New-York tribune., 1879-02-06
SCENES AT TIE INVESTIGATION.

MEMORY-TEsTIMONY OF MAYOR COOPER.
The subcommittee Of the Potter Committee ap-
pointed TO investigate the cipher dispatches arrived
in New-York yesterday morning, and shortly after
noon began their work by calling smith VI. Weed.
of Plattsburgh. \. Y, 10 the stand The sub-com-
mittee is composed of General Eppa Hunton, of Viz
ginia William :. Stcnger, Of Pennsylvania VIII
fam NJ Springer. of Illinois; Thomas Z. Reed. Of
Maine. and Frank Hscock. Of New-York General
Hunton is chairman of the committee the first
three members of which are Democrats, and the
last two Republicans.
The committe took a room on the ground floor OF
the Fifth Avenue Hotel. The members arranged
themselves about long table, the chairman sitting
at the head. On the right and left respectively sat
Mr. Stenger and Mr.. Springer. At the other end of
the table sat Mr.. Reed and Mr. Hiscock. Shortly
after 10 o'clock the committee called MrWeed, who
sat between Mr.. HiscOck aud Mr.. Springer while
lie gave his testimony. In his manner Mr..
Weed appeared to be a little nervous at times, par
tcularly when Mr.. Reed pressed him, and fingered
the handkerchief which lay on his knees or on the
table. Mr.. Stenger wore a look Of indifference and
seemed TO care more for his cigar than for the wit
ness. Several times, however. he urged question
until it was answered. Mr.. Springer was one of
the active members of the committee, and
was repeatedly getting up in order to
show the witness telegram or 10
make some explanation. The little sport
that was furnished during the day came from
Mr.. Reed who asked Mr.. Weed some pGplcXing
Questions thar, with their answers, caused little
merriment. The Hon. John Bigcow was in attend
ance during considerable part Of the sessions and
spectators were continually droppingin aud leaving.
Mr.. Weed began his testimony by stating that he
was lawyer and had offices both in Platts-
burgh and in this city, He asked perms-
sion TO read n memorandum of his visit TO
North Carolina, but an objection was
raised and he was allowed 70 refer to II
during his testimony. The story of how he came to
go South on the Friday after election was brought
ont by Mr. Reed. On Thursday he was in New
York. and received word from Mr.. Peton, in con-
sequence Of which lie met several members
of the. Democratic Committee at the Everett
House. lie was directed TO 20 South and to take
the cipher which he had used previously In Ohio
and these directions the witness thought, were re-
ceived from Mr.. Pelton. He went to Columbia
and with Governor Hampton and Others appeared
before the courts and the Cauvassins Board.
While there negotiations were entered INTO
through Hardy Solomon wholesale grocer. Who
claimed TO be thoroughly acquainted with the
members of the Returnng Board. Solomon ap-
pcarcd to act for members Of the Board, and the
reason which he said they had for wanting to sell
their votes was that " the people there wanted 10
live; and they thought that if the Democrats
were counted out 1t would 20 hard with them
solomon acted a. the intermediary for several days
while Weed was telegraphng to Colonel FELTON,
through Havemeyer, and finally on November Is
the bargain was closed Solomon was To receive
$50 600 in three packages, which were to be de
liycred in Baltimore.
In answer to the question how tic sum Asked
1 IA Iorf iar he
with a smile. that the men kept coming and say
ing they wanted more The share that
solomon was 10 get, the witness thought
was 5000. This was not 10 be paid
nor was the full payment ~ I've made Ill
Baltimore until the certified returns of the electors
i'm favor of Tilden had been made. The bargain was
completed. and Weed and Solomon LIFT Colum-
bia for Baltimore, where they were to meet
Pelton with the Copenhagen Arrived
IN Baltimore about 1 a. on Monday
Mr. Weed took a room at Barnums Hotel, anu
after sleeping through the forenoon. met PeIt"h al
noon. Pel;on was the bearer OF the uh"clcOme
news that Mr.. Tiden, or the old man. a.
the witness thought Pelton called his uncle,
had spoiled the whole matter and that inc
negotiations must stop. Pelton said that since
his arrival in Baltimore he had received TWO dl'-
patches. one from Mayor Cooper directing that he
furnished. and the other from Mr.. Illden requiring
him TO return Immediately to New-York Mr. Weed
then told Solomon that he could not raise the
necessary money. PcltOn and Weed returned 10 this
city aud solomon came here also
shortly after this Weed met Mr. Iilden IN the
Everett House The latter took the witness So
vcrely To task for tho propositions when he haH
been making for the electoral vote ot Houth 'Al"-
lima Mr. Tildcn told him that he Nhonld nave
known better, and that he ought to have Known
that the Presidency would have had no attrac-
tiou- # il were 10 be taken on sue"
terms NV reply" said the witness, was that II
was the paving of money Tor the recovery "i stolen
proprrtv." Mr.. Tldcn replied that II the Iresi-
denrv wa 70 be sold, lie would have Moth
ing to do with it that he would not
even ransom II from fcous.' The witness
had heard Mr. Tdcn repeat the same
sentiment often since that tim,. Nr. Weed -a'd n
inferred from Pcltou- remark, that had he not IT,
,e,ycd the tcl,qrams he would have expected the
,,oncv from Edward Cooper. whom he bad seen the
.,cpiro befor. ON the subject. Tie witness SAID
tb.t Nr Tildep's manner toward him continued
friendly afrrr this transaction. though he con-
f...ed ;aat after the publication oI the telr-
grams Mr. TIlden not A. cordial n
h,f,t.. and here hc smiled. With tie
ryc.ptlou Of the tclegrams ScAt from Baltimore to
General Gordon Mr. Weed SAID that IN Substance
,be di-patches attributed To hm were trans
lated correctly although. since he did not
have the key in which they were written. II was
,mnos.ble for him 10 tell whether they were exact
or nor. So far as he could remember the tr.ssla-
tions conveyed tie ideas which he had IN his mind
II. do ttfrehn nt Z he %