Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-25
The Potter Investigation.
CROss-EXANINATIoN OF ST. MARTI

After our report closed yesterday, the Potter
investigating committee continued the cross
examination OF the witness st. Martin. He was
asked, "Were you everindicted?' and answered,
81 am under Indictment this minute for cutting
with knife 1t Is my third indictment, but l
never was tried
Q. You said in your affidavit, "Mr. Weber
promised MIR. Stenger a list of the questions to
be put, and the answers the witnesses would
give is that so? A OF course it Is: took the
list down myself. but Mr.. Stenger did not know
the witnesses were ''tiXed,' although spoke
TO him about the witnesses being kept shut up:
think spoke to him about SIaySe who want ed
$500 for his evidence, but he took no notice Of
what said: Dula was offered s2OO but would
not testify for less than $780, Weber gave him
$50 just before he went on the witness stand
Dula died last summer Of yellow fever; 1 made
my af1idayit and am testifying only to make
things right. 1t was decided that the affidavit
should form a part OF the record OF the commiS
tee.
In reply to questions by Mr.. Cox, witness
stated that Carter was paid $40 day. and was
paid by A. nj. Gibson, correspondent of the n
\. San, with Mr. Tilden's money. He saw mo-
ney given to Dula and all the witnesses, besides
the witness fees: Congressman Acklen knew all
that was going on, and sent telegram to New
York about Weber'S school board business
since witness had been in Washington he had
been ShadOWed by Maddox, and had seen Pit
Kin, Gibson and Acklen: Pitkin had offered him
$1,000 and expenses in behalf Of Sherman and
Shellabarger If he would withdraw his affi-
davit.
TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS
The witness St. Martin was further examined
by the Potter committee this morning. In re-
ply TO Mr. Cox with reference to the indictments
pending against him he said he was not arrest
ed FOR MS offence, and added that il there was
any doubt as to his good character any gentle
man present might learn in an hour the exact
opinion OF eminent gentlemen in Louisiana in
regard to his social standing He mentioned
Governor Nichols. the district judge, the attor
Eey general and the sheriff as persons to whom
the committee might telegraph for the Informa-
uon. lie said with regard to the first indict-
Ment against him that no action was taken,
ana on the second he gave himself up to the
sheriff and was released on bonds. but the
grand jury found nothing against him. The
having been received by Weber from Mrs
jerks was with reference to the Sherman
letter.
THE SHERMAN LETTER A MYTH.
Mr.. Cox then asked witness various questions
in reference to statements made in his affidavit,
among which were answers to the effect that
Weber had told him there was no such )cu-
ment in existence as the sherman letter." We
Der also said in conversation with witness that
If lie found he could make nothing by teSti-
flying to the non existence Of the sherman let
ter he would go over to the other side and Swe II
he witnessed It's destruction. Weber endeavOred
to purSuade witness to testify to the destruction
OF the document but he would not do So He
wished it distinctly understood by all concerned
that he had no fear Of telling the truth.
WEBER TO ST. MARTIN.
MI COX read letter from Weber to st. Mar
tin for the purpose OF having it embodied in
evidence, the substance OF which was that Glib
son had fallen out with Tilden: that he (Weber)
feared the school board case would be held over
him; that Gibson wouldn't spend nickel to see
IL settled II he really was against Tilden, and
requesting witness to tell Mr.. Acklen about the
matter
BY the chairman Q.-Weber said some one
from?
Ale said it came from Messrs. Carter and
Maddox.
Q.-Dld he receive it while in Washington?
A.-That is what Weber told me-
Q-Dld you look for witnesses whom you re-
TUNED as not fGund?"
Al did not look for them; could easily
EaVe fOuEd them had tried
N1tEeSS was examined at some length by Mr.
Potter, relative to the witnesses returned a;
not found but without elicitng any add.
tlonal Information OF Importance