The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-28
Some Tricks of Leading Conspirator.

For the evident purpose Of diverting pub
lie attention from his letter of guarantee
to WEBER and ANDERSON. and from other
parts Of the conspiracy, John SHERMAN
made three separate requests Of the POTTER
Committee to examine certain witnesses
specifically named 10y him, TO sustain charg-
es of intimidation and violence in the Fee
hciana parishes. When the subcommittee
in New Orleans accepted his proposition
and offered to summon anybody he desired,
his counsel on the spot. joins RAY, who had
figured conspicuously in all the Louisiana
scandals, refused to go ON, and abandoned
that part of his employers case.
The original offer of proof in this respect
was a sham intended iOr effect, which ex-
posed itself when put to the test But JOHN
SHERMAN got more than he bargaincd
for. when this trick was tried on the COM
mittee. 4 number of colorcd witnesses
who We're conscripted 10 appear before the
HOWE Committee in 1876, and whose names
figure in the volume of manufactured aill-
dayts which SHERMAN produced before the
Senate to prove alleged intimidation, have
sworn that they were induced to put their
marks 10 those aflidavits without knowing
what they contained, and that the state
ments in them are false and fabricated.
In the light OF these disclosures ana the
certainty that others equally damning
would follow, SHERMANs retreat is readily
understood. Had he persisted. he would
have been overwhelmed with additional
confusion and disgrace, Important testi-
mony upon this subject is yet to be taken,
and when it is all in. the Fraudulent Score
tary of the Treasury will be apt To- discover,
with all his gains in Office and all the power
he has been enabled To exercise through il,
that the price paid III the sacrifice Of honor,
integrity, and consideration has been dear
He has gathered at Atlantic City lot of
the visiting statesmen who appeared at
New Orleans, to testify that they did not
know Of his collision with the Returning
Board, and did not hear Of the guarantee
given TO WEBER and. ANDERSON, and other
thines Of like character Well suppose
| they did not know OF hear of these facts
how does that relieve SHERMAN ; He was
too sharp TO extend his confidence beyond
the parties Immediately concerned, because
he knew that in proportion as it was en-
larged, even among coniederates, the dan
ger of exposure was increased.
There was no object in telling GARFIELD
| KELLEY, Ii ALE, and the rest Of them, that
he had made a secret compact with WEBEI
and ANDERSON, by which they were to b,
compensated with Office as soon as practica
bic after the Attn Of March, for letting The
forged protests standing in their names re
main as they We're. But the proof that An
DERsoN was offered two places, one in tn,
Treasury right under SHERNTAN's nose anC
the other as Consul at Funchal at HAYES,
written request, cannot be wiped out. WEBEl
would have been provided for" had he
! lived, just as every man, white or black
forger, perjurer, scoundrel, thief. or assas
sin, has been billeted on the Treasury fol
aiding the Great Fraud in Louisiana anC
Florida
SHERMAN dealt directly with WELLS, AN
DERsoN, and the other Instruments through
whose agency and rascality the vote o
Louisiana was stolen. He had every motive
for concealing the bargain and sale from hi
nearest friend, and it may be assumed tina
the secret was guarded strictly, except from
those who had a part to perform in the con
spiracy. But the connection with thes
! agents was made clear during the trial o