The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-07
"A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
yORGERIES ~ IHE HiYES ELECTORAL
RETURNS IROm LOUISIANA.

Ilector Icvisce Swearing that his signature
In Nine Places AniNcd hy some Ono
Jlse without his Knowledge or t"nsent- P
The Alleged Attempt 10 Uribe uim ur. .
STANLEY Matthews Is Invited TO Espl"in
wAsHNGToS June G-The proceedings OF .
Tho Potter committee were decidedly snnsa- I
hona to-day. In dramatic effect they cclitscd
even the dongs Of the first days session. when
Anderson and Sherman wcro on the stand. l
rocolcct no occurrence IN a committee room.
save one. at all comparable to the scene to-day
Fhe ono solitary exception in eight years OK
perenco at tho national capital-a period that
embraces many important Investigations
Tho production by Oakcs Amcs Of his fatal
memorandum book. The Boknap denoucment
was in private. That was n scene which was
never pa.allclod in the history 81 this country.
and it is to be hoped never will be-. But nine
persons witnessed 1.-THE five mombers OF the
committee the accused. his lawyer. the a'cus-
Ing witness. and your correspondent who by
accident happened to enter tho committee room
As the accused confronted by the damning
proof Of his crime. broke down and confessed.
The scene to-day came as an unexpectedly
Exciting finale to n rather dull and uninterest-
Ing days work. Tho committee met at the ap-
pointed hour II O'Clock. AMI. rs the members
gather slowly. but little was done before
the recess for lunch was taken. The Anderson
correspondence. which Mr.. Matthews was re-
uussted last evening to furnish the committee.
was presented by Mr.. Cox. There were four
teon lettcra and kilograms. incluliug two let
tcrs from Gen. smith late appointment clerk
OF the Traasury Department. 10 Matthews on
tho subject of Andor-ou's appointment. Sew
erai Of these documents worc the originals Of
the copies presented by Anderson at his first
examination. The rest wore letters md telc-
grams montiored ly Anderson. of which he had
retained no copies. The principal intrr-
Get which aches TO tho unuublish-
eli loitors produced to-day Ia tho new
light they throw upon tho motive that
seems 10 have aruntcd Matthews in his
dealings with Anderson. II appears to We very
clear now that Anderson was eagerly embraced
BY Matthews as the next friend oi the Fraudu-
lent Administration. because Packard and Pit
kin were Just then tho bc'.s n0irs at whose ru-
mored threats Hayes. Matthews. and all the
Presidential traders trembcd. Anderson ap-
pearcd TO them Just then rs a sort Of eodsend.
He had one document. tho Nash agreement.
which was proof Of corrupt dealings on the part
Of at least two Louisiana Republican polit-
had other and more damaging proofs that hs
knew Of still other documents which were still
more terrible. Matthews. II will be recollected.
had written not long before his famous letter 10
Packard. asking him to step down and out and
reeve,Hayes OF embarrassment Packard had
rather Indignantly declined and published
Natthews's letter. There were ugly rumors
anoat as 10 Packard's intentions. The story
OF the bargain had leaked out. Tho outlines
II tla W. ,1ar nta "a haI haa
given to the public. The Matthcws-Foster cor
respondence with Gordon and Brown had been
printed. Blaine had made his forboding dcca-
ration in the Senate, that II Packard was not
elected Hayes had no title 10 the Presidency.
II was just about the time that the country was
ringing with the charges Of bargain. trade. sale,
and fraud that rcd-headcd Jim Anderson
dropped in on Matthews, at Cincinnati. Mat
thews il will be remembered. was cutting a
very big figure in national politics at this inn
portant uncture. He had just come out Of "A
great intrigue one that thus far had been sue
cessfu but the portents OF the storm were many
and threatening. He evidently liked intriguing.
H. wanted more Of It. Persuasion had failed
with Packard; 1t was necessary TO resort TO
other means. The plan OF sending "A commits
slon to Louisiana TO trade Packard of and
secure pledges from Nichols had been de-
termined on Anderson struck Matthews a
-
play the spy on Packard and report to the Com
missloners who were to trade Packard of for
promises, written and oral. Of protection 10 the
Returning Board rogucs. the President
makers who must at all hazards be taken care
o. Tho letters Of Anderson to Matthews dis
closed the true character OF the intrigue the
latter was engaged in. They explain the Let
Der Of introduction 10 Harlan one Of the trading
commission Anderson was to communicate
.s,ff- xt.f.h urla 70 i'm nj
ylsed of all he heard and saw in the
Packard camp. He was to collect evidence
against Packard and Pitkn to gather up all the
prons'- 70 pay which might have been reduced
10 writing and were floating about and trans
mt them 70 Matthews. They would come 10
safe hands ma they might be used 10 coerce
Packard and his boistorous friends in the North
Lls3. Evidence yet 70 be put in. Documentary
Ini oral, will mako all this clear by and by.
l. is sufficient To note this much here
recess followed the Introduction of the
Matthew'S Anderson letters. Judge A. B. Loyi-
g., was tho neNt witness 10 be examined. just
biior he had been sworn page came In hur-
richly from the House and announced that a
test vote on the tobacco tax was about to be
taken Blackburn. Mcmahon. stenger, Cox,
and Morrison were interested, and not being
tairel, had 10 20 and vote. This took away
quorum Of the committee. II was nearly an
i'lr W'ore the committee had a quorum Inc
crowd q press men and spectators had com
ioria ly Nllcd up the room. There was general
curl .'y t. know what WAS expected to come
ou d l.oyisrc's examination. Few, save the
DemO'iatir members Of the committee, ana
ono or two others. knew what was u
be d.lyrl tlr. II WIS notorious that LeNlset
had trt fed before the Senate commit IN tiie
spring u 1871 that an attempt had been maze
= brbe him ar one Of the Hayes electors 70 Vot,
i9l Tllen The general expectation was tlhl
n witness was going 10 confess TO someth ing
about tAs, Anderson, in his letter 70 Mlt
NV which was put IN evidence yesterdaS
al9rn on. had Weniioned q story that levlse,
9niiwl 9'her HIVES electors had pQt Soted iol
inoyr7 lut voted blank, and that they ind no.
sign'l the returns mnde up by the ElHctora
tn.."go aud forwarded To- the President Of N
9Aa'e. This was. Of course, generally
one, Aniersons ial'rications.
.NeNaA4n began the examination. He sai'
WN' witness; You testified before tho senate
opmlu'e last year that an attempt TO BRIDE hat
Le' rGdo. WEI Won please give this commit
gee $ concise q statement M you can OF th'
{ t.I l,aNigHe