The Portland daily press., 1879-02-07
THE POTTER SUBCOMMITTEE
MIR. Pelton Tells About the Cipher Tele.
grams.

'AA' ChtVAA = SAsS <ASO"s sHo OHPutE
NEW YORK, Feb. 6.-rhe Potter committee re-
sumed its session to-day Among those present were
Mr.. Pelton. Mr.. Hiscock greeted him warmly and
expressed the hope that he would be able to throw
s,me light upon tho vexed cipher question. Mr. Pei
ton REPLIED 81 hope 80. shall tell you all 1 know
without reserve and trust my testimony will be dealt
with fairly"
Mr.. Pelton took the stand and testified. He went
to South Carolina and Florida. He had cores
ndence but destroyed cipher key and could not re-
member the names of persons with whom he had
conferred. kilograms sent by Weed to Havemeyer
were by his instruction, who transmitted them to
Pelton and he delivered them to Democratic general
committee.
PeltOn's examination was continued in regard to
telegram No. 80 which reads, "Have just received
proposition to hand at auy hour required Til
den decision of board and certihcate OF Governor
for $500, 0JO." tSigned) Marble.
Witness said; remember it and my answer was
that it was too high, and the matter fell through.
Q-Have you no other explanation?
Al have not.
The attention of witness was called to other dis
patches and he was asked il he had any explanations
He replied: have not l can hardly remember
these things. went to Baltimore the night before
leaving New York. 1 met Cooper and told him
about the Weed correspondence and that l might
need his money before met Weed. was fully sat-
isfed that money would be forthcoming but later
received two kilograms one from Cooper and the
other from some one else whose name do not reco-
lect to the effect that money could not be raised.
@ -Where and when did you meet Mr.. Cooper.
AIT his house and told him Weed had tele-
graphei the amount necessary to buy the South
Carolina board. Cooper led me to believe that money
could not be obtained
Chairman-State execty what conversation took
place between you and Gov. Tilden in this matter.
A-He exceedingly annoyed and denounced
my action; in fact he was very severe I left for
Baltimore without his knowledge or consent and he
was much surprised at my action.
Chaicman Dill Mr.. Tden have any idea that you
were perfecting or attempting to perfect negotiations
| for buying reiucnng boards?
Ale had not the least idea of what was going
on.
Odd you tell or advise HIM of the corfespon-
dence OF Manton, Marble or Wooley from Florida?
Al certainly did not.
Q.-Did you tell him anything about the Weed
correspondence?
Al did not. The correspondence and arrange
ments were carried out solely by me.
Ode you mean to say that you had no conv ersa-
ton with Tilten on this m liter until after your
arrival from Baltimore?
Ayes SIR thai Is The fact.
Q.-Mr. Tilden was much annoyed, was he not?lH
Ale was. do not known that he yet forge
it. lie told me distinctly that he wanted no such
work and would sooner die than allow himself 60 be
put into the Presidential chair uader false pretences
When subsequently showed the Governor the
whole corresp 1ndence he still more exercised
| AM denounced the whole proceeding emphatically.
o. nnfat III
Al did not
@ Did you fully explain matters before the CON-
mittee that investigated the Oregon election?
Yes sir did, and have nothing to add to it.
Witness then handed two of the Oregon kilograms
addI essed to him, and was asked it he recognized
them. He said have an inuistinct recollection or
rather something of tue kind but the reading of the
telegram is not correct. never told Tilden single
word as 10 buying up the South Carolina board as
have already stated. L acted entirely on my own
responsibility with regard 10 Weed. only remem-
Der giving him instruction as to use OF eipners.
In iurther cross examination PeitJn was unable to
state who was the author of the cipher key but
said the same key answered for South Carolina and
Florida so lar mis- recollection went. The tribune
reports, he added, We're Inaccurate He gave copies
OF the key to Coyls and Marble. The same KEY ans
wered for Louisiana
GIN one Of the kilograms it Is stated that eff
sum OF money would be placed on the Returning
Board" DOES this mean that you intended to pur-
chase the Returning BOAR d?
A-Ihat is my impression, but cannot say posi-
lively.
Another telegram was shown witness, in hich
the receiver Was advised to exhaust every means to
prevent trailing the expenses of which would be
flily met. Witness had faint recollection of this
taIa Ha aid
cipher kilograms and that he and Cooper strongly
disproved of what he had been doing.
Q.-These people in louisiana Florida and South
Carolina depenied on your doing what you havs
shown you conld not do. In other words, you led
them to believe you had somebody behind YOU and
that whatever You did would be sanctioned, and any
contracts made by you would be faithfully carried
out?
A.-That S about it.
Q.-Did you intend, If Co oper favored your plan
to obtain 100000 or $4,000 from the National DEM
ocratc Committee?
Al did,
Witness did not remember having ever received
letter or telegram regarding the purchase of color
ed elector in South arolna. Know nothing about
the men who suggested in the telegram without sig
nature, that 900 could purchase an electoral vote
Peltons answers were evasve and unsatisfactory tn
Mr. Hiscock. Pelton declined to answer some of his
questions, saying that they were offensive and in
suting.
The committee held evening session, at which
the room was crowded with spect ators. Pelton was
crossexamined by Mr.. Reed, and stated he intended
to get the money from the national commit &c and
no other source; knew Tilden would ueither loan
nor advance money. or sanction such a step. Moth
ing new was elected.