Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-25
LOUISIANA.
The Kellogg-SpOffOrd Investiga-
ton.

New ORLEANS, November 24.-AIana-
ger Allyn of the Western Union Tele-
graph office, this city, stated that he had
been instructed to comply with the de-
mands of the committee, and furnish
telegrams specially called for within 4
period specified. The dispatches, twen-
ty.one in all, were handed to the chair
man, who ordered that a receipt be
given for them. The messages were in
cipher except the one from Morris
Marks, asking about the adjournment of
Congress.
Senator Hill asked the witness ii he
knew what the dispatches contained.
Witness-I do not.
Senator Cameron-We had better send
for Hlden.
W. III. Seymour, notary public, testti-
fed regarding the atiidavits made by
jeremiah Blackstone, a member OF the
Packard Legislature, and others, show
ing that they had been paid money to
vote for Kellogg. Mr.. Seymour testified
that the paper produced was not Black
stones original affidavit, but it was the
sum and substance of it. The paper re-
cites that Blackstone. at various times,
received money from Kellogg and Louis
SOuer, amounting in all To :, 200, which
he used as directed by kellogg to secure
kellOgg'S election as United States SEN
alto. Witness repeated part OF Il cOnyer-
SatiOn in his office between members Ola
committee of the Nichols Legislature and
others, with Blackstone, about bribery.
Blackstone said he could get ailidayits
q r,arNfa1 30 hon, hn naTI tho
money received from kellogg, corrObOr-
ating his statement. These atiidavits
were also produced and tiled With the
committee. In conversation blackstone
sail the money had been paid to bribe
him as a prominent Republican in the
ward and rs a member of the LegiSla-
ture. One of the party accompanied
the members OF the Nichols Legislature
to INV office 10 see Blackstone, who
promised 10 reimburse him for his out
Law i'm getting up the ailidayits. Black
stone afterwards told me he received
money from them, but with the distinct
understanding that the money paid by
the Democrats was not for bribery or
anything Of that sort, but was 10 pay
the expense he incurred in going after
testimony. The witness stated that the
committee OF the Nichols Legislature
appointed 10 investigate the Kellogg
SpOhord case never made any report.
j. +. BarignOn, Assistant Rergeant-at
Arms OF the Packard Legislature, testi-
fled that il seemed to be the general un-
derstanding that every member OF the
Packard Legislature was paid Tor vote
when Kellogg was elected United States
Senator; saw Kellogg speak to Senator
TwitChell one day in the telegraph OIL
flee, telling him that he wanted mis- vote,
and would give him one OF the best
positions in the Government, at the
same time kellogg handed Twitchell
$500; Twitchell remarked that il was all
right. Witdess hal been in the custom
house, but was discharged last July.
]. 5. ANTI, testified that he formerly
held place in the custom house, but
was displaced a few months ago by
Kerns, a former member OF the Packard
legislature Witness vas enrolling clerk
of the Packard Legislatures; il was
matter of common nOtOriety that the
members were paid for voting for kel-
lOgg.
b. Dreifus testified: Two very poor
members of the Packard Legislature
were flush the day after Kellogg's cleo
ton, one OF them remarking that the
election would account for his great
wealth. They had 500 in cash.
F. J. Stokes, Judge OF Grant parish in
1876, testified regarding the failure to
have an election in that parish: The
Republicans knew it was Democratic;
consequently no election was ordered.
Witness stated that the Republicans de-
sired 10 get rid OF him as parish judge,
and had him abducted, getting
requisitiOn from Texas for him
on the false charge that he was
an absconding tax collector Gov.
Wells wrote letter to the officials OF
Cass county, Texas, informing them
that the defau,ting tax collector of that
comfy was i'm Louisiana. When he had
been arrested and taken out of the
State on this false charge another Judge
was appointed. Witness recently ap-
Piled for the position in the Custom
House, but was not appointed.
The committee adjourned till tO-mor-
row, when the witness iOr Kellogg in
rebuttal will be called.