Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-14

cannot remember anything about these des-
patches. There is no question that the
Tribune dispatches get near to the point,
yet they are inaccurate. Give me little
more latitude and will testify fully.
Attention was then directed to a telegram
addressed, Manton Marble, New York,
November 10Th.
WitneSs-I can hardly remember its con-
tents, but my Impression is it refers to regu-
lations which were then in progress with
regard to buying out the returning board.
Q-That's all you have to say on the sub
ject? Ayes, sir: that's all | cannot re-
member in detail what these messages con-
sisted Of.
At this point long time was taken up in
reading cipher messages and their transit
tions.
In regard to the telegram which reads /:
"Have Just received proposition to hand
over at any hour required Tilden decision of
the board and certificate of the Governor for
$2O0,000." (Signed) Marble witness
said, remember, and my reply to it was
that it was too high. The matter fell
through. have no other explanation.
The attention of the witness was called to
other dispatches, and he was asked if be had
any explanation. He replied Il have not
| can hardly remember these things ,went
to Baltimore; the night before leaving
New York | met Cooper and told him
about the Weed correspondence, and
fore l met Weed, | was fully salts
fed that the money would be forthcoming.
but later | received kilograms, one from
Cooper and another from some one whose
name | don't recolleet, that the money
could not be raised. met Cooper at his
house, and told him that Weed had tele-
graphed me as to the amount necessary to
buy the South Carolina board. Cooper led
me to believe that the money could not be
raised. At Baltimore | met Weed and told
him that the money could not be obtained.
Chairman-State exactly the conversation
between you and Tilden on this matter. A
lie was exceedingly annoyed and denounced
my action. In fact he was very severe. |
left for Baltimore without his knowledge or
consent
Odd you tell him anything about the
Weed correspondence Al did not the
correspondence and arrangements were
carried out solely by me.
Q-Tilden was much annoyed, was he
rot? Ale Was, and don't know that he
has yet forgotten it. lie told me distinctly
that he wanted no such work, and would
soone- die than allow himself to be put into
the Presii entail chair under false pretences.
Wien ! subsequently showed the Governor
the whole of the correspondence he was still
worse exercised and denounced the whole
proceeding emphatically.
Witness said he had the idea that the re-
turning board propositions, even if not car
ried out, would result if assented to in de-
lay, which would be favorable to the Demo-
cratic party. lie made no arrangements
for raising money, but intended event.
ually to lay the matter before the Demo-
cratic National Committee and let it decide.
Meanwhile he thought it best to commit the
members of the returning board to the prop
ositions in question. He had the dispatches
addressed to Havemeyer to insure secrecy.
PeltOn continued: | have little property,
not sufficient to supply 100000 or $4,000.
| cannot remember when giving Weed the
cipher Just what ] said cannot tell who
got up that cipher; don't remember when
1t was got up; don't know, Is my mind
is an entire blank as to this matter. |
cannot remember. 1t is two and half
years ago, and | cannot be expected to re-
member all such incidents.