The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-26
/. WHAT IS TRUTH?
Remarkable Testimony Before the
Potter Committee.
ST. MARTINS REVELATIONS"
The Sherman Letter as a
Manipulating Myth.
FRAUD AND DECEPTION.
A Witness Who Can Afford to
Ignore Facts.
BULL-DOZING BUTLER
you Would Not Tell Me It Was Lie
Outside of This Room"
FRAUD AND DECEPTION.
A Witness Who Can Afford to
Ignore Facts.
BULL-DOZING BUTLER
"You Would Not Tell Me It Was a Lie
Outside of This Room"
WASHINGTON. Jan. %. 1870.

The witness st. Martin was again before the Potter
Committee this morning. The room in which the
investigation is being conducted densely
crowded throughout the days proceedings. Mr..
Cox resumed his cross-examinaton of yesterday.
speaking first with regard to three indict-
ments which the witness had admitted were
found against him. Upon this point the
latter said that in two of the he not
arrested and in the third he gave himself
UP to the Sheriff, and was released bail, but the
Grand Jury found nothing against him.
Mr.. Cox-Then you have not been under indict-
at all A. No. sir; but did not understand it
exactly.
Q. In your affidavit there is a statement with
gard to Weber's interview with you in May last
prior to his departure for Washington. Please
state the circumstances of that interview. A.
Well. I was in the habit OF going to
Weber's house every day, and one day while
was there he received letter from Mrs jerks he
read that letter and then handed it to me- read it,
and, says he. "Mrs. jerks is a damned fool; / know
nothing of such documents" if there was such
document in existence he knew nothing about it.
O. What was the document? A. The Sherman let
ter.
O. What did he say about it? A. Well. he left
Donaldsville and said he was coming here to see
about that letter. and asked il would testify that
! witnessed the destruction of it; if Sherman would
not provide for him he would 60 the other side
he said; refused his offer.
NEVER SHERMAN LITTER
O. Did You ever see any such paper witness the
destruction of it A. No. sir; few days after that
he wrote letter to Mr.. Morris, of New Orleans to
show that he did not know anything about it he
had made inquiries aboutit. but could find nothing
about 1t.
O. state distinctly how much board BILL &C.. was
committee. and by whom ? A. Mr.. Maddox and Mr.
Carter paid they called at the hotel just before
left Mr.. Carter gave me some - or IS in silver
and Mr.. Maddox paid the board bill and took a re-
cept for it.
y. In your conversations with Mr.. Maddox in wash
ington what did he say with regard to testfying to
your afifavitp A. Well, when called Mt his
room stated yesterday that only to his house
twice; r went more than that ne told me he
had the sfndsvits of Mr.. Carter and Mr.. Gibson and
his own which he would bring against me: he read
his affidavit and told me that il would write
him the letter he asked about that he would with
draw everything. and nothing should be published
against me.
o. What conversation had you about the truth of
his affidavit? A. He laughed it, of course and
said he should have to make a show: don't suppose
the affidavit will come here.
Mr.. Cox That ia matter.
wtness-wcll, suppose if the affidavit does not
CO me here he will
Q. In regard to the conversation with Weber and
the dispatches that were sent; look at this paper.
A. This is a copy of letter written by Mr. Weber to
me on the 2ist of November. 1878.
Mr.. Hunton-where is the original? A. Mr. Weber
has It; have two or three witnesses who have seen
the original: was advised to make q copy Of IT, il
was copied by a man named Jenbois; he used to do
writing for Mr.. Acklen.
q. Did you keep the originate A. No. sent it
back had it copied on the advice Of Governor
Hahn.
Mr.. Cox asked that this letter be put upon the rec
ord it had distinct reference to the letters and
telegrams with regard to the settlement of weber's
school board 1t part IF this transaction,
but of itself was of little moment.
The letter WAS as follows
wEDER's REMARKABLE LETTER.
DoSALDsvIiLr. Nov. 81.
s sec, in r hs T c saS, aa G
him heard write What says to YOU and tell
says afraid than ever tia. my school Ss
s.so wi'l be held over me Gibson won't spend nickel to
ey and S Dc nfa h%i r aSS" s. too 60
'si s scRs h' S' Ss SS" s a an ny
&c S ID " s a IL fail
Captain Lisno. on the Cannon. SATURDAY evening My
70 give them to her this letter back me-
Send cncoscdto Maddox II he IL not there return
1t to me. a copy follows
In the course or further examination witness
testified that somclof the witnesses who prom
Used protection dill go home. but none of them
stayed there; one day he met Armstcad, who told
him that Dalton. one of the witnesses who had re-
turned to his houc. had Arsr been whipped and then
hung; Armstead said. II thought would come round
and tell YOU about IT. this is the way they have full
filled their promises to U.S.
q. You told us yesterday that Weber got ~ OoO
A. That is what he told me.
y. Did he say anything about dividing with Mrs
d. .. Weber, A. Well. he told me he had given her
&jU to keep her mouth shut
sl...~. Won All
written by man named Joe. Have you found his
other name? A. No. sir.
was introduced to him as Marks chief deputy
q. Did you ever have any intention Of going back
your aifdavitr a. No. sir: II any one says ever
intended to do such thing he tells bareaced lic
because would not have gone through this trouble
IL was going back on IL.
Mr.. Cox-One question omitted. Mr.. st. Martin.
in regard to this conversation with Mr.. Weber with
reference to his tcstnony-did be make any written
statements or put any written statements in your
hands A. had letter that told me everything
IL was signed by him: all the arrangements and
everything else; had that letter good while until
he asked me To return IL to him.
The Chairman-Who was this somebody who gave
him the $10o0y A. lie said il came from Mr. Carter
or Mr.. Maddox; he got that in Washington.
The Chairman--Quitc about it3 A. Well. am
sure he told me
HOW MARTIN SERVED suppGSss.
The Chairman went on to ask the witness num-
Der OF questions relative to- the subpnas that he re-
turned mot found" reading over the names to him
and asking the particular details relative To- each.
The witness admitted he lid look for the persons
named ut all
The Chairman to witpess,-There does not appear
to have been returned by you a single subpoena
Issued by Governor Cox or Mr. Reed A. aid not
know they were issued by Mr. Cox or Mr.. Heed, but
IRON information received those names have been
Furnished 10 the committee by those gentlemen.
a. Who gave you that information A. Mr..
Weber.
The Chairman-Hcre are tho subp9nas OF Emery,
Laskcr, Morgan. Cotton. Smith and Henry. You did
not look Tor thcmf A. No; knew they would not
20 back on their former testimony.
O. Had You no other reason for knowing that
these names supplied by republican members of
the committee? A. No, sir; do not know who gave
them to tho Sergeant at. Arms; Duncan had some OF
the subp1nss that had In my possession. and some
/ might have given TO Mr.. Maddox.
u What other witnesses were there upon whom
you did not serve the subponss given to your A.