The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-24
INQUIRY INTO TIE ClPIlERS.
GEN BUTLER'S EXPLANATION BEFORE
THE POTTER COMHITTEE
~. Martin ConvIctIng Himself Of Periury-
Contrndicfing his Other Testinony Ills
Swearing Against MIR. StcuRcr MIstnke.

nllce, lnlS moIulnE, Oens DulleT 1pse 10 u peT-
sonal explanation and read paragraph from
the Washington Iosttothe cfrcct that the cipher
ncs patches we're in his possession all last sum
mer. md thar n, one time he missed them from
his desk
He said that II he made an Avermcnt such as
that ho must have been drunk or insane.
lLaughterl On tho contrary. what he did say
was to show the impossiblity that the des-
patches printed in the Tribune came from him.
and in this he was borne out by another mem-
Der Of the Committee.
Mr., Hiscock-Ycs. had good reason to be-
lieve that kilograms were copied for the Tribune
before they came into your hands.
The cipher Investigation is 10 be conducted
fairly. at least rs far as Gen. Butter is con
ccrned. All the dispatches in his possession are
to be photo-lthographod. and each member Of
the Committee will have one or more copies for
his use The gentleman who made all the trans
lations for the Neo York Tribune Prof. Holden
OF the United States Naval Observatory. a per-
fcctly fair and impartial man. has been named
by Gen. Butler as the expert Of the Committee
to make the trnnsations. II he will accept tho
employment. the Committee will retain him.
After moro than a months delay and mex
cusable blundrring on the part OF the Demo-
cratic members Of tho Committee tho self-ad-
mitted perjurer from Louisiana. 81. Martin.
was finally put on theeiand this afternoon. The
Republicans did not dare put him on as their
witness and ho was finally called by the Com
miltce without reference to party division. Hie
examination was conducted by Chairman Pot
ter In n loose rambling sort Of n way. but before
he had proceeded fifteen minutes the follow
had contradictcd himself half do2on times
He tried TO play the role Of a repentant sinner.
but 1t was too thin. He made even his sponsors
blush. lie had to admit that his swearing
against Mr.. Stengcr was ns he put IT, n mistake
IN the follow who drew bis AFFIDAVIT, although
he admitted that he had rcnd II over carefully
before he signed ana swore to IT,, The fact that
he was bought with money 10 make the affidavit
he unhlushlngly admitted. On this point he
Ind evidently boon trained. The fact that
brought the afllla1 re and gave II 10 John
sherman IN prrson - = known ana could be-
that he insisted long and frequently with Marks
that he should take the affidavit. II came cut
later however that the, insisting was done
after Marks came to Washington with the
Tom {. Anderson, Of the Returning Board.
John Ray. Shermans lawyer. and the Collector
OF Internal Revenue. wore ali connectcd with
the getting up OF the affidavit. Marks paid his
faro and expenses to Washington. and gave
him money at various times before the affidavit
was made. The motive as TO his swearing
against Mr.. Gibson WAS brought out. but. inn
kilograms to Mr.. Gibson. These and 81. Mar
mns iIr own sdmiss;on proved that Ia connection
WIN chhIlletc lor, congress, an attempt was
velopments on this tomorrow will efiectunlly
dispose Of the fellows testimony against Mr..
Gibson.
The secret session lasted about two hours. at
ana H. ~ my .J " ,, M, ,,,
lutions we have had this morning. do YOU intend
to keep them under the ban OF secrecy. or
Mr Bqiler-Do you mean mine?
Inc Hhairman- Yours and Mr. Reeds;
am CONCERNED.
Mr.. Reed do not object either. laughter
lows:
R,.i,ef Tha, the Committee receive from Mr. Putier
The ,ph5 d,;pai,he; which he shan present =? them.
p i,on vi nom Mf hutler shan deHgnar &, make ON
an to an. w .,I & e c1 - w. d"c&S &
a. If ne Commttes and one ,cn 10 Nr Bnticr HAT All
cipher despatchcs $50 r,cc,cd Shall be- Printed ir he
csami',ge. mat une.. h,rcater othefNi'c ordered.
y l'', !, .qS;a Ss1ia '; % =. 's1 ssp,4I aq'
max isltini ,ran,eri' i Of sni d"cirT ti same ,
accounting y hi. b,.t knowicise. .ki ail sbip and
gwen to hm C. he scu 20 any person gwen out ior
irnn.aeon. "S %,o, p W. ,o eenent s W ra
Mite, all prn,ei .Sce,. ani tSesras comii,. ', 10
nom he conu1ic such reasonable sum iOr nis wofA as
Mr.. Reed then offered the following:
Wt,r-,. Nr Hewitt OF Sew Yort IN Ia. place in tho
,Aw,l win the crhcr ic,paiches hfs demanded ras
W. u'a,n he,e an orpGr9hW to face ms Heeu'ers be
Rei.i T,t .ar1 i ii'is r..ition AMI of t,,, rcso
luon directing th. c,mmiticc 90 itcsu.ate ne cphcr
d.spawhcs be sent to Mr Iiien aud that Mr uhen lc
allowed TO be cpt, h,ed l., counsel in ihc same man
, a, a., c'yI u'S 's', 9li, ~, ,'n n sn
,r, 7 ' ''N
n' icH"l"''"H vas "U''l"ou'
The Chairman then called \. III. s.. Martin
who said that he WAS tltr deltufv murshul Df
DnnalI.onvilln cirbtnnn u,ilns f,,tu N,,v Or
i,,,,,0 Mb,i. a., - -. a., .' f. ~
nniN. INV NV Hu", -"uliHi i'"' MtI' 'H Nv
orleans No gave evidence belofo lhHm but
niterNuru repDntei himself OF having given
false evidence. and determined 10 cNpose thoso
who hnd inlucpI htn Ia 1n an IA. t,il h ~ tp.
t.nttnma T., e.yarni ,,ortins IL. ,,.,.,r l. ia 4,
~ AZ, ", ~ -, Ii'i ~, - M ~;
llt Hlst tliu mI, MAudoA ahu MT .hrtI hhd
nH'fWurd GOV liam ana Mr juhn lay, Ihcn
he met with a man named Joe whose other
name he did moi know and wns mi rnduc,.l to
TuI,,o N.rLp ,,.,p i',p., I'm, i,f,.,.., ~,
I,,,t, -,,ii A. - ~ ""o ", t.'s ~ a. a. Wy
lhl"I Wnult uhNc illnE 10 uI WIN ln' ilhl-
Ter, Dut Al length ne did 70, ana witness drew
up an Hi lnvt. which was given to Mr.. Shullu-
bnrger at Washington by MIR. Marks
n0iJnvit ~ btnnL LIsou,,iiia i a., ~, i,,,, r,"
There were certainly men there who could
draw up an affidavit. | did not cXpect TO get
ANYTHING ior ii: did not nsk for ANYTHING as
far as the am llavit was concerned
Q.-What did you ask tor2 A-Well sir my
expenses wore paid 10 Washington. | received
$50 from Marks. and so from Coy. Hahn. max
ing $40 altogether. | had 800 before | came
here / did not receive this as pay Tor the am
daVit. / had no understanding with Marks