The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-13

twelve cases where the names of
witnesses had been furnished by the
republican counsel [ was instructed to
report the persons not found: [ was in
structed by Stenger that in cases where
the witnesses subpenaed would not furB-
ish evidence desired by the committee
or unfayorable to the democracy, to return
the subponaes and report persons not
found, | was introduced by Weber to Mr..
Dula; Weber said to Dula that if be would
give certain evidence before the committee
he could secure $500; Duia refused the Of
fer; he remained in the city aBd was al
most constantly in Webers room; the Of
fer was raised to $500 and was proposed
and cepted in my presence; Weber then
drilled him in his lesson; the day previous
ly | heard Weber say to Dula that he
could not absolutely close bargain until he
had seen Mr.. Gibson; Dula appeared be-
tore the committee but instead OF the evi
dence he agreed to give he testified differ
emily and exposed the whole plan, how he
had been offered bribe by Weber and
that was in the room when Webber made
the proposal; at the instigation of Gibson
| went upon the stand TO contradict Dula' s
statement; before testifyiDg Gibson asked
me If [ would deny the testimony of Dula; !;
| replied that Dula told pretty straight
story and | feared the examination of Cox; !;
he then asked Weber where the money
was that was to be given Dula as soon as
his testimony was completed, provided be
had testified as desired; Weber took the
money out Of his pocket, wrapped up in
white paper with Dula's name Oh it; Glib
son took the package and gave ii to me; |
gave my testimony before the committee;
afterward l returned the money to Web
er; during the entire session of the COM
mittee in this city Maddox, Gibson and
carter were busy Influencing witnesses by
the use OF and offers of money, and the
chairman OF the committee had full
knowledge of the fact; Maddox repeat
edly told me that Gibson was Tilden's
outside agent, and he would secure all the
money desired from Col. Wm. T. Pelton,
Of New York: in May last, prior
to Weber's departure for Washington, he
came to me and stated that he desired tc
go North and was going to see Secretary
| Sherman, and in the event the Secretary
did not provide for him suitably and &C
cede to bis money demands he wished tt
| know if | would testify | had seen Sher
mans letter in existence, and further tha
! had witnessed him (Weber) destroy it
told him most positively that no such do
cument as the Sherman letter had evel
been seen BY him, and be bad no belief II
Its existence: Weber told me on bis return
from Washington that be was approached
by George Carter and A. NJ. Gibson aDC
offered $4,000 if he would give certain
evidence before the Potter Committee; ht
wished to have the money down before tht
testimony was given, for the reason thai
he feared these people Garter aud Glib
soDl would not act in good faith. Afte
considerable delay " eber and Carter CAV,
him $1,000 just before he went upol
the stand, and Weber said that had it no
been for this sum the testimony would hav,
been favorable to the republicans and Sc
cratary Sherman; in addition to money re
ward $4,000 Weber told me Carte
and Gibson guaranteed that the alleged
defalcation Of Weber as Treasurer of th
School Board of West Feliciana shoul,
be settled aud he relieved from all annoy
ance on that account; | have mad CORES
pondence with that portion of the agree
ment relative to the affairs of the Schoc
Board The affidavit was sworn to befor
United States Commissioner Woolfey a
New Orleans, Dec. 2, 1878.