The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-07
lsneoial sentinel Letter.l

Especial Sentinel Letter.
CINCINNATI, o., Jan. 5.-The COMMITTEES on
Investigation OF the Marshal outrsges, at the
October election in Cincinnati, got down to
business at IL o'clock to-day.
Hon. w. NJ. Springer, Chairman, Congress
man Van Alstine, Of Albany, n. V, and
Congressman J.. N. Stewart, OF Vermont.
composed the committee. Mr.. Stewart is q
Republican. Colonel Isaac Hill. who came
from Washington with the committee, is its
Sergeant-at-Arms. The sessions viii be held
in q room OF the Grand Hotel. Hon. John
+. Follett appeared as attorney for the COM
mittee.
The first witness called was Lot Wright.
United States Marshal for the Southern
District of Ohio-a dark-oomplected man.
with deeply-sunken eyes, bushy hair
and black beard, as uninviting a specimen
OF humanity as ever scuttled q ship or cut
a throat"
The defendsnt-for such Wight really is
asked that his attorney should be present
during the : Investigation, and his request
was granted. Taking the witness chair,
Wright said, in answer to questions by Mr..
Foliett, that be had been Marshal of the
Southern District of Ohio since March, 1888:
that he appointed Deputy Marshals at tina
October election of 1854; that he did so be-
cause of q written application which he pro-
duced, and which was signed by two men
only. c. Harper and j. G. Sindiinger, the
former a United States Commissioner and
the latter one of Wright's special deputies
both living in the Second District.
Lot Wright said that he could not give n
list of the general Deputy Marshals he APP
pointed, and had no data that would show
their names; that there was no court rec
ord of them, though they were sworn in
by the Judge. de admitted having sp-
pointed q large number OF men who be
knew did not reside in Cincinnati. among
them characters from several Kentucky
towns. lie acknowledged appointing one
Adams, from Colorado, whom be located In
the Sixth Ward, he said. to point out re-
peaters; and also one Powers, from Chicago,
whom Mr.. Follett describes as prid;ng him
self On being known as The Terror Of the
Black Hills"
The number Of Marshals appointed Wright
stated to be 1900 to LOO, all Re.
publicans, and about 200 of them negroes.
He admitted having disregarded the reques
of Mr.. NJ. 4. ingalls,, President of the c., l..
st. l.. and c. Railroad, Mr.. Adam Kramer,
Nj. Follett and Mr.. Bell, that he appoint
one or more Democrats In each district. He
said that about 600 of the deputies were
armed with 44caliber British bulldog re-
~vClvers, furnished by the National Repub-
lean Committee, which revolvers ne sup
posed were loaded. He believed that ex-
Senator Powell Clayton and Mr.. Kerrens, Of
ST. Louis. had charge of the distribution of
the Tevolvers. Wright furtner testified that
1873 OF the deputies appointed signed their
names with an SKI mark.
Tn misunderstanding witness was
completely added when called upon
to explain the difference between
special spd general Deputy Marshals under
the law, and also for what services the dep.
uties were paid on the 18th of October, the
day succeeding that of the election.
He justified the killing OF Pslice Officers
German and Seherloh. claiming that they
were trespassing upon the duties of his dep
Russell at the Eighteenth Ward polls by the
negro Deputy Marsha, Paine. He ordered
5000 Deputy Marshal badges, of which LOO
were used. he was sorry later that he had
not employed deputies enough to use the
entire 5000. In all that he did be had the
advice and concurrence OF prominent local
and visiting Republicans.
Mr. A. g.. Thorpe being called, testified to
having gone to Wright, Offering TO serve as
Deputy Marshal in the Eighth Ward free Of
charge, but was refused . commission on
the ground that he was a Democrat.
Special Examiner Joel w. Bowman, OF
the Department of Justice, is here to investi-
gate Lot Wright's bill for the Deputy Mar
sbals. The sessions OF the COMMITTEES will
be from 10 8. m. to 3 D. No., inclusive, daily
until the investigation is finished.