The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-01-16
THE POTTER COMMITTEE.

Before the Potter Investigating Committee,
holding its session at Washington, the counsel
of Secretary Sherman offered as evidence the
affidavit of one st. Martins, who was formerly
a Deputy Sergeant for the committee,
confessing that he had sworn falsely before the
committee last winter, and casting imputa-
tons upon Representative Stenger in that con-
party vote 70 return the affidavit to the counsel
of Secretary Sherman. and that said counsel
be instructed to inform Mr.. Sherman that St
Martins would be examined touching the mat
tiers embraced in the affidavit should Mr. Sher-
man or any member of the committee so desire.
St Martins affidavit is, in substance, that his
appointment as Deputy Sergeant alarms was
procured by Weber, on condition that he would
perform certain service that would prove ad-
vantageous to the Democrats in the investigation.
He says: @Igas induced to leave my home
in Donaldsonville, La, by Weber, and inter
view Democratic members of the committee
and confidential agents of Samuel j. Iilden, A.
M. Gibson, j. H. Maddox and George W. Car
ter. At interviews with the agents generally
saw each separately became convinced that
they desired special service, and were inter
viewing me for the purpose of determining
whether was discreet and reliable, and that
their plans might be safely intrusted to me for
execution. Maddox revealed the service I was
expected to perform Firstly, the journey
to ST. James parish to subpoena Arm
stead, Duncan and Steward, but not to
serve subponas until I had first ascer-
tanned that, when placed upon the stand before
the committee, they could give the testimony
desir ed by Tilden's agents. Secondly, to Sc
cure such testimony, was authorized to offer a
hope of reward, and the further assurance
that they would be permitted to return to their
homes in Feliciana parish from which they
had previously been driven and q guarantee of
immunity from rnolestation in future. Thirdly,
the testimony desired from Armstead Duncan,
and Steward was a retraction and denial
of the material facts in their exami-
nation before the Returning Board as to out
RACES, intimidation, etc., in Feliciana parish.
From conversations with Armstead and Stew
and became convinced that they would prove
plant witnesses I brought them to the city
and took them to Weber's room I then re-
ported to Maddox and the committee that wit
nesses were in the city. Maddox wrote out an
affidavit form of the evidence each was expect
ed to give before the Potter Committee. /
carried these affidavits from Maddox to
Weber. These affidavits were read to wit
nesses, and they were promised, Duncan
$50, Armstead $50, and Steward $50 for such
testimony. Weber coached" witnesses by
repeatedly reading to each the testimony ex-
pected, and he furnished Stenger with questions
to be propounded to the witnesses and answers
witnesses had agreed to give. / carried such
lists from Weber to Stenger In the perform
ance of my duty as Deputy Sergeant Arms,
was placed in possession of the subpenas, and,
in twelve or thirteen cases where the names of
witnesses had been furnished by Republican
counsel, was in structed to report persons not
of the subcommittee, that in cases where wit
nesses subpenaed would not furnish the evil
dence desired by the committee, or unfavorable
to the Democracy, to return the subp9nas and
report the persons otfound. During the entire
session of the committee in this city Maddox,
Gibson and Carter were busy influencing wit
nesses by the use of and offers of money, and
the Chairman of the committee had full knowl-
edge of this fact. Maddox repeatedly told me
Gibson was Tilden's outside agent, and he
would secure all the money desired from Col
William T. Pelton, of New York. "-Repre-
sentative Stenger emphatcally denies the allie
gatit of St. Martins, says the affidavit was
procured by corrupt means, and that affiant is
bigger liar than Jim Anderson. Messrs. Car
ter, Gibson and Maddox also make counter aft
davits, pronouncing the statements of
St Martins false so far as relates to them.