The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-24
THE POTTER INVESTIGATION:

PREPARATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR AN Ex-
ANIMATION OF THE CIPHER DEspATcHEs-THE
WITNESS ST. MARTIN EXPLAINS HIS LYING IN
NEW oRLEANs-ExoNERATIoN OF Mr.. siENGER.
WASHINGTON. Jan. %. 1879.
Immediately upon the assembling of the Potter
Investigating Committee this morning General Butler
rose to personal explanation. and read statement
from the Washington Post to the effect that
the cipher dispatches were in his posses
sion all last summer, and that at one time
he missed them from his desk. He said that If
he made a statement such that he must have been
drunk insane. Naughter.) On the contrary,
what he did say to show the impossibility that
the dispatches from him. and in this statement
he was borne out by another member of the COM
mittee.
Mr. Hiscock-Yes, and had good reason to believe
that kilograms copied for the Tribus1 before
they came into your hands.
Mr. Zelina Moses clerk in the Office of the Secrc-
tary of the Senate and formerly private secretary
acting Vice President Ferry, then called to tho
stand. He stated that in 1876 the electoral certin-
Gates for the various State into his hands. He
remembered the buresque certificate from Louisiana
called the Smith certificate. IL suppressed with
out objection. He did not know what became of 1t.
He last 1t in the hands of the official tellers. He
did not remember that there had since been any de-
At this point the committee decided to hold
The secret session lasted about two hours at the
end of which time the doors were reopened and the
Chairman said these two resolutions we
have had this morning. do you intend to keep them
under the ban OF secrecy or otherwise ?"
Mr. Butler--Do you mean mine?
The Chairman-Yours aud Mr.. Reeds.
Mr. Buter-You may give them, as tar as I am con-
cerned.
Mr. Reed-I do not object either. Q.aughterJ
GENERAL BrTLRRs RESOLUTION.
The resolution of General Butler read follows:
Resolved Tina, The Committee receive from Nj, Butler
that the clerk be directed In connection with some person
v wsS% ss ss.sa 10 1af s% certify
;s%' @ copy to be e. Me- I the use Of Se
| cipher dispatches 50 received shall be printed
90, odere %s Of sr copies are
o % s ss @ % @ ed :. an '
make faithful srsnscripcn of and decpher the Same
viii allow any The cipher dssps,ess: give"
sheets and ,ssEass committed 70 % with such rans
reasonable sum Tor his work us the committee may Judge
The resolution was unanimously agreed to.
MR. REEDS RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Reed then offered the following:--
%sss Mr. s New asn place ! s
charged with the cipher ae,pashss has demanded ina.
rompasn 70 lace us "eca''r' before
Resolved That copy Of this resolution and Of the
dispatches be Mr. Iildcn that Mr. Tildcn
and Under the ao limitations a. person anasr
the ordinary resolution constituting this committee
Mr.. Reed remarked that he offered this resolution
In good faith. and not IN any partisan spirit The
resolution was accepted.
/ THE WITNESS MARTIN.
Mr.. Cox moved that. la compliance with the re-
quest IN behalf of Secretary Sherman and contained
in the letter OF Mr.. Shcabargcr of the 18th nst y.
II. st. Martin be called and sworn, and that exani
nation be made in the nature of cross-examination
| on behalf of Mr.. Sherman.
| Mr.. Springer proposed as substitute the follow
| ing:-
Whereas s. n. st. Martin has been s,Lponr1f as
vitnsss Is attendance. nd wbercas nm