The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-25
VOL. XLYI.--N0. l7S.
EASCALITY IN LOUISIANA.
4 NEW CHAPTER IN THE GREAT ELEC-
7ION CONSPIRACY OF 1879.
Parish Returns Intercepted In the Post once
Protest. Put In Them-Keiioru's Perjury
Proved by Uis Own Hnndwritins-some
"details OF the Plot 60 Count In II. n. Hayes

"Details OF the Plot 60 Count In II. n. Hayes
WASHINGTON, Feb 2i.-The Potter Com
mittee examined H. J. NJ. Jewett to-day. His
testimony was very startling. There il prob
ably no other one man in Louisiana who knows
more of the conspiracy OF 1876 than Jewett docs.
He was the Secretary OF the Republican State
Central Committee and the actual head Of the
State Registrars office. The nominal chief Of
the registration was Michael Hahn. who was
nut there simply because he would allow jew
cit and Blanchard to run the registration ma
chinery. Not only was Jcwett one OF the pow
ers behind the throne in the radical election
machinery OF Louisiana In 1876. but he was
the author OF the State census. which was
made in 1875 for the very purpose OF
supplying basis for tho Republican
claims in 1876. Jewett ID q native OF
Massachusetts,. He is a cool. self-possessed
man. with a methodically exact mind. an ex-
pert in figures. and head for all details His
first experience was in north Louisiana. where
he entered into politics on the Republican side.
and made himself 80 valuable that his services
were demanded at the centre OF Radical rascal
ny in Louisiana. and so he came to New Or
leans, where he has been active and useful
since 1872.
In his testimony to-day he was cautious and
reserved and evidently told no more than he
could avoid telling. He sustained the facts set
out in his notorious letter to Kellogg. which
Jack Wharton laid before the Committee last
Thursday; he produced the original papers in
Keloggs handwriting. the very paper which
Kellogg has sworn he did not write.
But the most startling Of all his developments
was that concerning the tampering with the
mails in the Now Orleans Post Onlce and the
abstraction OF the returns from certain parishes
which came forward in registered packages.
These packages we're opened In the Post Ofico
by George L. Smith. now Collector OF the Port OF
New Orleans. his brother. d. d. Smith. now
Deputy Collector. and then Cashier OF the Post
once. and the supervisors OF tho parishes from
which the returns had been forwarded.
Jewett was asked by Smith to come to the Post
office that night. Nov. "a. 1876. and when he
came there. the returns had been opened and
protests were drawn up and put in the pack
ages which afterwards went forward to the
Board. It was thus that the protest in the case
OF the Parish OF De Soto. dated New Orleans.
Nov. "a. came 10 be in the registered package.
which appeared on its face to have been mailed
At Mansfield Nov. Is. six days previous to the
date OF the protest. II was this fact. noted by
some Of the Democrats present at the Board
meeting when the returns from De Soto Par
ish were opened that gave Stoughton. now
Minister to Russia the chance TO suggest that
u wiis perhaps u clerical error, by whlcn ne
has ever since been known as Clerical Error
Stoughton.
Jewrtt told also how It became necessary to
go into the Post Offico to tamper with these re-
turns The Board had by this time progressed
far enough to discover that unless II got some
sort Of pretext for, throwing out more votes 1t
could not count in three OF the Hayes electors.
All this Jrwett explained in detail. and many
other facts. but he did II cautiously. and left the
Impression on all who heard him that II tho
Committee only knew Just what question to ask
him II would get n great deal more informa-
non. He was on the stand tye hours. and
answered all questions put to him apparently
uuthfully. But he told no more than the Ques-
lions called Tor.
contradicted Kellogg. Kellogg had sworn that
he never had any conversations with super
visors Of Registration about their making pro-
tests Jewett swore to-day that in his presence.
Kellogg did seek TO influence Grady. super
visor Of Ouachita Parish; and Grant.Supervisor
OF Morehouse Parish. Both OF these men re-
fused 10 make protests. and IT was only after
they had been worked with by various poll
were induced TO sign and swear TO protests
which had been drawn up Tor them oy some one
in New Orleans at the dlctaation OF Kellogg;
man read the following letter. which had been
received from Mr. Woolley:
CINCINNATI. Feb. "a.
n, Hon cl1rk.on " Poaer Czafr-an'
5 Is@ o S oceaaaon never
She a ann S R9. been been II II T sEeT mops sn I
now confined to hi bed, ana eanno, leave u with,
The evidence Of John Coye before your Committee
n, isth inst and swears without conditon equvocs
non cAeeuuon that 50 TAR as ihe statements Of sad
ury ial-e That ne cannot otherwise better describe
"S.oluoriy untrue As aiiiahi is unable 10 60 to yoai
SSe and Gt Sommiiss @ ,Rss ts. a.no sS@; bs
allowed place win the reco ds Of the Commit
swoam saeet from him as to all his tfsnssetons IN
political matters in the states Of Louisiana and Fords
once. Afiant promises that IN such siarmen. he Wi
npn hi. eeniuet from ay and every responsbe source
% far AS the same has come under his oeseryS,lon
sworn to and subscribed in my presence by Charles "
FErD 4 JoHssoS, Justice of the Peace.
Mr.. Hiscock moved that the AFFIDAVIT be no
received. and this was carried.
The Chairman said he would communicate
with Mr.. Wooliey, and tell him he was to attend
al, early as pos; ible. .,,
handwriting Of Gen. Barlow. One was "A leltel
written 10y him to James Bell. Monticello, Fla,
introducing II. c. Hopkins Of tho Post once
Department. MS man fit 10 be trusted.
Ths oizF paHer Ms Was mem21anhum n. ,n date
Collectors. These letters were put in evidenc
TO show that at the time they were written Gen
Barlow was acting in the Republican interest
Mr. Chan !ler said that about three weeks ag,
New York. saving that he had Learned that Johl
]. Davenport had the original cipher given hin
(Mr. Chandlerl when he started to Florida oI
Nov. s, 1876. together with the numerous tele
10 Mr.. Bl S. asking him or Mr. Davenport 4
send the cipher and the telegrams. but nethe
had replied. He mentioned this in order tina
the Committee might send for them II the
saw 1T.
james H. Maddox was recalled. by his owl
request. to reply 10 certain statements affectinI
him which had been made by Jack Wharton
He recaptulHted his statement AS to how h
came 10 Washington and reported TO Wharton
on his return. Wharton knew that Gov. Well
WIS for sale. and he proposed thht they shoult
see Mr. Packard in regard 20 il. They talked th'
matter over with him, and 100000 was mentioned
as thesum that would BE- required. Gov Packar,
did not decll ne 20 put up the money. but saii
h. would take the matter into consideration,
few days alterward 1t was suggested by Mr.
Wharton that Gov. Packard should promise al
Office To- Mr.. Wells. Packard said he could no
promise him an Office at that time, but he ha'
done Wells many other acts OF Kindness nn'
he must Judge from the past what he would d.
in the future.
In other words. he convinced him tMaddoX
that he would give Wells position. Maddo'
reported the conversation TO Wells, VINO &c
clined the offer. He said he might want Z
leave New Orleans and he did not want an Of
fce but money. Wharton proposed that h
NlaIdoxl should keep up the negotiations wit
Wells 10 prevent his entering into any other
but witness declined lie did not know wher
Mr.. Wells was now. He knew Mr. Packard wa
not in the country.