Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-13
THE POTTER COMMITTEE.

THE POTTER COMMITTEE.
A Summary of the Allegations Of st. Mar
tin. the Latest Louisiana liar.
The Potter committee at Washington, on
Saturday, decided by strict party vote to
return the St. Martin affidavit to the counsel
of Secretary Sherman, with the intimation
that the affiant would be examined by the
committee. Thomas S. Kelly, Kellogg's
messenger, in effect admitted that he had
forged the signatures of Jeffroni and Lewis
see to the amended certificate, but asked
time IN which to prepare a declaration.
st. Martin, in his affidavit. attributes his
appointment as deputy sergeant at arms of
the committee to Weber, and says: was in
duced to leave my home in Donaldsonville
by Weber, and an interview with the Demo-
cratic members of the committee and conf
Dental agents of Samuel j. Tilden. A. M.
Gibson, j. P. Maddox and Geo. W.. Carter.
At interviews with the agents generally saw
each separately. I became convinced they
desired special service, and were interviewing
me for the purpose of determining whether
was discreet and reliable, and that their
plans might be safely intrusted to me for
execution. Maddox revealed the service
was expected to perform. First, my
journey to ST. James parish and sub
pena Armsted, Duncan and Steward, but not
to serve the subpcnas until I had first as
certained that when placed upon the stand
before the committee they would give testi-
mony desired by Tilden's agent. Secondly,
to secure such testimony was authorized to
offer n nd nd ttn
nee that they would be permitted to return
10 their homes i'll Feliciana parish, from
which they had previously been driven, and
guarantee Of immunity from molestation in
the future. Thirdly, the testimony desired
from Armsted, Duncan and Steward was
retraction and denial of the material facts in
their examination before the returning board
as to outrages, intimidation, etc., in Felici-
ana parish. From conversation with
Armsted, Duncan and Steward, became
convinced they would prove plant Witnesses
brought them to the city and took them to
Weber's room. / then reported to Maddox and
the committee that the witnesses were in the
city. Maddox wrote out an affidavit in the
form of evidence each was expected to give
before the Potter committee. I carried
these af6davits from Maddox to Weber,
These affidavits were read to witnesses, and
they were promised: Duncan $50; Armsted
$50; Steward $50, for such testimony.
Weber coached witnesses by repeatedly read
ing to each the testimony expected, and he
furnished Stenger with questions to be pro-
pounded witness and the answer the wit
nesses agreed to give. I carried such
lists from Weber to Stenger in per-
Torrance of my duty as deputy
sergean tat arms. I was placed in posses
sion of subp@nas, and in twelve or thirteen
cases were names of witnesses furnished
by Republican counsel. I was instructed by
Stenger, chairman of the subcommittee,
that in cases where witnesses subpoenaed
would not furnish evidence desired by the
committee, or unfavorable to the Democracy,
to return the subp@nas and report the per-
sons not found. I was introduced by
Weber to Mr.. Dula. Weber said to Dula
that if he would give certain evidence be-
fore the committee he could secure 5000.
Dula refused the offer. He remained in the
city, and was almost constantly at Weber's
room. The offer was raised to $500 and
proposed and accepted in my presence.
Weber then drilled him in his lesson. The
day previously heard Weber say to Dula
be could not absolutely close the bargain un-
til he had seen A. M. Gibson.
Dula appeared before the committee, but in
stead of the evidence which he agreed to give,
he testified differently and exposed the whole
plan. He said he had been offered bride by
Weber, and that was in the room when Weber
made the proposal. At the instigation of Glib
son went upon the stand to contradict Dula's
statement. Before testifying, Gibson asked
me if would deny the testimony of Dula.
replied that Dula told pretty straight story,
and feared the cross-examination of Cox. He
then asked Weber where the money was that
was to be given Dula soon as his testimony
was completed, provided he testified as desired.
Weber took some money out of his pocket, $400
wrapped up in white paper with Dula's name
on it. Gibson took the package and gave it to
me when gave MY testimony before the COM
mittee. Afterwards I returned the money to
Weber. 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 this fact.
Maddox repeatedly told me Gibson was Tilden's
outside agent, and he w:uld secure all money
desired from Col. VIM. T. Pelton, of New York.
In May last, prior to Weber's departure for
Washington, he came to me and stated he de-
sired to go North, and was going to see Secre-
tary Sherman, and in the event the secretary
did not provide for him suitably and accede to
his money demands, he wished to know if I
would testify that had seen the Sherman let
ter in existence; and further, that had wit
messed him (WeEer) destroy it.; and l told him
that could not and would not. Weber told
me most positively no such document as the
Sherman letter had ever been seen by him, and
he had no belief in its existence. Weber told
me on his return from Washington he was APP
preached by George w. Carter and A. M. Glib
son, and offered $4,000 if he would
give certain evidence before the Potter
money down before the testimony was given,
for the reason that he feared these people (Car-
ter and Gibson) would not act in good faith.
After considerable delay Weber said Carter
gave him 81 900, and just before he went upon
the stand, and Weber said had it not been for
this sum the testimony would have been IA
vorable to the Republicans and to Secretary
Sherman. In addition to the money reward of
$4,000 Weber told me Carter and Gibson guar
anteed the alleged defalcation of Weber as
treasurer Of the school board in West Feliciana
should be settled and be be relieved from all
annoyance on that account I have had cor
with Gibson and Maddox to secure
with that portion of the agreement
relative to the affairs of the school board, at
the request of E. L. Weber.
The affidavit was sworn to before U. s.
Commissioner Wolfey at New Orleans, Dec Is.
Stenger declines at present to furnish for
pu slication the. documents upon which he
relies to prove the falsity of the statements in
St. Martins affidavit. The following however
are the points which he expects to establish:
Fisrt-That the affidavit was obtained from
st. Martins by corrupt and illegitimate means;
that Morris Marks, collector of internal rev.
enue of New Orleans and one of the Republic
can electors. bribed st. Martins to take it by
promising him both pecuniary reward and a
position under him in the internal revenue ser
vice; that after obtainingtit, Marks himself
brought it to Washington to be used in the in
vasti cation