OCR Text |
Show Field aoU Wells Continued. , Washington, 6. Field You have stated that you never altered the returns re-turns or destroyed a paper ? A I decline to answer the question. Wit-neea Wit-neea declined to answer any question concerning the action of the board until the house gave him his liberty and relieved him of his disability. He wanted to know whether he was the peer of any member of the committee or a vassal. Knott reminded him that the obligation obli-gation of his oath required witness to answer every question put to him, unless such answer would criminate him. Wells eaid there was no question he might answer which would eubject him to prosecution, but he had his construction as to what were his rights, and the committee had no right to question him when he was in duress. (.1 Did you take part in any conspiracy con-spiracy to give the state to Tiidon ? A Aro you through ? Field Mr. Htonographer, read him the question. The stenographer read it. Wells Is that the liuiu of your question? Tucker This is trifling. Chairman Oh, Mr. Wells, answer tho question or decline to answer. Wells Can I say a word ? Chairman Not now. Witness I do rot know whether I am a vassal or a peer; if a pear I should like to know it, or if I am a vassal forced as a servant to answer your question. Chairman I wish in the kindest spirit to bring your attention to the attitude you occupy. Witness There is so gentleman whom I would listen to with more attention than yourself, but I must consider my duty. Chairman I merely wished to remind re-mind you that you aro sworn to tell the truth and vou must answer. Witness I will, fully, whenever relieved of the disability imposed by the house, which holds me in duress. Lawrence asked whether he declined de-clined to answer because he feared he might render himself liable to a criminal prosecution? Witness I do not. Field Will you explain what position posi-tion you occupy? Witness Am I a vassal or a peer? Chairman That has nothing to do with your position. You are under obligation to answer every question, excepting of course such as might tend to criminate you. Witness I reserve to myself the construction ol my right, and the committee have no power to foree me to answer questions whilst I am under sentence of the house. Field You rejected 10,000 votes and upward. Were they rejected for any cause other than alleged intimidation? intimi-dation? Witness I decline to answer. " Q Did you not know the rejection of 10,000 votes was part of a conspiracy conspir-acy to give the electoral vote to the party not entitled to it? A I lea7e that for yourself to answer. Q Did you take part in any such conspiracy? A Does that conclude your question? Chairman Oh, answer the question ques-tion or not. Tucker We will tako a vote to see if such conduct on the part of witness should be tolerated in the committee. Chairman The question is whether tho committee will require witness to answer. Tucker Sentence of reprobation should be put onthe witness for not answering. Witness Then I am a vassal? , Chairman Keep order, sir! Seelye remarked that it was unanimously unani-mously decided this morning, so far as the authority of the commission went, that witness should answer the questions. Lawrence and Burchard concurred with Prof. Seelye. Field to chairman Is it not a case ol contempt and misdemeanor under the laws of the District of Columbia for a witness to refuse to answer questions propounded by a committee? commit-tee? Chairman It is. : Field The witness is contumacious ! in the highest degree. Field then exhibited to witness a statement showing the number of votos rejected in several parishes, attested by Abell, secretary of the returning board. Objection was made to the paper. The question being taken, the objection objec-tion was overruled by a strict party vote. The statement showed that the board rejected 1,763 Kellogg and 10,-280 10,-280 McEnery electoral votes. Another An-other paper was exhibited, also attested attest-ed by Abell, showing that the supervisors super-visors ol registration returned 76,717 Kellogg and 80,515 McEnery electoral elec-toral votes. After further questions and answers without adducing further important evidence, the committee adjourned. |