The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-06
THE POTTER COMMITTEE.
The Investigation at washington Shell
don and Maddox on the stand.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.-Gen. Sheldon, one OF
the Louisiana electors. appeared before the
Potter committee and made statement as to
the signing OF the second set of electoral eertif-
Gates. He saw Anderson after be returned from
and was told by the former that all The electors
were In the city excep5 Joffrion and Levisee
Kellogg. Burch. Marks and witness signed the
certificates. II there was any forgery he knew
nothing about It. He never heard anything
| about forgery until last May. when he saw it
In the newspapers, after the committee began
Geo. A. Sheridan. who was In Louisiana In
1876, was an active politician. Witness never
signing OF the second set was because 81 defects
In the first. Marks did mt meet him and go
with hin him to Kelloga,s oalae to sign the second
ment Of Marks on this point; gould not. say
who advised the preparing Of the second set.
Witness took no part In the affair y but left !, en-
met many public officials In New Orleans.
among them Senator sherman and Gen. Gar
Held tall talked with politicians OF both parties,
Tilden had been elected. This was fully
investigated by the Republicans. and witness
was not aware OF anything done by either party
beyond seeking evidence: knew nothing Of
procuring false testimony: was employed as
counsel for Secretary. Sherman in louisiana
Sherman letter was. but failed; heard that An
derson and Weber we're for sale. but never
a heard l. OF negotiations @ to purchase them; never
the two men held was the cause of anxiety to
both parties: could not remember whether he
had heard of any interviews between these men
and Secretary Sherman. Witness regarded
the whole controversy az most unfortunate to
the State. When he was employed as Republi-
can counsel he determined not to be a party or
engage In anything that would excite suspicion !:
as matter Of course he knew nothing wrong
save from hearsay.
(Recessb
After recess. Joseph a. Maddox was sworn
He said that the charges preferred against him
In st. Martins affidavit made 1t necessary for
him to prepare statement. which he had writ
ten In condensed form and wished to lay be-
fore the committee.
Mr.. Cox remarked that the committee had de-
oided already not TO receive any testimony In
such form.
Witness hoped that the committee would ac-
cept It, as he was In the position of man on
trial
The chairman would not accept It. and the
examination began In the regular way. Wit
ness made general denial of all of st. Martins
statements. He said he never promised E. L.
Weber $1o, 900 for testimony. and further on said
that he was present when Dula testified In New
Orleans. and what he stated was utterly false
witness said that his only interest during the
investigation at New Orleans was to see and
make abstracts Of the manner In which Return
Ing Board witnesses would testify. These alb
stracts he sent to Weber, who would return
them through st. Martin with the Endorsement
whether they we're right or not. They we're
afterwards given to the committee. He was In
New Orleans In the employ of Gibson of the
New York Sun who furnished him with brief
az to what his duties we're. He never took pars
In bribing or essayiDg to bribe witness
The committee then adjourned till to- morrow
morning.