The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-13
The Potter Committee.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4,

The Potter Committee.
WASHINGTON. Feb. I.
The committee In secret session substituted
Mahon and Cox on the committee to take tes-
timony in New York. The committee now
consists of Messrs. Hunton, chairman; Spring.
er, stenger, Hiscock and Reed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.
Maddox testified before the Potter Commit
tee in relation to the st. Martin affidavit.
Every charge embraced therein upon which
witness was questioned was denied, especially
that referring to himself as having offered st.
Martin money to return home.
WASHINGTON. Feb. z.
George w. Carter, Of New Orleans, denied
the assertions made in st. Martins affidavit
to the effect that he Carter had given or
offered Weber money to influence his testi-
mony. Did not believe Weber received any
money for testifying. A. NJ. Gibson, Wash
ington correspondent of the New York Sun
mittee room; never paid or offered to pay
Weber money for testifyfng, as was charged
in st. Martins affidavit The Chairman then
went through st. Martin affidavit, inter
rogating witness on every point where his
name was mentioned, the result of which was
a general and particular denial Of all the
charges embodied therein.
Tho subcommittee.
New YORK. Feb. s.
The first witness examined by the sub-com-
mittee was Smith NJ. Weed. He testified that
he went to North Carolina under instructions
received at the Everett House; had a cipher
when he left which he used from both North
and South Carolina; DESTROYED both the key
and the copies of the dispatches, yet he
thought the dispatches as published In the
South Carolina: from there telegraphed Henry
Havemeyer to the effect that he, witness, had
nothing to do and wanted to go home; upon
response to this went back to South Carolina; ;
did not register under another name; was
asked to furnish money, and believing that
two out of three States had been carried BY the
Democrats, determined what to do and tele-
graphed to New York asking II money could
be furnished; the dispatches between himself
and Henry Havemeyer were the only ones he
sent; finally an arrangement Oh iefnite prop
osition was handed him saying that for $GO,-
600 or $4,000 the South Carolina Canvassing
Board would make things all right for the
Democrats; left Columbia for Baltimore; !;
representatives OF the Canvassing Board and
others were on the train; to make matters
short he positively declined to receive the
proposition made by the Canvassing Board to
hand over the State to the Democrats. The
translation of telegram No. 25, signed W.,
dated Columbia, 9. c., November Is, and
directed to Henry Havemeyer, New York, was
then read by witness as follows: +" A majority
of the Board have been secured. The cost is
eS0,0 900, to be sent as follows: One parcel Of
$OC,UUU, one OF ana one OF
to be s5OO or 1000 bills; notes to be deposit
ed as parties accept and given up upon the
vote of the land OF Hampton-i. e., the State
of South Carolina-be given to Tlden's
friends. The three packs should be sent
| without inscription, and tonight, unless you
should receive a telegram from me counter
manding; shall try to secure everything by
the plan of deposit. The friends Of Cham
sna here IN
intimidation Of the Board. For Gods sake
let 1t go II you can. Be safe in Florida or
Africa ~. Do this and have cash ready to
cidedly whether it win be done" Witness said
that he could not tell what parts Of this trans
lation were correct and which were not.
From his recollection of the events as they
occurred, he thought the translation was sub
stantiallv correct, though his memory was
that the sum named was 100000 instead Of
$1,000; thought that one sentence should
read "for Gods sake let it 60 If you can be
after the word "can." His idea was that the
thing should not be done II 1t could be avoided.
A number Of other dispatches were produced,
but the witness could not recognize them.
proposed to treat as to the purchase Of the
Canvassing Board, came to Baltimore with
him. Winess met Colonel Pelton in Balu-
more, and Pelton told him that the " old
posed, had received telegram from Edward
Cooper stating that he could not raise the
money. There was a telegram from Gov
ernor Tilden Of similar character. This
witness told to Solomon, who sent dispatch
to the Board and in three or four nours
| afterward the Returning Board gave a
decision the other way. The substance
Of the telegram was that the goods could not
be delivered, and that the arrangement or bar
gain was of. In reply to a question by Mr..
Stenger IL he had had any communication on
this subject with Mr.. Tilden from the day be-
fore the election. either directly or indirectly,
&l..& Do
Board met or afterward, witness replied that
he met Mr.. Tilden at the Everett House, and
was taken to task by that gentleman. Could
not give the exact words of Mr.. Tilden, but
he stated that he never authorized any such
proceedings, and that while he lived he would
never become President under such circum-
stances.
Witness further stated that the proposition
as to buying out Of the Returning Board was
submitted to Mr.. Havemeyer, and at first wit
ness was led to believe the money would be
sent to him, but It fell through. Outside Of
MIR. Havemeyer witness said he never men
person. At the conclusion Of Mr.. Weeds
testimony Mr.. Cooper entered the room and
asked permission to be examined. The evil
dence Of Mr.. Weed in connection with the
him. It was in substance a conversation
which Mr.. Weed had with Mr.. Pelton in Balti-
more, in which Pelton said he expected money,
some $50 600, for South Carolina, to be sent
he saw Pelton the evening before he went to
Baltimore in Governor Tilden's house. Pei
ton was about going to the train and said he
| was going to Baltimore to meet Weed and
others, and he said he might want to tele-
graph witness to send him some money. Wit
| ness received q telegram next dav from Pei
| ton asking him for sec, 900 or $4,000; was
astonished, and went at once to Governor Til
denis house, and he said Pelton must be tele-
graphed to return at once; never was author
ized to send Pelton any money, nor did he do
| so; Tilden was also surprised at Pelton's dis
patch; witness thought Pelton took on himself
Florida Returning Board and the electoral
vote of Oregon.
New YORK. Feb. 6.
Colonel Pelton was before the committee
and testified that all kilograms sent by Weed
were by his instructions addressed to Mr..
Havemeyer, who at once sent them to wit
ness. After this they were presented to the
committee at the Everett House, In wit
| ness absence, were opened by the National
Democratic Committee. Witness stated that
he could not remember anything about the
dispatches from Tallahassee and signed " Mar
ble." admitted that there was no question
but the Tribune dispatches got near the point,
Woolley and Fox were the same person; did
not remember whether or not he used the
word Denmark" as a signature; had an idea
that the Returning Board propositions, even
II not carried out, would result II assented to,
| in delay which would be favorable to the
Democratic party; made no arrangements for
raising money, but intended eventually to lay
the matter before the Democratic National
| Committee and let 1t decide; In the meantime
he thought It best to commit members Of the
Returning Board to these propositionsi in ques-
ton; acted wholly on his own responsibility,
without consultation with anyone had 10 au-
thority to act for the Democratic National
Committee in the matter. Was shown dis
patch from Tallahassee, signed "Marble," and
which read as follows: "Have Just received
| a proposition to hand over, at any hour re-
| auired, Tilden decision of the Board and GER
| titicate of Governor, for 10000 Witness
said the dispatch seemed to be in Marbles
handwriting; knew that he received q dis
patch from Marble Of that tenor; declined
the offer, saying that the amount was too high.