The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-07

Mr.. WILLIAM T. PELToN. who described
himself as about 40 years Of age, lawyer,
md a nephew Of Mr. SAMUEL J. TILDEN, was
the only witness examined by the Cipher
Committee yesterday. lie testified that
IN tho Presidential canvass OF 1875 he
had no Official connection with the National
Democratic Committee, but had charge
" many matters with the Committees ac-
quiesccnce. When the Democratic visit
Ing statesmen went South after the election
he carried ON telcgraphc correspondence
with some Of them partly in cipher. Some
Of these dispatches were addressed ~ Mr..
IlENRY HAvEMEYKR. who sent them UNI
opened to the witness or the Committee
generally to the witness, who answered
them. Dispatches were not delivered at IS
uramcrcy Park.
The witness identified some Of the cipher
dispatches that have been published, had
no recollection OF others. and as TO others,
could only say that lac had received de-
spatchcs Of the same purport. lie did not
know that the published TRANSACTIONS were
correct; many of them he was sure were in
correct.
In December, 1876, he received a cipher
telegram from Mr.. MANToN MARBLE. then
In Florida, informing him that the electoral
votes of that State could be secured for Mr..
TILDRS by the payment Of $4,000. He de-
clined the proposition, and said the sum was
too high, or words to that effect. lie did
not communicate TO anybody the fact Of tho
proposition having been made, and acted en-
tirely ON his own responsibility. Subse-
qucntly he was notified that the sum had
been reduced to $4,000. lie sent n despatch
accepting this proposition, and saying the
money would be deposited, to be drawn when
the decision of the Returning Board should
be rendered. He did this also on his own re-
eponsibilty, without consulting any one,
and without having made any arrangements
for raising the $4,000. His intention was to
let the men making the offer commit them
selves. TO secure delay, and, when the timo
came for acting. To lay all the facts before
the Democratic National Committee.
Mr. PELToN also received cipher de-
spatchcs from Mr.. SMITH NJ. WEED while
the latter was in South Carolina. He was
informed that electoral votes could be Sc
cured for Mr.. TILDEN by money, and the
sum first named was $4,000, but this was
increased to $4,000. and then to either
100000 or $4,000. lie tclegraphed in
cipher TO Mr. WEED, accepting the
proposition and making an appointment to
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also, without consultation, and on his own
responsibility. Just before starting for Bal
timorc he had an interview with Mr. EDWARD
COOPER ut Is Gramercy Park, told him
where he was going, explained the business
that took him there, intlmatec that he
might need money, and cautioned him not
10 sayanything about II TO Mr.. TILpES. The
next day he photographed to NJ. CooPTR from
Baltimore for the money, but Mr.. CGorER
replied with refusal, and soon after Mr..
PELToN received a despatch from some one
representing Mr. TILDEN bidding him re-
turn Immediately TO New York He found
Mr.. TILDEN indignant at his proceedings.
Mr. PELToS swore that none OF the cipher
dispatches relating to these money nogotia-
tions were shown TO Mr.. TILDEN at the time,
nor was he aware of their existence. He
kept them from Mr.. TILDENs knowledge
because he knew that Mr.. TILDEN would at
once put stop TO the negotiations
The cross-cXamination brought out that
MIR. PELToN does not now remember the
origin Of the ciphers, and that his memory
is not clear as 10 other interesting points.