The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-23

coHr..pr oy Couar-A case occurred ia the SUI
preme Court Of New Olehns ON the Sih instant
which seems to have excited great interest," especially
among The members Of the Bar Mr. Pierre Soule,
LAWYER filed petition short time since for re-
hearing of a case tried before the Supreme Court
and used language in it which the Court deemed
highly dlsrespectful An attachment ior contempt Oh
Court was issued, and Mr. Soue was Immediately sr
rested by the Sheriff On the 9th instant Jodse
Murphy, acting as Chief Justice, addressed Mr.
soue briefly in relation To the unpleasant affair beiois
The Court stating the nature OF the e1e'PlionAp'e
remarks contained in the clifton. They were OF q
character, Judge nj proceeded 10 say which Tenoef
ed II impossible for the Court TO pass over them 10 81
lence but counsel were sometimes carreu pc
yond the bounds of discretion and propriely, by the
intensity of their professional zeal, the Court had
offered Mr.. Souie opportunity TO exeulpae himself
and dlsayow any intention OF Offering contempt 10
the Court. They had propouDded to him certain
interTogatioDs TO be answered under oath. Judge
Murphy at the close of his address TO Mr.. Soule IN
quiied Of him whether he prepared 10 answer
the lnlerrog atories which had been propounded ny
the Court, and If he were, requested that he would
be sworn by the Clerk. Nj. Soule paid no alien
lion to the Clerk, who pIofiered him the bible, but
commenced reading what he informed the Court Was
his lie protested against the power OF the
Court 10 attach his body and bring him in the custo-
dy Of The Sheriff to the bar. He admitted that be
was the author Of the obnoxious petition, and !hai
the Objectionable passages were quoted with strict
literal correctness IN The attachment that was mol
consistent with his seIf.respect man. his dig
nifty Attorney to enter into any explanation OF
his motives and feelings in the language which he
had used in the petition for re-hearing. That
there was the petition must speak for itself, &c,
and concluded by saying that he was ready TO obey
and submit TO any further order of the Court, pro-
vided they did not transcend their legitimate author-
ty.
The Court, after few moments consult alton, in
formed MI. SouIe that their judgment would be de-
teTmned in meeting on the llth instant when his
personal attendance would be expected. The Tro-
pic, in its notice of the proceeding mentioned above.
says
This is an interesting issue. 1t is, we believe,
the first time that the power of Court to punish for
contempt has ever been questioned, and the first
time that refusal to purge contempt by the oath Of
the party has been made, and the power Of the Court
questioned"
On the llth ult Mr.. Soule was sentenced to "a
hours Imprisonment and TO pay fine of 800 for con-
temr Of Court, and to be imprisoned until said foe
and costs OF Court be paid. Mr. Soule was imprison-
edaccofdingly The Court, through Judge Murphy,
delivered a long opinion their powers in the pre-
misses, concluding with The sentence. Mr.. Soule
Maintained state olimperturbabity during the whole
time and retired with the Sheriff without having
made any remark on the sentence.