Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-06
CIPHER CACKLE.
OPENING DAY or THE INvEsTIGA.
TIONIN NEW YORK.

TION IN NEW FORK.
Smith Weed ON the stand-Tho Story Of
His Southern Trip and What Came of r.
"A Returning Board For Sale, But the
Money Not Observation-Disclosures TX
oneration of Tilden of Any Connection
With the Transaction.
New YORK, Feb. 5.-The Potter sub-commit
tee to investigate the cipher dispatches begun
work to-day and expect>to conclude the special
work Saturday. All the members of the COM
mittee were present.
Smith M. Weed, of New York, was the first
witness and testified to going to North Caro-
lima under instructions received at the Everett
House.
Question. Well, now, sir, tell us if you have
any knowledge of those cipher dispatches as
published in New York papers.
A. had cipher. When left here had a
cipher which I used from both North and
South Carolina. l have written statement
which will refresh my memory ii you will per-
NIT ms to submit it or have II read.
Mr.. Reed. object to this, not in oaptious
manner, but am inclined to think we want
After consultation the chairman ruled that
the witness should proceed and the witness re-
sumed:
Mr.. Chairman-I destroyed Both the kew and
the copy of the dispatches, yet must confess
l. think the dispatches as published in the
Tribune are pretty correct. Now will go back
to my trip. l met Cox in South Carolina.
From there telegraphed Henry Havemeyer to
the effect that had nothing to do and wanted
to come home. In response to this went back
to South Carolina. The published statement
that registered under another name than nv
ton and others. It was admitted that the State
had gone in the interest of the Democrats.
Mr.. Hiscock-Mr. Chairman, let the witness
be specific and give names. We do not REQUIRE
admissions. We are now looking for facts.
Witness-Is is true I was asked to furnish
money, and believing two out of the three
States had been carried, determined what to
do, and telegraphed to New York, asking if
money could be furnished.
Mr. Hunton-Have you got that telegram?
Wltness-l have not. I propose giving the
bones of the transaction to this committee.
The dispatches between myself and Henry
Havemeyer were the only ones sent. Finally
an arrangement, or rather definite proposition,
was handed me, saying that for $3.50, 900 or $780,
900 the South Carolina canvassing board would
make things all right for the Dem; Gratis. had
not, as has been claimed, telegraphed that the
State had gone for Hayes or that the county re-
turns showed majority for the Republicans,
the Democrats. left Columbia for Baltimore,
representative of the canvassing board, Harry
Sullivan, and Others were on The train To
make matters short, I will state that positive
ly declined to receive the proposition made by
the canvassing board to hand the State over to
the Democrats.
A number of kilograms were submitted to
witness, who said they were not his. He recog-
nized one in the blue book marked Baltimore.
Nov. 90, and addressed to Gen. j. b. Go1don.
Columbia. 1t reads:
'Matters Tea buy London agent inform Spain
and 10 news. (Signed) W."
Witness-l never sent any such telegram.
The translation of the telegram. however. is
given:
Matters airanged by returning board agent.
Inform Haskell and telegraph news.
Chairman-On the same date there was
another telegram sent from the same place and
from the same person, reading:
Have both; hold on to Cuba until York or
April; may be little delay. (Sigped) W.
Witness-This telegram I know nothing
about.
dispatch was shown witness dated Balti-
more, Nov. Goth, addressed to Gen. J. B. Jor-
dan, Columbia. The translation is as fol-
lows:
Mstters arranged by returning board agent.
Witness said he never sent any such tele-
gram, and would say that the Tribune does not
lay positive claim to accuracy in their cipher
message.
Chairman-On the same date there was an
other telegram sent to the same place and from
the same person, reading as translated:
Have court hold on to electoral votes until
fixed or failure. May be a little delay.
Witness said he knew nothing about this tel
egram translation. Telegram No. rs was then
read by witness as follows:
columbus, Nov. 2S.-Henry Havemeyer,
New York: Majority of the board have been
secured. The cost is $4,000, TO be sent as fol-
and Of SIS, 900, all to be $500 Or 81 900 bills,
the notes to be deposited as the parties accept
and given up upon the vote of the State of
South Carolina being given to Tilden's friends.
The three packages should be sent without in
scription and tonight, unless you should re-
ceive telegram from me countermanding.
Shall try to secure everything by the plan of
deposit. The friends Of Chamberlain and Ba-
varia are here in force and 1 fear their money
and careful watching and intimidation of the
board. For Gods sake, let it go if you can. Be
safe In Florida or Africa. Do this at once, and
night. Telegraph directly whether it will be
done. (Signed) W.
Mr.. Weed said that he could not tell what
parts of this translation were correct and what
were not, from his recollection of events as
they occurred. He thought the translation was
substantially correct, though his memory was
that the sum named was 100000 instead Of
$4,000. He thought that one sentence should
read, "For Gods sake let it go. if you can be
safe in Florida or Africa" without any period
after the word "can.'' His idea was that thing
should not be done if it could be avoided. He
was wholly unable to recolect the meaning of
any particular word in the cipher, as the mean
ing was purely arbitrary.
Chairman-Look at telegram No. 80, from
Baltimore, under date of Nov. 90. 1t reads:
Have court hold on to electoral votes until
fixed, or failure" Is that yours?
Witness-it purports to be mine, but by no
means conveys the idea had intended.
Chairman-Here is another from Columbia,
dated Nov. 81. 1t is addressed to you at the
Everett house, and reads: "Pope answered you
last night. Send for it Barnums. We think
both court will close tomorrow and put Naples
majority in the house and probably acquire
Cuba electors. (Signed.) SPAIN
Question-Do you reoollect having received
this telegram? Answer never received any
such communication. Besides, have no idea
whatever who Pope is.
QUESTIONABLE any of your dispatches signed
'Mead?" Answer-Yes, sir. There is one; con
tanned forty words.
XU;tro,, tl,o,, &,,I- n &lo &c A.. !,