The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-05-23

and the facts of the did not vary In the least
from those which have already been before the
public Reed stated that he had the things brought
into his possession BY some person whose name he
did not divulge, and that he had never used the
property found for committing forgeres
The jury, after an absence of about quarter of
an hour, brought in verdict of guilty, and the
prisoner was remanded to prison to await sentence
There are several other indictments against him,
and he will be brought up again on another similar
charge this day.
| The AFFRAY AT THE POLL FOR CONSTABLE,
IN THE FIFTH WARp.-Yesterday, Recorder Cald-
well was engaged for nearly two hours in the in
vestigaon of charges which were preferred against
different individuals, for committing assaults and
| breaches of the peace at the poll of the Fifth
| Ward, which was held, on Wednesday last, in the
| engine. house at the corner of Tchoupitouas and
Natchez street. 1t appeared, from the conflicting
statements of great number of witnesses, that, on
Wednesday, there was an election for Constable
of the Second Justices Court, and that the above
engine house was appointed as the polling-pac
for the voters of the Fifth Ward. The poll was
very strong one, as in that ward party feeling ran
very high and the whole day was spent in broils
and skirmishes which were any thing but respect
able. Several persons were injured, among whom
| was an officer of the Municipality, and the noise
became so very great, that, at last, the poll was
closed by the Commissioners, who could not pro-
| coed with their duties, on account of so much
interruption. Early in the afternoon, an attempt
was made to poll an unqualified person, which was
| the second attempt with the same man, during the
day. His vote was rejected, and he retired, but
when at the door, and about TO leave the poll, Mr..
Lester took hold of him, brought him to the rail,
| and insisted that he should vote, for he knew him
to be qualified
| This caused disturbance, and number of per-
| sons became embroiled, among whom was Mr.. j..
B. Houghton and man named Mr.. W. Murphy.
These two persons had very high words, and they
were brought to close by Houghton drawing a
knife, which he was prevented from using by being
| taken into custody.
Between S and o'clock, as the poll was draw
ing to close, the excitement at the engine house
became much greater and numbers of persons
| crowded upon the Commissioners, until many per-
sons feared some injury would be done to the off,
| GERS or the ballot box seized. The rail was at
length pulled down, and the table which the box
was deposited was ordered to be removed up stairs
with the box Mr.. Vontagen now asked for the
other officers tried to restore order. This caused
general ARRAY, and scene of indescrbable con-
fusion followed, in which men were fighting with
one another in every direction. number of ar
rests were made, and great crowd followed the
persons arrested to the Watch-house, where the
ARRAY was resumed, and the bowie-knife again
made its appearance which caused other arrests te
be made Mr.. Jas. Parker, Customhouse Officer
was seriously injured and several other persons
were beaten with sticks and badly bruised during
| the different skirmishes of the day.
These proceedings gave rise to the following
| cases before Recorder Caldwell, yesterday, ant
even the COURTROOM will be made thu
battle-ground for personal luminosity.
Mr. J. B Hong hton was charged by Mr.. w. Muir.
ply, with carrying concealed weapons, and threat
ening him, at the Poll of the Fifth Ward, on
Tchouptoulas street. He stated that some diff
Guilty arose between him and Houghton, about
three O'Clock in the afternoon, and that shortly af
ter the unpleasant words had passed, Hong hton
turned round, went away for two minutes, and then
came back and drew a bowie knife. Houghton
denied this statement, and with great warmth called
Murphy liar. The Recorder suddenly called
him to his senses by ning him five dollars for con-
tempt of court, which he Immediately paid. He
then said that he walked into st. Charles street
being apprehensive of danger, and bought the
knife, and was absent more than half an hour
The Recorder said that he carried the weapor
under apprehension of having to it in danger
he should not fine him, but the weapon would b.
| forfeited, and he was discharged.
William Delany, Patrick McGoth, and Michae
Casey were charged wsth disturbing the peace and
assauting officer Philips in the discharge of his
duty. He said that there was disturbance at the
| Poll of the Fifth Ward, and he was called upon t,
| quell il. Delany and McGoth struck him, ant
knocked his staff from his hand and interfered witt
| him while doing his duty Casey pushed him two
or three times upon one side. The Recorder dis
charged Casey, and ordered the others to give
bonds to keep the peace.
| Patrick Kelly was charged by Lieut.. Hughe,
with assautng him on Wednesday evening, abou
| six O'Clock, while he was in the execution of hi
duty. The case was remanded to the 9th inst.
| Thomas Coyningham charged by Captain
Forno with assaulting him in the execution of hi
duty in the Watch-house Wednesday night
1t appeared that the defendant made very grea
disturbance in the High Constable's Office, an
| Captain Forno ordered his arrest. He drew
bowe-knife upon the Captain, and threatened hin
with it, and on this he also charged with hav
ing concealed weapons in his possession. TIL
case was remanded until the 27th of May.
/ HIGHWAY ROBBERY IN LAFAyETTE-Murde,
Gus Assault One of the most daring highwa
robberies it has been duty to notice for som
time, occurred on Wednesday afternoon, in tn
city of Lafayette, and it was also attended with
dangerous assault, which was perpetraed upo
police officers Munson and Coleman. 1t appear
that about two o'clock, Mr.. James Mcclure We
passing along Camp street, and when at the corne
of St. Andrew, three men, Patrick Ward, Pete
Neilan, and another, came behind him, struck hi
to the ground with slung shot, and rfled h
poke, of gold pencil case, which was the onl
valuable article they could find. Information VIZ
Immediately conveyed to the police and a nun
Der of citizens, with two or three officers, went
pursuit of the thieves They discovered them Q
their way TO New Orleans, and the citizens, fee
ing the enormity of the outrage perpetraed in ope
day, gave chase The thieves ran into Orane
street, and took refuge in house belonging
Patrick Ward The citizens, with several Office
of the Second Municipality consisting Of Lieuel
ant Ahern and officers MunsOn and Coleman