Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-02-06
THE CIPHER TELEGRAMS.
POTTER SUBCOMMITTEE AT WORK.
Smith N. Weed, Of New York, the First
Witness - He Tells What He
Knows About the South
Carolina Ciphers.

New YoRE, February 5.-The Potter
subcommittee 10 investigate the cipher
dispatches, began work to day and ex-
poets to conclude its special war by Sat
urday. All the members OF the COM
mittee were present. Smith NJ. Weed,
of New York, was the first witness,
and testified to going to North Carolina
under instructions received al the
Everett House.
Dwell, now, sir, tell us il you have
any knowledge OF those cipher dis
patches, as published in the New York
papers.
| Al had cipher when | left here.
had a cipher which used from both
North and South Carolina. | have
written a statement which will refresh
my memory, if you will permit me eith-
or to submit or have II read.
Mr.. Reed object to this, not in a
captious manner, but am inclined to
think that we want his recollection on
| this subject.
After consultation the chairman ruled
| that the witness should proceed.
Witness resumed: Mr.. Chairman, /
/ destroyed both the key and copies OF the
| dispatches. must confess that think
the dispatches as published in the
Tribune are pretty correct. Now | will
| 90 back 10 my trip. / met Cox in South
! Carolina. From there | telegraphed
| Henry Havemeyer TO the effect that |
| had nothing TO do and wanted 10 come
| home. Upon response to this | went
back to South Carolina. The published
| statements that | registered under an
other name than my own, is false. "
| Columbia | met Wade Hampton and
! others. Itwas admitted that the State
| had gone in the interests OF the Demo
! Gratis.
Mr.. HickOck: Mr.. Chairman, tell
| the witness to be more specific
and give names. We don't require
! admissions; We are now looking for
| facts.
Witness-It is true was asked 10
| furnish money, and believing that two
/ out Oi the three States had been carried,
| determined what 10 do, and tcle-
| graphed 10 New York asking ii the
money cOrld he furnished.
Mr. IIunton-Havc you got that tcle-
gram?
Witness-I have not. | propose tn
give the bonus Of the transaction 10 this
committee. The dispatches between
myself and Henry Iiavemeyer were the
only ones | sent. Finally an aTrage-
mcnt, or rather definite proposition,
was handed me, saving that Tor s1N,OO
or $4,000 the South Carolina Canvas
sing Board would make things all right
for the Democrats. | hal not, as
has been stated, tclegraphed that
the State had gone for Hayes; that the
county returns showed a majority for
the Republicans, while the present re-
turns showed majority ior the Demo
Gratis. | left Columbia for Baltimore
and Representatives Of the canvassing
board Harry sullivan and others were
ON the train, and 10 make the matter
short | will state that | positively de-
clined a. receive the proposition made
by the CanvasSing board To hand over
the State to the Democrats.
A number of kilograms were submit
ted 10 the witness, who said they were
not his. Witness said there were a
number OF telegrams in the Irib-u1S
pamphlet which he recognized as his,
and Of which he shall speak hereafter
A despatch was shown To the witness,
dated Baltimore, Nov. ~, addressed 10
Gen. J.. Il. Gordon, Columbia. The
translation is a. follows: Matters ar
ranged by returning board agent in
form. Hasnell tclegraphed news
Witness said he never sent such q tel
egram and would say that the Tribune
does not lay positive claim to accuracy
in these cipher messages.
Chairman-On the same date there
was another telegram sent from the
the same place and from the same per
sons, reading a. translated: Have
court hold on TO electoral votes until
fixed or failure. Nav be little delay.
The witness said he knew nothing
about this telegram. The translation of
telegram No. -, was then read 10y the
witness, as follows:
COLUMBIA, Nov. 18th.
To HHry HdumSysr, Np. - io5 Nrsg-
tSsnh sra1, N,'c lOrt:
A majority Of the board have been
secured. The cost il S>O. .OOO AMI - to he
sent as follows: One parcel Of $500
one oi $1,000 and one ut Si,UJO. All 20
lie fye hundred or one thousand dollar
bills. Notes to be deposited a the par
ties accept and given up upon the vote
uf the land Of Hampton 4. z. state oi
south Cardinal being given to Tilden's
friends The three packs should De- sent
without inscription and tonight unless
YOU should receive a telegram from me
cuuntrrmanding. | shall try tu secure
everything by the plan Of deposit. The
friends Of Chamberlain and Bavaria, are
here i'm force and fear their money and
careful watching and intimidation ui the
board. For God sake let IL - II you
can. r. safe in Florida or Africa DO
this at once and have the cash really -
As 10 reach Baltimore Sunday evening.
Telegraph decidedly whether il will be
done.
lSigneLl w.
Weed said he could not tel what part
oi this translation was correct and what
verr not. From his recollection he
thought the translation was substan-
italy correct, though his memory was
thst the sum named was -, On instead
Of SSO,ODO He thought tha; one sentence
should read, "for God sake let 1t ~ II
Won can - safe in Florida or Africa.
without sny y.eriOd after the W"ri can.
His idea Wa that the thing should not
IL done Il IL could b. avoided. He Nas
wholly unable 10 rerolleCt the meaning
of Any particular wori in the cipher ~
the meaning WRs purely arbitrary.
The ChAirmAn-LOok al telegram No.
~. iron Baltimore, under date NOvem-
l--r 2Uth. II reAls-'Haye court holi
on 20 the electoral votes until fixed, or
iailune NAV be IN little DELAY J.
that yours9
WiineSS-It purports 70 be mine, but
by nO means conveys the idea ! had m
tsniel
The ChAirmSn-lierei ! another iron
Columbia, November q. IL i achire>S,vi
20 YOU at Eyervit House, ani reals