The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-19
PLAYING IT ON THE DEMOCRATS
Operations Of a Solomon Who
Was Not Wise.
MIR. KEMPTONS GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
General Barows Efforts for an Honest
Count in Florida

By Mr. Recd-Q Did Mr.. Solomon make any state
ment to you about agent for Mr. Tilden being
down there lat Tallahassee| anything Of that sort?
A. He said he had been informed that there was IN
agent of Mr.. Tilden in Columbia-Mr. Smith Weed
Q. For what purpose? A. For the purpose of rails
ing money if necessary, to the electoral vote;
that was what Mr.. Solomon told me.
Q. You had no personal knowledge Of Mr.. Weeds
presence, understand? A. No; I never saw Mr..
Weed to my knowledge.
THE cANvAssyNG BOARD.
The Chairman-Who composed the Canvassng
Board OF South Carolina? A. Henry i. Haync Sec
rotary of State; F. l.. Cardozs. Treasurer; W. E.
Stone Attorney General Henry Purviss Adjutant
Inspector General and myself
O. Had you no official position? A. was Comp
trollcr General.
O. When were you elected? A. was elected to
fill the vacancy Of Comptroller General in septem-
Der, 1874.
O. Had you previously filled any other position?
A. had been member Of the State Senate; was
elected in 1872 for four years.
@. Who was Governor at that time? A. Governor
Moses during the first winter and Governor Chamber
lain afterward.
Q. Who composed the Supreme Court? A. Mr. E.
]. Moses, tho Chief Justice; Mr.. Willard and Mr.
White.
Q. What relation was Mr. Moses, the Chief Justice
to the Governor? A. Father.
@. Solomon told You that all you had to do was to
obey the orders of the Supreme Court? A. Yes.
The witness then described the form in which the
returns came to the Board and the manner in which
the canvass made.
THE PROPOSED SALE OF THE BOARD.
Q. Did any else besides Mr.. Solomon ever
speak you with reference to the sale of the
the Board? A. No. sir.
Q. You referred yesterday to Mr.. Haskell. Did he
communicate with you? A. No; no further
than telling about Solomons action.
Q. And. rs far as you know, he had communi-
cation with any other person of the Board? A. No,
sir.
Q. Did you subsequently learn anything to corrob-
orate the statement of Solomon? A. Never.
Q. Solomon. 1 understand. claimed to represent
what? A. He claimed to represent the democracy
of South Carolina. speaking through Haskell and
Palmer. He said Weed was there, but saw
him.
O. Did you learn in the of the canvass that
the returns from two counties in the State were
destroyed and other returns substituted in their
place? A. have recollection of hearing 30.
Oh ask If 1t ever came TO your knowledge? A.
Not as member of the Board; no such claim came
before the Board Subsequently learned that some
precinct returns had been destroyed but not any
county returns. The precinct returns to which
refer were, as far as can recollect, in Barnwell
county
O. On which side was the claim A. think on the
republican side the impression in my mind in re-
gard this matter is that related To precinct
in Barnwell county. where the republicans claimed
broken up. aud that they went to some other place
and held the POLL and it claimed that the returns
were forged: this is all that remember OF it now.
O. Do you rccollcct that any returns were kept
back A. Well supposed that they inten-
tonally delayed. some OF them, but We had proof
of it, do not remember that the returns OF Charles
tony delayed. the only COMMITTEES 1 remainder NJ
were Edgefed and Spartanburg.
O. Was there any claim that persons had entered
the State House and made alterations in the returns
A. Yes, that was q claim made afterward, that In
some of the precincts there had been some slight
changes made with regard to the number of votes
for certain candidates on the State ticket
Q. Did 1t como before your Boardy A. do not
think it came before the Board ~ matter for con-
sideration; / remember the fact that there was y
claim made; remember IL more distinctly because
OF the claims was on account OF my own vote In
the neighborhood of Voorhees,: they claimed that
some figures had been altered: was u candidate for
the office of Comptroller General.
Q. For your reelection? A. Yes. sir.
q. You noted proceedings quo warrantos A.
They were taken some time after tnat.
q. At all events you adjourned in view of the
power of the Supreme Court? a. Yes we had asked
through our counsel the question of the supreme
Court whether the time that were delayed from
sidcred legally in the ten days. and the Court do
clined to answer the question:, and that is why VIC
determined to take chance. but on the tenth day
adjourncd left South Carolina in juno, 1871.
WHAT MR. KEMProN PROPOSED.
The witness then testified 20 the Indictment in
South Carolina of himself. Mr. Cardoza, Ex-Governor
Chamberlain and Mr.. Kcmpton and the examination
continued
Q. Where does Mr.. Kempton liver A. At present
in Eoylston place, Boston, No. l6
q. In the same house where you reside2 A. In the
same house. Well, he is not living with me. but he
occupies rooms in the same house. He has been
there since the time of the proceedings before
ernor Rice; think that was in August. Governor
Chamberlain on saturday last was ut his Office in
New York, which Is at No. 301 Broadway, think.
o. Did you have any talk in the month OF January
with Mr.. kcmpton IN regard ~ the dispatches sent
from south Carolina 10y Weed with respect to the
election? A. Well, think l talked with him az
various times since the things were published in the
Tribune
O. Did Kcmpton report to you that he had any ne
gotiations with Weed. or Weed with him? A. No;
he told me he hal sent letter TO Mr.. Wool asking
for interview; he aftcrward said he did not have
nh interview with Mr.. Weed, but that his partner
| Mr.. smith, think 1t was-had.
q. Did he state why he desired an interview with
Mr.. wccd2 A. Mr.. kcmptons statement TO was
that having the knowledge of my knowledge with re-
CARL these matters. he thought that H. could
Mr.. Weed and get his influence with the authorities
of South Carolina to stay proceedings against him. he
might in consideration ot not coming here to tcs-
tify aud of his getting me keep silent on the suit
jcc. of my knowledge in these matters. have these
proccc fin,s stayed wish IL TO be distinctly under
stood that this Information from Dir. kempton camc
90 me subsequent TO all this.
| O. Subsequent to all what2 A. Subsequent 20 the
writing of this letter aud this interview with Mr..
Smith.
o. DO you know whore the interview took place
A. In the city OF Boston, think IL about three
days subsequent to the interview kempton told me;
he did not state what transpircd at the interview
ccpt ia general terms the effect of which was that IL
| Weed would exercise hts influence to stay the pro-
| cccdings that were pending against him he would
| get Mr.. Dunn to ROMAN silent.
q. Now be kind enough to tell us what 10 was you
| knew that Weed or anybody wished you TO keep
| silcnt2 A. Nothing whatever, except what have
| stated here; Mr.. kcmpton knew what have gem
orally told you in regard TO Mr.. Solomons ncgoti-
| atoms.
q. How did he know? A. talked of IL last summer
when the cipher kilograms were published
O. Had Kempton had any negotiations with
your Board any of the members OF it2 A. Not TO
| my knowledge; well, will say positively. no; he
was not 10 my knowledge considered in South Caro-
lima n kind OF gobetwcen between the officers of
| the Board and other persons.
O. Will you swear That you were not aware that II
| was not unfrSlucntly spoken OF In Columbia that
| kcmpton the man vino bought the of the
| Board OF state Canvasscrs2 A. swear positively
| have no knowledge OF this being the case.
q. Do you know whether kcmpton. in acomnuni-
cation he made to Weed ~ WccIs friends made
| ~ a condition that you should receive your pardon
| as we'll A. Well think Mr.. kcmpton mentioned