The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-25
THE POTTER INVESTIGATION.


THE POTTER INVESTIGATION.
CRoss-ExAMINATIoN OF THE WITNESS ST. MAR
TIN CoNTINUED-THE STORY CONTAINED IN
HIS AFFIDAVIT ADHERED TO.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1879.
In the Potter Committee yesterday the resolution
of Mr. Reed providing that Mr.. Tiden be allowed to
be represented at meetings Of the committee by
! sci, tabled instead of accepted. as heretofore
stated the democratic members voting against the
measure.
The committee met again this morning at eleven
O'Clock and resumed the cross-examnation Of st.
Martin which continued at great length without
elciting any new facts of Importance. The witness
stuck to the story contained in his affidavit that hc
as Deputy Sergeant at Arms, instructed by Mad
| dox and Weber to subpoena only those witnesses who
would. he expressed it. "go back" their former
testimony proving the existence Of outrages and in
timidation before the committee The following is
! that portion of the examination referring to tho
charge made against Mr.. Stenger in witness afi
davit:-
! @. Now you say that the statement in your afh
davit that you acted under instructions from Mr.
Stenger in serving the subpGnas is a mistake? A.
Yes; and did not know Of it until read it in the
| paper.
~.
Q. And yet you did not know that Mr.. stonser's
name mentioned in this matter? A. No. sir;
o. Did YOU not hear it talked about that you had
made charges against MIR. Stenger? A. No, sir; do
not remember that did; do not think did;
not until it appeared in the papers; If l did
should not have waited until the last moment to cor
| rectit
Q. Then You did not know that you had made a
charge agains. Mr.. Stenger? A. No, sir; did not;
Mr. Senger did not give me any instructions of the
had Tahn mat fraaf nd Ea
the balance.
Q. The balance? A. Yes. sir: those who did give
Q. You did not know that Mr. Stenger was in
volved until about a week ago? A. Well, when
the affidavit was made out Thought Mr. Stenger
knew all about these things; Mr. Cox knew 1t very
well.
and allowed to leave the house except to
90 Oh the stand, so he must have known; did not
tell Mr. Cox but took him memorandum.
Q. Would he know it from that? A. do not know
| if he would; would.
| O. Do you know what in the memorandum?
A. knew, Of course, because nothing kept from
O. What was it A. 1t was to the effect that when
ever we had witness on the stand we must control
him; witness must be brought to New Orleans
and be allowed on the stand on his own hook; that
was their conclusion.
O. Did you say anything to Mr. Stenger about
this A. No. sir; do not remember, but he knew;
may be did, and may be l did not remember
speaking to him, but do not remember what told
him.
O. Do you remember telling him anything about
| what you doing with the witnesses A. I do
not remember exactly, but was nowise backward
in telling him these things.
O. Where did you have this conversation with Mr.
Stenger? A. In the St. Charles Hotel cannot recol
lect the OCCASION took him memoranda from Weber
and from Maddox several times.
Q. And you told him what you were doing with
| those witnesses? A. Or courses did not remember
the exact words; l took HIM memorandum from
too m noce Of WHAT a o
| Q. What was this something? A. do not know;
it something concerning the witnesses; it is Of
no Importance now but it was Of great Importance
O. Well, tell me the substance of 1T? A. No. sir.
| can't; know the memorandum about questions
be to the witnesses and the answers that they
were to give
9. Did you read the memoranda? A. OF course I
read some OF them
| O. Did you read the memorandum about Dula {?
| A. No. sir. do not think did; might have done
| so read those for the other witnesses
The witness. in reference to his arrangement with
! Maddox and Weber testified as follows:-
He was first taken to Carter room and questioned;
| he could not remember what said; they COM
menced by representing lot Of things to him about
Mr.. Tildcn and Mr.. Hayes and also Mr.. Sherman;
witness told then-that is, Carter aud Moddox-that
he was friend of Glover, and supposed that Weber
had told them pretty well all he knew about him he
witness).
The Chairman-Did they ask if you could swear
falsely? A. No, SIR and should not have had to do
so if Dula had kept to his promise.
! @. Did they ask you whether You could "fx wit
nessesY A. Idon remember that they did; they told
L
tfy the way wanted, / need not subpoena him;
did not expect to have to bride witnesses when
selected or that should have to swear to lies.
q. Before you appointed Deputy Sergeant-at-
Arms did they ask you to do anything that was not
! right? A. do not think they did
| O. You say that you were interviewed by Mr.. Til
den to see II you were trustworthy and reliable?
! Mr.. CONN., who2
The Chairman-The agents of 1Ir. Tiden, mean
| A. After had been at New Orleans a while saw
that they doing things that were not right but
before was appointed / had no idea of such bust
my appointment the next day; that same evening I
went to Maddox's room and then to Carters and saw
| what was going on.
THE AFFIDAVIT PLACED ON RECORD.
After further inquiries regarding the arrangement,
Reed asked that the witness affidavit. which had
been the subject OF the cross-exarnination, should
| now be made part OF the record
The Chairman believe the afidavit is en-
titled to come in as part of the examination.
Mr. Springer object to its being placed upon the
| record unless it is corrected according to the wit
ness statement.
Mr.. Rced-why. it has been corrected thoroughly.
| It is not going to be published by itself.
Mr.. Cox mentioned preca dent that in all SINH
| lar that arose at New Orleans the afidavits
| of Duncan, Armstead and others before the Re.
turning Board were published in the records. He
thought would be fair to admit the affidavit In the
| same manner.
Mr. Springer-I do not why should encum-
| Der the record with mass of falsehood
Mr. Reed am glad to see Mr.. Springer becoming
| sensitive about encumbering the record with
falschood. suppose it is because We have much
| of it,
Mr. Springer-It is the witness you have called,
then.
The Chairman remarked that after the lengthy
cross-cxamination upon the affidavit he thought the
latter should be put i'll and that the record would not
be complete without it.
No further objection was made.
In continuing the examination the witness testified
to his meeting Maddox in Washington. who offered
him thousand dollars and the payment of his ex-
penses if he would consent to withdrawing his ai.
davt, which he refused.
The committee then adjourned to eleven o'clock
tomorrow morning. when the cross-examination of
st. Martins Will be continued and probably concluded
THE ARLINGTON ESTATE.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1879.