New-York tribune., 1879-06-10
Mr.. sPoFFoRD AGAIN UNFORTUNATE.

ANOTHER WITNESS AGAINST SENATOR KELLOGG
WHO TURNS OUT TO BE A SORT OF BALAAM
AND BENEFITS THE SENATOR by HIS TESTIMONY
TDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, June 9.-AnOther Spofford witness
went wrong to-day Jules Sevignes, thirty-four
years of age, a white man and q member of one of
the old French families of Louisiana, was member
of the Legislature which elected Senator Kellogg to
his seat in Congress. His story. as brought out
oss-examination to-day. is as follows:
About the second week in May, one Elder. from
Washington, came TO Ncw-Orleans in search of
witnesses for Mr.. Spofford. He sent for Sevignes,
and the latter for reason not fully developed
III his own mind, took notion to lend himself to the
schemes on foot for the purpose ultimately of ex
posing them. He made an affidavit for Elder,
setting forth that he not present in the joint
convention on the day of the Senatorial election,
but recorded his vote the next day for Kellogg.
Some time after making this affidavit he ap-
preached by Murray who had been Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Packard Legislature, and who Is
Spofford witness here, and was asked to go to Cav
anac's another Spoiford agent Office and make an
other affidavit, which he did. lie AYERS that Elder,
Murray and Cavanac all knew he was making oath
to that which not true, and that the induce
ment was held ont to him that he would be well
provided for when Mr., spoloTd should come into
the Senate. Both Elder and Murray told him that
they wanted to get five members of the Legislature
to swear that they were not present on the day Of
the Senatorial election. He swore that Murray, the
SeIgeaut-at-Arms. had sent deputy after HIM and
had seen him IN the building on the day Of the
election. He was subpGnaed TO come here, with
the understanding on tho part OF Air. SpoiIords
agent that he would stick to this story
The witness said lie was urged to go to the Nichols
Legislature after the Packard body had dissolved
and vote for Mr.. Spofford. An offer of $1,000 was
made to him If he would do this. He at first refused
TO tell by whom this offer was made, but it was
wrung from him. He said 1t came from his own uIl-
Gle, Democrat. The witness was put TO the torture.
Senator Hill was almost ferOcOus in his dealings
with the witness and sought by every means to
make him feel uncomfortable. Notwithstanding
this however he stuck to the story as given above
Senator Keloggs friends point TO the fact that all
the atiidavts yet produced were made in Louisiana,
generally in the presence of only two or three per-
sons, and in an atmosphere not al ways conducive TO
truth-teIIlng especially when Inducements were
held out for different course On the contrary,
the stories brought out In Washington have been
told III the presence of an august committee Of the
United States Senate, a majority of which is Demo-
cratic with the usual fate Of pcuTers staring them
ia the face, and with one of their number already
i'll jail for alleged false swearing Notwithstanding
this, they stick to the stories they FIRST tell
the committee.
a general press dispatch. which gives the pro-
ceedngs in DETAIL says that the committee first
recalled Thomas Murray (coloredl, who was briefly
examined by Mr.. Merrick.
Q-On Saturday you stated that you had not been
pr0miscd money but you told DeLacy that you could
make $1,000. forgot 10 ask you how you were going
truth and make reputation with my people 1t would
be worth $500 to have the good people OF my commu
Q-Your people have bad reputation. and you
wanted to build MP good reputation for yodrselii
Mr.. shellabarger-How did you get at the $500
You thoqEht your repntatlon was worm S2,oOOf
A-NO. thought could make $4,000 out OF 1t.
Mr.. Merrick then recalled DeLacy and questioned
him about the signature to his affidavit.
Odd you not swear on Saturday that you never
signed your name DeLacy with an &c" in the final
sylIablei Al did not. might sign that way when in
hurry.
The members of the committee then compared the
wtneSs's signature to the affidavit with his as
written on a separate piece of paper Saturday,
but the conclusions differed.
Mr.. Merrick then offered in evidence DeLacy's
affidavit to abide the disposition of the other afida-
Wits
The Sergeant-at-Arms reported that eight wit
nesses on each side had been subpGnaed.
The chairman suggested that the examination be
limited to that number, it might be considered
proper to send subcommittee to New-Orleans to
examine witnesses in order to save expense.
Jules Sevgnes having been sworn, Mr.. Merrick
exhibited to him affidavit the latter saying that
he wrote it, and that it bore his signature. The
affidavit was read stating that he was not present
in the Legislature In January, 1877 .when Kellogg
was elected.
Mr. Merrck-Is that paper trTei At is not true;
duSod me 10 make the affidavit knew II TO be lie.
Mr. Me1lck-I insist on knowing their names Al
Mr. Kernan of the committee-You ouGh4to answer
the question. Al cannot answer. because IL would
duplicate other parties not interested.
Mr. Kcrnan-We cannot hep that
Mr. Hi-As II is not n secret you must answer.
Nitncss-One of them was DrOuett.
MI. herrick-We want all The names of those who IN
duced you 20 swear TO what they knew was lie. A.
There were other parties without my uncle, and am
MI McI1ick-And you refuse to.naIne the others
Nh. kernsn-Dld you say they knew II was faschood
when you made the aiidaVitf A--They knew II 10 be
Q-who are theyH A-ThaPs what I decline to an-
QUhat reason can you give for not telling the world
who these men are
Mr.. Keinan-who elsoi A.-Others wanted me to
swear 10 lie; they did not induce Inc. Thomas Nur-
BY Mr.. Hill-WHat was the inducement to you pre-
vious to writing the snldayiti A-1Cavanac said
pS u hnt did NOT AK me 10 swear fsIsev
TO Mr. MeTr:ch-I made second affidavit for Elder.
who said he would not pay any thing told Caysnsc
that not present at the election OF Dir. Kellogg
bat locked up In "a room.
Q-That a lie, blunt, strag ghtforward lie A
Q-was what you did superinduced by the love OF
justice, truth, patriotism, or sugar Al never vas
bbed ana the parties themselves know because they
had again aud again offered me Dribes, and refused
them.
Q-Who were the partiesi Al decline to state.
hr Hil-You must answer. AM DrOuett told me
that II recorded my vote for sponOrd could get what
/ wanted IN money answered could not VIII you
not l." he asked DO II a favor for me T. Ireplied
Ma, cannot, because II would not be consistent 10
vote Tor two the office" This IN the
Nichols Legislature.
Senator Kellogg interrogated the witness, who said
he was thirty-four years old, white man, and was
descended from an old French family. He continued:
saw Elder for the first time IN New-Orleans on the
do 4 washington
up testimony for Spcford Elder had room on Custom
I0use-s The first Of the three aidayts given 10
4. ~ I-.IIlI LLL.LI hDl lL.AH