ohio, before the election, and as
certain the views of Governor Hayes on
in case of his election to the Presi-
dency. He received an introduction
to the President from Mr..
Halstead, of the Cincinnati Commercial
| and, on meeting Hayes, and holding a
conversation with him, the Governor told
him he did not want the Presidential office,
| except he got it fairly. General Comfy
| was present at the time. Hayes said his
letter of acceptance was not mere empty
| form of words, but he intended to live up to
| it in its broadest spirit, and intended to
| treat the people with fairness and justice.
| He said nothing as to which State govern
ment he would recognize in Louisiana.
| to mean the withdrawal of the troops and
! the election of the person receiving the
| highest vote. He believed Hayes to be a
well meaning, honest man.
| Gen. Butler cross examined the witness as
to whether he did not understand "justice
and fairness" to mean recognition of the
Democratic government.
| He replied Hayes made no pledges of any
kind, and witness was left to infer what
| these words meant.
Gen Butler tried to show they implied a
bargain.
Witness admitted that when relating his
talk with Hayes to his friends, he accom-
panied the information with the statement
| that he understood Louisiana was to be
saved. An article in old time regular
bloody shirt" style, published in the
Ohio State Journal, and given as Hayes's
sentiments toward the South, created ex.
citement until it was proven Gov. Hayes
held no such opinions, and never author
| lied the article.
Gen. Butler-Had you any doubt thai
Hayes understood he was pledging himself
to you, that your State would be placed in
the hands of the Democracy if he was
elected President?
A long discussion ensued between Gen
Butler and Mr.. Hiscock as to the question
Witness replied he understood from
Hayes's manner and conversation that the
Nichols government would be given
chance to establish itself.
The testimony of Colonel w. H. Roberts
was continued on the 14th of August, il
which he expressed his belief that Tilde1
and Nichols were both elected. The mex
witness was John E. Leete, who is repor
ter on the New Orleans Times. He testified
that about 1872 he was engaged in gettin.
up facts and evidence in support of th'
Kellogg government to lay before Congress
Other people made affidavits, and witnes
compiled them. There were endless com
missions and committees, and calls for NOR
evidence fran Senator Morton: We allege'
, that the Democrats, with Warmoth, ha,
swindled us Republicans. All the best office
, had been traded off to the Returning Boar,
in order to get them to count in kellogg
Witness was to get the best Office not trade
off already, and picked out the Office O
Harbor Master. Never went near the office
except to draw pay. Was constantly assc
, ciated with Kellogg. Lost confidence i
Gov. Kellogg when l was removed. I the
got position in the State Senate as a clerk
!. Kellcgg's excuse for all his failings wa
that he was tied up and embarrassed an
could not do what he wanted with hi
patronage. He was situated just as Haye
| | is now.
Witness stated that he was afterwar
made Tax Collector in small town, whic
;, he traded off for a seat in the State ConveI
J, ZION that nominated Packard in 1876. Wi
= ness was opposed to Packard, aud Kellog
; wanted him to spring the nomination
! = William on. Kellogg pretended to suppo
Ii Packard before the convention, but /
y never intended him to be nominated.
l. j. E. Anderson was called, and identifie
d q letter from P. A. Darrall to himself wri
ten May l2, 1873, in which he expresses h
want of faith in Hayes and other membe
l. of the Republican party.
,e On August 15, the examination of Jot
-, A. Leete was continued. He said Wht
- Anderson called on me after coming fro
q East Feliciana, he told me he had carri,
al out the programme, as well understo,
re between Kellogg, Anderson, and myse
,e The programme was to keep the color,
Republicans from voting. Each man hi
o. a programme of his own. 1t was thoug
OF best to exclude colored Republican vot,
ut that the Returning Board could throw O
n the whole Democratic vote of the paris
If. if necessary. The Republican party W
,s demoralized there, and would ha
% been beaten. Anderson went back to f,
ct Feliciana, and a peaceable election was he
Anderson told me he did not mean to ma