Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-02-18
Prom the New York Tribune
PeItOn's Confessions.


for ight hours and halt, and when he
wa dismissed there was little or nothing
lett o. him. he was not only dreadui.y
em5-sraSSed, heOitaung and contradictory
on the crossexsminatlon. but even his
direct testimony vas painful exhibition
from the very start. At one time in the
afternoon, Mr.. Reed in demonstrating
against an interruption, took occasion to
remark that the witness was "middlng
wiling to answer and be did not wish
the spell 70 be broken; but this Is 20 be
understood only as cue OF those bright
A. goOd-huaorei Sai.les with which The
geuai gentleman from Maine sometimes
eullveus the proceedings. The witness
seemed all through the day ike one who
has much 10 conceal and although his
testimony 50 far as IL affected Mr., Nlden
was certainly plain enough, the impression
which be produced upon the spectators
W., extremely unfortunate. We do not
mean this SS s criticism upon his evidence
but - . description Of the effect Of bis
outward dcmcanor, which Le probably
cou.d DOT help. Nearly all tha, be sad
IL reply 10 the questions Of his own side
was slowly dragged on, Of him. and mos,
OF what he said 20 MeSsrs. H.scock and
Reed vas 50 long in coming We despared
o. n before Il appeared. he cvaded be
p-ev4ricated he stamm,red he explain
e. ne involved himself hopeless.y in
mcsses AMI mudd.es be was sometimes
f,1 or ten minutes in answering YES or
L, he managed TO attract the finger OF
suspicion by turns TO his uncle and % the
Democratic National Committee On the
whole, he probably did his side as much
harm a. any man Is likely 10 do In a sia-
<, lay.
50 taz IS he spoke at 81 Of the genu-
iueuess Of the dispatches aud the accuracy
OF tne TRANSACTIONS. Colonel Pe.tou fully
confirmed me Tribune. Like Mr. Smith
Weed. be had lost his keys. iost Ms mem
ory and .ost MS interes; IN the transac-
to % 1876 So lar that ne mad taken no
PAM to verify the teie--aus imputed 81
hin Il, would say nothing, thGseto-e,
about the text OF any dispatch except Il
d. not remember, or II can't say" But
he freely admitted that the sense Of the
trausiGtons N all cases agreed with such
mo-0ry a. remained u hin. de ao-
knUs edged the signature Denmark.
Acknowledged receiving a. the Henry
Hsyomeyer kilograms, ackrow edged. IN
tho.- fullest extent, the series OF cipher
communications In which he received and
accepted the various propositions for the
purchase OF the Florida Returning Board.
lie 4id reject Marbles frs, offer, al the
price Of 100000, because II was too
high he did accept the subsequent Of
fers transmitted through Marble and
Woo.ley, at the figure OF $4,000. Ii
was rue that dis acceptance was received
too iate.
TIE narrative OF the South Carolina
bar I'D, as tod By the Tribune and Smith
Wee was also true. We DO not romem-
Der hat Mr. Pe.t5n lonud anything 70
crit,i>e 10 be Tribune pamphlet except
the slp> ,ud0n o. the word 'be for 10Y"
IL a oso..y Unimp0-tant cipher-thc right
WORD. however, being given IN the ,rans.a-
ton iust beloE H. We have no doubt
that number Of similar, and even more
important errors, viii be discovered as the
Tribune's copies are compared with the
originals; but alter the admissions made
BY Weed, aud the al-embracing aduis-
sicns Of Peitou, We presume that the sub
stantal accuracy Of Toe cipher pubhca-
tioD and TRANSACTIONS Will be no Longer
called 10 question
Mr.. Pcl,on dec,ared-aDd this be a.
wa, said with a!acri,y-taat he kept the
knoS.vdge Of al these bargains from ais
uncle, because be knew his uncle would
not approve Of them. He acted on ais
own responsibility, and yet he had al
expectation or q hope, or a shadow be-
lief Of some kind, that the democratic
national committee. or members OF e.
would furnish ths money He had no Of
fcl.i connection with the committee, but
be vas recognized in that body as the
confidential representative Of Mr.. Tilden,
anu IL was IN that capacity that he sent
W. 10 South Carolina and Marble 10
F.cI,ds. and took general charge OF the
M lsgement Of the count The particu-
lar members OF the nationa. committee IN
whom the confidential agent and nephew
trJ sied e. DO what be would not venture
10 r-CDcse 70 his uncle, were Mr. ". l.
Sc o. Ere, and llr Edward Cooper,
OF Noe York. And mere Colonel Pe.ton
fla s conradieJed the evidence Of Mayor
Cooper. That gentleman sWOre on We'd
nesuay evening that he did not know be
forcdand the particulars Of Pelton's pur-
pose n going to Baltimore, and was very
muca satoaisLed wnen he received a tele-
gran calling Tor $4,000 Colonel Pei
tor, Oh toe other na0d, szears that he
tod Mr. Cooper what the bargain was
be'url be started, and what the price was
10 @ aod vent away with the impression
tbs the money would De forthcoming
He sIied that he cautioned Dir. Cooper
70 --y nothing about It 70 Mr.. Iiide1
Tn Issue Of veraeity thus presented Is
ele.r nd bold. We presume that few
VI In doubt how to decide it.
v "a JGe South Carolina scheme was
exp- Isl Sit TlideG censureI ais nephew
wit extreme severity. Mr. Cooper also
COZ e.1led The trade 90 moral grounds.
In ten day. re hopeful nephew was az
worS gain IL the same business, this time