Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-27
The Potter Investigation.
ST. MARTIN STILL UNDER FIJI


closed on Saturday, he was further examined.
Several kilograms were introduced. One was
from A. M. Gibson, November 1, 1875, and runs:
You are wasting your money telegraphing
silence OF blackmailerS." To this ST. Martin re-
piled: ..1ou are liar, thief and scoundrel.
MaddoX and Carter are no better. propose 70
lodge you in the penitentiary, where you be-
long" During the examination the chairman
read the following teegrams:
NEW ORLEANS, october 81, 1sIs.-A. II. Glib
son, Corcoran Building, Washington. ID. -
What action do you contemplate In WeberS
case? Consider that one Thousand d)llars
might SETTLE j. ACKLEN.
j. FL. Ackten, Neto Orlean>:-A dispatch purport-
ing to be signed by you was received az my
Office last D. no. during my absence. 1t relates
to a subject with which / have nothing to d.
ard contains proposition which could not
entertain under any circumstances. Unless
some one has used your name you have been
grossly imposed upon. A. nj. G..
In the course OF witness cross examination
Gen. Butler intimated that the formers afi-
davlt was a lie. referring to his allegations
with reference to Mr.. Stenger. st. Martin
thefeupon bridled up, saying:-"I say it is a
mistake. You have the advantage Of me now
aud you know it. You cannot tell me it is q lie
outside of this room" Mr.. Springer proposed
that the committee should adjourn. and after
some little discussion it was agreed that re5o-
luton fered by Mr.. HScOck, that James F.
Anderson be recalled, should be laid on the tl-
Die. The committee then adjourned.
The Potter committee today commenced the
investigation of the ''cpher teIegramS" The
first witness called was Mr.. Clarence Carey at
torney CT the Western Union Telegraph CON-
pany, New York city. He was intcrrOgatcd b.
the chairman, and testified that certain tele-
grams were placed in his charge when it was
proposed to issue SubpGnaS for their production
before an investigating committee In Washing
ton; the purpose Of placing the kilograms in his
avoid. nOSSih'p
livery for public inspection. 1t was thought
that SubrOa would not be issued TO him, OW-
ing TO his position. He was finally, however,
directed by the executive committee to deliver
the messages to Capt. Whitney, the Washing
ton manager OF the Western Union Telegraph
company. After doing this his custody OF the
dispatches ended. The instructions with re-
gard 10 picking out the dispatches were to take
all that were or a political character, the col
lection when first made being for The sole pur-
pose OF getting them out OF the way OF sub
lULa.
Mr., Floyd Grant, who supervised the selec-
ton OF the telegrams, was the next witness,
ton. He came to Washington and in order to
comply with certain subpC mas issued on Cap
taln Whitney he opened the trunk which con
York, and selected therefrom those called for
by the subpoena of the Morrison committee, the
balance S We're We replaced in the trunk.
by the chairman:-What was the number re-
naming? Did you keep any schedule of them
M1tneSS:-The number exclusive of those re-
quifed by the Morrison committee was 29,215
BY Mr.. McMahon-Mr. Floyd testified that the
telegra1nS were about evenly divided as regards
party. number were sent by Il. Chandler
from the 5th-Avenue hotel. There were some
signed Hayemeyer, some Hooper, and Others
Ncyes. He thought Mr.. Chandlei'S messages
Went to Florida; Others went to New Orleans
ard Oregon, lie thought OF the $4,000 tc.e-
grams some 300 of them were in cipher.
Captain Leonard Whitney, manager of the
Western Union Telegraph, Washington, Was
then sworn. In compliance with a request by
MIR. Potter witness produced a schedule SHOW
Ing over three hundred kilograms delivered
TO the Morrison committee. He thought Mr.
Morrison returned the dispatches but did
not Iecollect the time. Other schedules We're
which he was called uiOn to submit were
delivered to tie senate committee on privileges
and elections These were delivered in two dill
ferent packages. The kilograms when returned
to Capt. Whitney were III the trunk heretofore
mentioned. He inquired of the party who
brought them If they were all in the trunk
meaning the two different supplies furnished
previous To tie time the trunk was sent-and
he was informed they We're. The trunk waf
then ordered 10 New York, and that was the
last he knew OF it. 1t was addressed to Nj
Hunter, the supply agent.
BY Mr.. Mcmahon Mr. Whitney stated that
Mr, Van Horn gave verbal order in his whit
ney's) Office TO collect all political teegra
from tie lies and forward them to New york.
No conversation as TO the cause Of this unusual
procedure occurred between witness and Mr.
Van Horn, however
By Mr. HiScOck Gaughingly: after some in
leilo9 orleS concerning the IelegranS delivered
TO tie Morrison committee had been made) No
one on this side entertains the idea that the
trunk was rified by the Morrison committee, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr.. Morrison:-It has been stated that the
trunk was not in the possession of the Morrison
committee. When IL comes to the point YOU
Will find The laugh nearer home.
Mi. Reed (sarcaSt1cally):-A right. go ahead
we await the result with fear and trembling
Professor EdN ard 5. Holden. OF the Naval OO-
diVulging in any way the ''cipher telegramsr
which were handed the committee by General
Bntier.
James o. Green, son Of DR.. Green, of New
York Western Union Telegraph Office was then
sworn, and testified to having burned the en-
Tire contents OF the trunk containing the tele-
grams as received from Washington, in the
large furnace in the cellar Of the Western
Union building. He was positive of the de-
stTnct10n OF everything the trunk contained.
Orton took some active part in the Presidential
contest.
q. On what side?
a lie sided with Mr.. HAYES.
Mr.. Mcmahon asked witness If he knew any
thing OF any kilograms being kept back from
those furnished in compliance with the sub
ppnas Of the committee. He knew OF some
telegraphic correspondence being collected
prior TO the issue of the SubpRnaS which had
occurred between James N. Tyner and John W.
roster, the latter of Indianapolis. At the re-
quest Of President Orton, witness sent the tele-
grams in question, either addressed to Mr..
SitoH, III care OI capt.. w nltQey, Or TO Capt.
Whitney at Washington
o., By Mr.. Hiscock:-The telegram did not refer
10 me residential contest, did they?
MilneSS:-ln my opinion, not by any means.
MI McMahOn-Oh, no, that was sold later
GEN. SHIELDS AND THE LATE STEPHEN A.
DoUGLAs.-Gen. Shields, who is In the city,
says that he has not yet received his certificate
from the secretary of state of Missouri and of
course cannot take his seat in the Senate until
1t arrives. He was called upon last evening By
a large number Of gentlemen many of whom had
been his associates in war and peace. He was
Iuii OF incidents of his interesting military and
political career. In speaking Of the early days
IN IN Illinois he alluded to his association vita
S!epnen A. Douglas in their political struggles.
He said that when he got into the legislature
Douglas followed him there. and when he went
on Inc supreme bench he was with him there.
again. when he returned from the Mexican war
ne was IN the Senate with Mr.. Douglas Refer
ing 10 The many positions OF prominence he had
occupied he said that he never was much OF a
manager, and that the many Offices he had held
seemed 10 come to him he could not tell how.
MT Douglas On the other hand was the greatest
poLtcal manager the state Of Illinois ever had.
IN The organizai ion OF the democratic party In
n hn "a