The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-27
Cipher Investigation

The Potter Committee met on the 18th
inst, and resumed the examination of
Thomas C. Dunn, of the South Carolina
Returning Board. He said: "Solomon
Ti1den in Columbia, Smith Weed, for the
purpose of using money, if needed, to
secure the Electoral vote. Don't think it
was possible to count in Chamberlain and
Tilden, though it was impossible to say
what the court might do. Mr.. Solomon
wanted the Board to certify as the court
directed. He never named the price when
he came first. He said he was authorized
to use S1OO, 900, if necessary"
Mr.. McMahoD-How many Electors were
the Returning Board to give to the Tilden
party? Did Mr.. Solomon say? A. just as
many as the Supreme Court should order us
to certify.
for you? A. Well, sir. don't care to vaunt
my virtue.
@. l simply repeat my question. 1t had
no temptation for you? A. Not under those
circumstances.
@ just explain what those circumstance
were? A. Well, 100000 is pretty large
sum, and likely to influence anybody, but it
was not enough to induce me to betray the
whole trust of the community.
@. How much was Solomon to get on
this transaction for being gobetween? A.
That is for Mr.. Solomon to answer. He never
told me. We have been acquainted for
several years.
Prior to this offering the 100000, or en-.
gaging in this little scheme to corrupt your
would it have been altered by this PROPOSE
ton? A. L was not surprised at his making
the proposition, because I was well ac-
quainted with him.
@. You knew what sort of man he was,
butyou thought he did not know what kind
of man you were? A. Well, think he
had, perhaps, some hope that would &C.
| cept it when he first came to me, but !
| quenched that hope at the very first conver.
sation.
@. The relations between you and Solo.
mon are still friendly, and the effort to cor.
rupt you has made no changer A. Not al
all, SO far as am concerned.
|, Gen. Barlow, of New York, told how he
happened to 60 to Florida. He said he saw
DIR. Cowgirl after the Returning Board ha6
adjourned, and said to him that he, witness
did not see how they could fairly give tn,
State to Hayes Electors, and if he were il
CowgilPs place he should feel it his duty
to give the vote to the Tilden Electors
The witness said he held thorough!
Independent position, and could not b
termed counsel for the Republican party
although he wrote for them opinions upo1
points of law, and did other legal work TO
them.
Mr.. Hiscock produced long argumen
ON the Republican side which was writer
by the witness for delivery, before the Re
turning Board. The witness admitted tina
it was his handwriting, but denied an,
further recollection of it. He did not Sc
any Inconsistency in being counsel for bot
sides.
E. L. Paris was recalled, and laid befor
the committee number of cipher telegrams
which he had deciphered since his last e1
animation, to show Barlow's intimacy wit
, the Democrats at Tallahassee.
THE Potter committee on February 2(
examined United States Marshal Wharton
of Louisiana.
: Wharton said he was a Republican, an
had been a supporter of the Packard govern
: ment. During the time the Returning Boar
!, of 1876 was sitting, he was in New Orlean
but he never attended any of their session
There was a great deal of scandal afoat 8
: the time about public men, and he hear,
]. among other things, that Wells was trying
: make money out of his position. 1t
!, not my CHARGE" said Wharton, in explain
: ton the charge was that the Democra
S had men down there with money, and the
r were making an offer to buy, and it was b
0 lieved that if matters could be arrange
e Governor Wells was ready to treat"
l. Wharton continued: "Maddox told n
# he was satisfied that Wells intended to Sc
r out the result of the election to the Dem
Q Gratis: that he enjoyed good deal of Go
If Wells confidence, and that Gov. Wells W
l. inclined to make him the negotiator. I
$. thought he had better encourage the con
}. dence, he said, so that he would be IN
d attitude just about the time it would 9,
=. inmate in an actual trade to post us CT
a. Republicans), SO that we could break it
Of and prevent any contamination of il
s. Witness did not know of any fnanc
le arrangement being made with Wells.
at @. Here is a letter dated New Orleal
er December 8, 1876, and published In t
Sc Chicago Inter Ocean, did you write this
TO A. do not know. If 1 did it was in I
le belief that Maddox would be able to car
ut the thing to point and give us informati
te about it,
or @. This letter says: al think you h
a, better advise them to abandon all hopes
I'd getting anything from us, and advise him