The New York herald., 1879-02-08
Mr.. Marble Declares that No
Purchase Was Intended.
''INTERCEPTING" HIS DISPATCHES
Why He Wanted Governor Tilden
to Saddle Blackstone.
"HEAvENS AND EARTH, NOp'
Governor TiIden to Testify Before the
Committee To-Day.

Mr.. Manton Marble. the former editor of the World
and one of the democratic visiting statesmen to Flor
ida. the first witness at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
yesterday before the cipher subcommittee as it may
for the sake of brevity, be called Mr. Reed the
publican member from Maine had so systematically
tried since the beginning Of the sessions in New York
to ridicule Mr. Marbles high sounding declarations
of political virtue and morality contained in his let
ter the electoral contest and to turn them against
him that lively time generally expected, and
tho and all the approaches to it were densely
packed.
Mr.. Marble looked rather and pale, though
he suffering from mental fatigue. He bore him.
self, however, with marked and studious composure,
though his tone and manner when he alluded to the
Tribune displayed bitterness which he made
no attempt to conceal. Mr. Marble toyed carelessly
with his eyeglasses he leaned back in his chair
and in a voice Of fearless decision replied to the
questions propounded to him. Later on, when in
ringing voice he read his epistolary denunciatons
of republican frauds and misrule in Florida his tone
became dramatic and occasionally even pathetic.
Mr.. Marbles crossexamination not nearly as
searching that of Colonel Pelton the previous
day had been. and he preserved his elfpossession
and equanlmity Of temper throughout. The gist of
Mr.. Marbles defence that he conveyed The propo-
matters of news, and that he had the slightest
notion of acting upon these corrupt offers He only
looked upon them snares means designed by
the board to raise the price, for the republican sde
MARBLE NOT COMMISSIONED"
Mr.. Marble was examined by the Chairman, Gen.
eral Hunton He stated in answer to one Of the pre-
liminary queries that he had no occupation. He
went to Florida at his instance and not at the
request of anybody; before starting he bade Gov
ernor Tilden goodby and obtained cipher from
Colonel Pelton at the Everett House; after he re-
turned from Florida he destroyed all dispatches he
sent no kilograms to Governor Tlden did he re-
ceive any from him while in Florida; it untrue,
as stated by the Tribune. that he went "commis-
stoned to take charge of the Florida contest by Gov
ernor Tilden
.'Its all rubbish" Mr.. Marble contemptuously ex-
claimed. with the TylLue pamphlet before him.
O. Give tho committee an idea of what you did in
Florday A. have published two letters the SUBJ
jcct in reply to some fctions ascribed to me- and
should like to make them part of my testimony.
Mr.. Reed-I decidedly object. Mr.. Marble did not
write these letters under oath and he not then
''standing in the citadel of power"
This sarcastic use of one of the frequently quoted
expressions of Mr.. Marbles letter created some
hilarity.
Mr.. Marble now stated the formal proceedings un-
honest count
''rHE NEEDFUL" OMITTED.
1--WE did everything. in fact except the one thing
necdful. They were for sale and we refrained fiom
buying them
Q. Under what signatures did You telegraph? A.
My name my initials Moses most fire.
quently under signature in my cipher dispatches
did not use signature of Israel
Photolithographic copies of several of the cipher
dispatches were identified by Mr.. Marble as being
fac-similes of his handwriting 'The first state
mcnt," said he. ''n this cipher, which certainly
sent, is explicit disproof of the statement with
which the Tribune prefaces that despatch. and. in
general would like to say that the dispatches them
selves far they read almost exactly conute the
Tritunes editorial statements. There is difficulty
all in deciphering these dispatches; it is very
easy. with little patience. The only difficulty. after
having transposed the words. is to get the correct
meaning of the substituted words" One of the
dispatches advised Mr. Marble not to trust Mr.. u.
@. To whom does that refer? A. General Barlow.
Another despatch was read by Mr.. Hunton. closing
with the words "Shall not ring fire bell in night p?
As he came to these words Mr. Marble smiled good
naturedly. "They trying to cheat u.s. he said
'and thought they ought to be denounced There is
no remedy for fraud like publicity
ABOUT DOCUMENTS"
One telegram. not in cipher. referred TO ''docu-
mcnts" to be received by the Associated Press. Mr.
Marble desired to place the documents in evidence
and read statement showing republican frauds.
Mr.. Hiscock objected.
MIR. Reed--Do you claim that this throws no light
on half hundred United states best docuinentsq"
C.arghtcr) There has been no claim that they were
passed over to the Associated Press, has there
u.sughtcrl
Mr.. Springer-Thcrc might have been. II has been
suspected long time that they werc
Here followed much uninteresting and dreary de-
tail us to unimportant cipher dispatches which Mr.
Marble insisted upon explaining by reading from
monster scrapbook his long published kilograms to
the newspapers denouncng the ''monstrous Frauds"
&C.. perpetrated by the republicans. Mr.. Hiscock
objected to this, while Mr.. Springer defended the
witness, and Mr.. Reed then denounced 1t as part of
system" to cloud up and bcfog the issue relating
to the cipher dispatches. When called to account by
the chairman for the innuendo conveyed in the word
system" Mr.. Reed disavowed any intention to re-
hect upon General Hunton ,r, he added after very
comical grimacc upon the other democratic mem.
bers. which caused some laughter. The reading OF
crew who rule and riot" ''stupendous frauds. zap
palling villany and of other choice specimens pro-
voked constant hilarity.
Mr.. Hiscock moved that these dispatches be not re-
ceivcd III evidence.
Mr.. stcnger-we want all 'the keen, bright sun
light OF publicity Ia quotation from Marbles letter
used In playful satire BY all the members, but we do
not want 1t to come only through the Tribune wis
dom. We want to get the entire truth and want to
yet 10 from the witnesses.
Mr.. Hiscock hcrcey contendcd that tho object of
giving these public dispatches now was to break tho
force Of the corrupt kilograms and to contradict
them.
Tho Chairman very quietly said the scope OF this
investigation was wide one, embracing not only
cipher kilograms. but the electoral frauds generally
'lANsoMiNG nus own"
Mr.. Springer urged that the witness had a right 10
show that the state rightiully belonged the fdcn
electors. IL would make difference whether tho
money 10 be used by the witness in infu encipu the
result was for ransoming his or for buying what
belonged TO somebody else.
Mr. Hiscock formally moved to exclude these
published dispatches sent by Mr. Marble at tho time
to the North and tho motion was promptly rejected
by . strict party vote.
Mr.. lsoed Cronicallyp yp-How strange this is. why,