The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-02-13
pELToN,s TESTIMONY.

New York, Feb 6.-C0l. Pelton was tO'uay pe-
fore the Congressional Committee investigating
the cipher dispatches.
Questlon-Can you remember any OF the names
with whom you corresponded, or have you de-
stroyed your cipher key2 Answer-I have, and
can not now remember the names of any persons
with whom conferred. AlP kilograms sent by
Weed were, by my Instructions addressed to
Havemeyer who at once sent them to me. After
this they we're presented TO the Committee at the
Everett House.
O Who opened these dispatches in your alb
Eence? A. The National Democratic Committee.
The Chairman called attention to the dispatch
dated Tallahassee, Nov. 10th, and signed in the
translation MARBLE" The dispatch stated that
the Canvassing Board may and will purge the
returns, and our first move will be to require of
the Board of three State officers, one being an
able Democrat. Immediate action.
Col PeltOn-I might as we'll state here 1 can not
remember anything about these dispatches
There is no question the Tribune dispatches get
near to the point, yet they are inaccurate l al
was understood that Woeley and Fox were one
and the same person. Give me little more lati'
tude and will testify fully.
Mr.. Springer Of the committee, said several DIS
patches from Florida, signed MAX" sent by
Coyle in reference 10 money matters were ex-
plained by the memorandum Of the expenses OF
the Democratic National Committee, submitted
by Mayor Cooper.
The witness said he had an idea that the Re-
turning Board propositions even II not carried
out would result, II assented to, in delay which
would be favorable to the Democratic party He
had made no arrangements for raising money,
"A ~ Law tho mattpF hnfOIn
the Democratic National Committee and let 1t de-
eide. In the meanwhile, he thought 1t best to
commit members of the Returning Board propo-
sitions in question. He acted wholly on his own
responsibility without consultation with any one,
He held no authority to act for the Democratic
National Committee in the matter.
SOUTH CAROLINA DISPATCHES.
The South Carolina dispatches were then taken
up.
Pelton said he remembered sending dispatch
asserting to the proposition to use S5O,OOG ne
might have asked that part Of the money should
be payable only after the vote was cast, but he
did not remember doing so; he remembered re-
ceiving a dispatch from Weed to the effect that
that the South Carolina Returning Board de-
manded S75 ,OOO the proposition was accepted by
him. though he did not remember the exact
words of the dispatch which he sent.
The attention of the witness was called to other
dispatches, and he was asked if he had any ex-
PLANTATION. He replied, have not; can hardly
remember these things; went to Baltimore; the
night before leaving New York met Mr. cooper
and told him about the Weed correspondence,
and that might need his money; before met
Weed was fully satisfied that money would be
forthcoming but later l received two kilograms,
one from Cooper and the other from some one
whose name don't recollect, to the effect money
could not be raised met Cooper at his house and
told him Weed had telegraphed me as to the
amount necessary 10 buy the South Carolina
Board Cooper led me to believe money could not
be raised
F1LDEN DENouNCEs PELToN's ACTION.
Tilden was exceedingly annoyed about the
matter and denounced my action. In fact he
was very severe; left for Baltimore without his
knowledge or consent, and he was much surpris-
ed at my action.
The Chairman-Did Tilden have any idea you
were perfecting or attempting to perfect negotia-
tions for bnying returning board2 A. he mad
not the least idea of what was going on.
O. Did you tell or advise him of the cores
pondence Of Manton Marble or Wooley from
FlorldaY A. certainly did not
@. Did you tell him about the Weed cores
pondence? A. l did not. The correspondence
and arrangements were carried oHt solely by me.
Mr. stenger-Do you mean to say that you had
no conversation with Mr.. Tilden on the matter
until after your arrival from Baltimore? A. Yes
sir; that Is the fact,
O. Mr. Tilden was much annoyed, was he mott
A, He was, and I don't know that he yet for
gets It; he told me distinctly that he wanted no
such work, and would sooner die than allow
himself TO be put into the Presidential chair un
der false pretenses; when 1 subsequently showed
the Governor the whole correspondence he was
still more exercised and denounced the whole
proceeding emphahcally.
2LBy Mr. Reed-As Secretary Of the National
Democratic Comm ittee did you not arrange the
ciphers2 A. l did not
o. Did you fully explain matters before the
Committee that investigated the Oregon electioni
A. Yes, cir, 1 did and have nothing to add TO IT.
In further cross examination. Pelton was un.
able to state who was the author of the cipher
key but said the same key answered, so far as his
recollection went, for South Carolina and Flor.
i'd; the Tribune translations, he added, were In
acurate; he gave copies Of the key to Coyle and
Marble; the same key answered for Louisiana
but the witness could not say to whom he gave
the key there; Mr.. Tilden did not read all the tel
egrams received; he did inquire as to whether OF
not there was any news from Marble, but he nev.
er read q single telegram in relation to negoha
tlons for the purchase of the Returning Board.
MARBLE ExoNERATEs TIIDEN.
New York, Feb THE investigation into the
cipher dispatches was begun to day, with Manton
Marble on the stand. He said in answer to Q
question:
went to Florida to look after the electoral
vote; can not say went under the instructions
fthe Democratic Committee; did not go at the
specific request Of any one; had no conversation
with Governor Tilden on the matter; called on
the Governor the evening left, and simply bade
him goodbye; on my way met Randolph Blair
and Fox, and Of course canvassed the matter with
them; think got cipher from Pelton at the Ev
erett house, and used 1t subsequently. 1 neither
sent 10 nor received from Tilden any kilograms
addressed my dispatches to Pelton. Ny Object
IN going TO Florida was to take care Of the electo
raj vote, aud let me here suggest the cipher dis
Pe'Vhts as puDusneu III the 1nOQuSi 81 ihr as
am concerned, are simply rubbish.
Q. Give the committee general idea Of what
you did In Florida. A. have already publish
ed statements Of what did and did not do. One
OF my statements was published in January, The
otner-"ru "rub-s.dub"-was published in the Tri-
pune Tor months. What did not do was to buy
Florida votes, and they were for sale. would
ike to submit these letters If the committee has
no objection.
Mr. Reed-I have decided objection.
Chairmau-Then they are ruled out
MI stenger-l can't see the force of the objec-
tion OF the members on the other SIDE. Beyond a
doubt, on careful examination, they will require
the witness to state all he knows about these LEI.
tets, and probably make him read them YER.
batm.
Chairman-Mr Marble, have you copies of the
kilograms you sent to Florida A. have not