Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-18
The Potter gnvestigatiOn,
TESTIMONY OF MR. JoHS F. CoyI

TESTIMONY OF MR.. JOHN F. C0YLE.
Mr.. John +. Coyle was examined yesterday
before the Potter investigating committee. The
witness, in reply to Mr.. Reed, stated that he
went TO Florida during the election of 1876 upon
a request made to him by Colonel Pelton. He
Het Col PeltOn at the Ebbitt House in Wash
ingtOn, and was taken into a room. where he
saw Mr.. Edward Cooper and MI. Whitney. Mr..
cooper gave him many instructions and also
gave him cipher key. Witness was to send
his dispatches to Henry Havemeyer II was to
go to Florida and aid the democrats there in
obtaining all the evidence that was requisite TO
secure a truthful count to defray any expenses
that were requisite for that purpose. and to aid
them In any way / could. / was authorized to
employ money limited in amount by my own
Judgment and discretion" While at the Ebbitt
House was introduced by Mr.. Hewitt TO Mr..
THEM, who accompanied him to Tallahassee
THEM tolk witness the Florida returning board
could be bought for $500 600. but witness paid
no attention to the statement. Did not believe
Mr.. T1iden knew anything about tine dispatches
passing between himself and Cooper and
others. At Wo0lley's request witness copied
cipher telegram which was sent to Havemeyer
In New York. Witness did not know what the
dispatch meant. Witness said he paid Mr..
Marbles expenses to Florida-some 5000 or 500:
The chairman showed witness dispatch dated
November 10, 1876, and sent from Florida and
sent TO Alexander THEM, which read, Come
quick with cOrnucopia green patch"
Mr. SpT1nger.-That is a dispatch that we can
all understand.
Mr.. Cox.-lt means, ''Come quickly with
cOrnucOpia full Of greenbackS.
The witness said Them showed him that dis
patch. Witness once drew on Cooper in New
York for $500 or s5,4OO.
WITNESS FROM GRAMERCY PARK.
Joseph l.. Hance, examined by Mr.. Hiscock,
said he resided at Albany and was deputy state
treasurer He was appointed January /, 1S.s,
and previous TO that was a clerk in the eNecu-
tive chamber. ON the night OF the presidential
election in 1891 he went TO New York and
stayed there about two weeks. He spent his
tine partly at GOV. Tilden's residence. Gram
on business connected with the executive de-
partment. Mir. IiiscOck crOSS-eXamined him at
great length as TO the nature OF this business,
but without receiving any definite answer. The
witness Oh two or three occasions appealed to
the chairman. on the ground that the commit
tee had no right TO question him as to the biSi-
less of the executive and that the business in
which lie was then engaged had no connection
. With the present proceedings. Witness saw no
/ cpher telegrams at Gramercy park. Upon be-
I ing pressed by Mr.. HiScOck he admitted having
copied dispatch in cipher at the Everett house
for Col. Pelton and also having translated a
dispatch. He was asked To write Denmark
upon slip OF paper and he did so, but failed to
recollect its meaning.
MR.. DUNN on THE STAND.
The Potter committee met at 12 m. and re-
sulned examination of Mr.. Thomas c. Dunn, OF
the South Carolina returning board. To Mr.
Reed:-Soomon represented that there was an
agent Of Mr.. Tflden at Columbia MI Smith
Weed) for the purpose OF using money, il need
e0 10 secure the electoral votes; never say
weed himself TO Mr.. Potter:-Communicat
with GOV. chamberlain from time to time the
result OF interviews with Solomon the prinC-
pal reason was that if the question ever came
up as TO the motive OF these interviews Cham
berlain would be one OF the strongest witnesses.
as he would necessarily be one of the first VIC
tins, in case there was any selling out: don't
think it was possible TO count in Chamberlain
and Tiiden, though it was impossible to say
what that court might do; the feeling against
Mr.. Chamberlain by members Of the court was
not friendly. and there was no probability OF
tleir counting him in under any circumstances,
In response TO a question by Mr. Reed witness
related the history OF his Indictment by the