The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-06
POTTER.
SmIth Weed Before the CommIttee-
Admits General correctness of Tri.
bune'A Interpretation OF the Cipher
DlHnAlahRs.


subcommittee 10 investigate cipher dil
patches began work to-day, and expectst L
u conclude the special work on Saturday
All the members OF the committee wer
present Smith NJ. Weed, OF New York
was the tlrst witness and testified 10 gOinI
3 to North Carolina, under instructions re
Celved at the Everett House.
Question We'll, now, sir, tell us II yol
have any knowledge Of these cipher dis
patches, as published In the New Yorl
: papers? Answer-l had cipher when
left here: had cipher which used fol
both North and South Carolina; l have
written statement which will refresh my
memory II YOU will permit me either tC
submit or have II read.
Mr.. Recd-l object TO this, not In cap
ttous manner, but l am inclined to think
. we want his recollection on this subject.
After consultation the Chairman ruled
that the witness should proceed.
Witness resumed-Mr Chairman, de.
stroyed both the key and copies Of the dis.
patches. must confess think that the
dispatches as published In the Tribune are
pretty correct. Now, l will go back to my
trip. met Cox in South Carolina. From
there telegraphed Henry Havemeyer TO
the effect that | had nothing to DO and
wanted TO come home. Upon a response
TO this went back TO South Carolina. The
published statements that registered un-
der another name than my own Is false.
At Columbia met Wade Hampton and
others. II was admitted that tlie State
had gone In the interests OF the Demo-
Gratis.
Mr.. IIiscock-Mr. Chairman Tell the
witness TO be specific anil give names.
We don't require admissions. We are
now looking for facts.
Wttness-lt Is true was asked TO fur.
nlsh money, and believing that two out OF
the three States had been carried, | de-
terlnined what TO do and telegraphed to
New York asking II money could be fur.
nished.
Mr.. Hunton-Haye you got that tele.
gram?
Witness Il have not. propose to give
the bonus OF the transaction to this com.
mittee. Tho dispatches between myself
and Henry llavemeyer were the only ones
sent Finally an arrangement, or rather
definite proposition was handed inc, saying
that for 500, 600 or $50, 900 the South Caro-
lima Canyassing Board would make things
4ll right tOrthe Democrats. had not, as
has been stated, telegraphed that the State
had gone for Hayes and that the county
returns showed q majority for the Repub.
icans, while the present returns showed
a majority for the Democrats | left Co.
lumbia for Baltimore Representative of
the Canvassing Board Harry Sullivan and
others were on the train. To make the
matter short will state, | positively de-
clined to receive the proposition made by
the Canvussing Board to hand over the
State to the Democrats.
A number OF kilograms were submitted
to witness, who said they were not his.
Witness said there were number OF tele.
grams in the Tribune pamphlet which he
recognized rs his, and OF which he should
speak hereafter. A dispatch was shown
witness dated Baltimore, November goth,
addressed to Gen. J. B. Gordon, Colum.
bia, translated as follows: "Alatters ar
ranged by Returning Board agent. Inform
Haskell and telegraph the news" Wit
ness said he never sent such telegram,
and would say the Tribune does not lay
positive claim to the accuracy OF these
cipher messages.
Mr.. Chairman-0n the same date there
was another telegram sent from the same
place and from the same persons, us trans
lated: Have the court hold on to the
electoral votes until fixed, or failure; may
be little delay"
Witness said he knew nothing about
this Telegram. The translation OF tele-
gram No. % was then read by the witness,
US follows:
COLUMBIA, November Is.
Henry Hurcm,yrr, 10 1Pest l7M Street, N y:
A majority OF the Board have been sc.
cured. The cost is $4,000, 10 be sent as
follows: One parcel OF $4,000, one of
SIC, 900 and one Of S., 900, all to be $500 or
81 900 bills, the notes to be deposited as
the parties may accept and given up upon
the vote OF the land OF Hampton Ii. 9. Slate
OF South Carolina) being given to TiIden's
friends. The three packs should be sent
without inscription, and tonight, unless
you should receive telegram from me
countcrmanding. Shall try and secure
everything by the plan Of deposit. The
friends OF Chamberlain and Bavaria are
here in force, and | fear their money and
careful watching and the intimidation Of
the Board. For Gods sake let 1t go II you
can be safe in Florida or Africa (?). Do
this at once, and have cash ready to,reach
Baltimore Sunday evening. Telegraph
decidedly whether it will be done.
[Signedl W.
Mr.. Weed said lie could not tell what
parts OF this translation were correct and
what were not; from his recollection he
thought the translation was substantially
correct, though his memory was that the
sum named was $GO, 900 instead OF $50, 900.
lie thought that one sentence should read
"For God's sake let It go, ifyou can be safe
in Florida or Africa" without any period
thing should not be done II II could he
avoided. lie was wholly unable to recol:
lect the mcaningof any particular word In
the cipher, rs the meaning was purely or.
bitrary.
The Chairman-T.ook at telegram No.
2S, from Baltimore under date Of Novem.
bcr 10th. 1t read: "iIave court hold on
to electoral votes until fixed or failure;
may be u little delay" Is that yours?
WitnGss-It purports to be mine but by
no means conveys the itlel had intended,
Tho Chairman-Here Is another from
Columbia, November 81, It's addressed to
you at the Everett House aud reals "Pope
answered you lust night Send for 1t nj
Barnums. We think Bath luonrt) will
close tomorrow and put Naples (majority)
in the House aud probably acquire Cuba
electors. (Signed) Spain.
, Q.-Do you recollect OF having received
this telegram?
Al never received any such CON.
munication, besides, have no idea what
Q.@ATe any Of fyour dispatches signed
1:EYss, there is one containing %
THO witness then took tho fla Of tele.
r grams and by tho direction Of the Chair
had sent,
The ChaIrman-I.ook at No. II, dated
Columbia, 10th; the translation reads:
1 Henry Llapgaeyer, No. 10 IEest Seventeenth ~