The New York herald., 1879-02-07
Efforts Of the Politicians to Purchase
the Returning Boards.
WHO WAS TO SUPPLY THE MONEY?
The Part the National Democratic Committee
Was Expected to Play
THE OREGON REMITTANCE.
Why TiIden Was Not Informed Of the
Projected Bargain


Colonel Pelton appeared yesterday morning before
the subcommittee on the cipher telegrams only
quarter of hour late He looked outwardly placid
aud his teeth seemed clinched with tho firm de-
termination to go calmly through decidedly trying
ordeal That no little mental excitement seemed to
work in him could be easily gathered from the half
nervous. half suppressed air of stolidy with which
he frst shook hands with his republican foe and
prospective bitter cressexaminer. Mr.. Hscock he
passed the committee table to take his seat. and
then quietly saluted the democratic members Coonel
Pelton first looked grimly at the gallant host of
about twenty reporters lynx eyes were keenly
watching every varying expression of his counte-
nance and after while his stifiy drawn features
laxed into faint smile he observed the double
sharpened pencils swoop down with one accord upon
the twenty notebooks lying upon the long reporters
table. There tedious pause of about ten min
utes before Mr.. Reed Of Maine, arrived, and during
this wait Colonel Pelton kept twitchng at his beard
which is quite habit with him. Mr.. Hiscock. of
New York. during the opening of the examination
intended to indicate very clearly that he
did not consider the preliminary formality Of the
slightest importance, for he kept morning paper be-
fore him. The members Of the committee twitted
each other the personal descriptions given by the
newspapers of their appearance yesterday. The wide
publicity given by the morning journals to the
vcsigaton and the prospect of hearing the version
of the democratic candidates nephew Of his
tion with the cipher dispatches had attracted
throng Of spectators and the room densely
crowded all day long. Yesterday Secretary
John Bigelow and Corporation Counsel Whit
ney were among the early comcrs and
Mr. Watterson, Of the Louisville COurier-Jour-
nal, also interested looker-on. Ex-Gov-
ernor Rice. Of Massachusetts,. and many other well
known men dropped in during the of the day.
COLONEL fELTox's TESTIMONY OUTLINED.
Colonel Pelton's testimony given by him in
m apparently frank and straightforward manner.
though he occasionally seemed perplexed. pondercd
and hesitated. He has loud hard and rather graf
ing voice. and delivered his answers with quick.
3erky. nervous utteranca, which often jumbled his
words go to render them partially inaudible.
Colonel Peltons tone in replying to the questions
propounded to him during his examination-in-chcf
was loud and emphatic. though he wanted all the
world to understand that he perfcctly ready to
answer every query put by the committed. He sat
easily. either throwing one leg the other facing
the chairman. picking his teeth. or blinking his
eyes hsrd-which is one Of his peculiar habits-as
he kept examining the photo-lithographed copies
Of the cipher kilograms and fe Tribune compilation
before him. Sometimes Colonel Pclton's blunt con-
keSelOn6
elicit audible whisper and commotion-what the
French call "sensation'-among the listeners.
Colonel Pelton's loud voice sank very low. and his
easy. nonchaant attitude changed very perceptibly
when Messrs. Reed and Hscock, the republican mem
bers, took him III hand and subjected him to one of
the most merciless cross-examnations heard in
. committee room. These two keen cross-question-
evidently started out with the determined pur-
pose to tear Colonel Peltons testimony to pieces,
to literally not sleave a shred behind worthy of
crcdibility. The respective 'ponts" scored by the
republicans and the democratic members OF the CON-
mittec elected such loud applause the part Of the
auditors to turn for time the cross-examinaton
into q regular theatrical exhibition.
THE BALL OPENED.
Colonel Pclton stated his name; gave his age at
about forty years. and bis residence New York.
He said in reply to the chairman that lie had no
strictly Official connection with the cdmmittee. but
had had charge of many matters with the acquies-
ccnce of the .commisec In reply. to further ques.
tons he said he was a nephew of the democratic
candidate, Ex-Governor Tilden he had not retained
the ciphers agreed upon and did not rccollect them
the few published dispatches which he had seen aud
which had made IN impression on his mind were
''inaccurate" and "dcfcctive," though, as to "the
substance Of the matter involved, they wcro prob
ably correct"
q. What matter do you speak OF? A. The negota-
tions in reference to tho returning boards in those
States
y, For what purpose did these gentlemen, the wis.,
itng statesmen they were called 90 TO South Car
oiina and Florida? a. They went there to see that
the returns from the precincts wsro properly made
ny and that the returning boards the certificates
IN accordance with tho votes of the people,
Colonel Pclton said. in reply to further queries,
that Mr.. Smith Weed was one of the gentlemen who
went South; he was in South Carolina some days:
kilograms passed between them, mainly cipher.
and those for Mr. Pcton were addressed 70 Mr. Henry
did possess the key; they were sent by Mr. Have
meyer to Mr.. pclton at the committee rooms In tho
Everett House and tfcrc translated Colonel Pelton
answered the kilograms that werc addressed TO Mr.
Oncstions followed relating TO tho translation Of
many of the Florida dispatches. One of them, by
Coyc. asked for draft OF $500 for Manton Marble.
Mr. pelton being asked II he knew anything about IT,
said 1T may have been very possibly received. tho
money being for travelling expenses down there.
During tho delivery tho words very possibly
Colonel reiton's eyes blinked particularly hard.
Tho chairman continued to ask about other Florida
~,an s,S aear1ssea 70 MN snea py marble % Or
reply 81 don't know ANY thing about them" The
next despatch. sent by coylc 70 Henry Havcmcycr,
berod that the request Contained In II of sending
Lawrence +. I,ayno down to Tallahassee
piled with. The examination as TO the next despatch
0licited inadvertcnt laughter from the indis
crect spectators Tho despatch rcfcrrcd TO dated
Marble, Tashssscs. The translation Wss.M.It -~ is
sdvisod by Judge Ashbcl Green that you see A. H.
Colo" When askesl whether he knew anything about
the despatch Colonel Pcton replied in the negative
He thcn asked whether lie was in tho habit of
telcgr~phng under the signature of DENMARK" lie
ponlcrcd In visiby perplexcd manner and then
blnrtcd out. II not quite certain about that at
which there were u few loud g,iflaws. lie was asked
~ to whether the despatch was IN his handwriting
and said he believed notit seemed to be In tho hand
writing OF clerk named Haws.
Colonel pclton now pointed out some inaccuracies
In tho next translation OF despatch, oxcaining
with light touch OF Indignation. This only shows
low inaccurate the ranslatons arc" the republican
ncmbcrs protcsting, at the timc that tho en-
rors only Inisprihts.
. Then came moro of Coyc's Florida dispatches ad-
dressed to Havcfhcycr or Peiton. asking for money
and the witness replied that hc did not rrne ember
them Mr.. springer referred 10 Mayor Cooper's
,snsmorsndum o. disbursements nade hy him "a