The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-28

captain service from the 18th day of April 1889,
to the 2sth day Of june 1870, deductng so much OF
such difference he may already have received at tho
Treasury.
From the Louisiana Courier.
RUFFIANISM TRIUMPHANT.
Perhaps in the entire annals Of jury trials verdict
rendered produced at profound and general
sentiment Of surprise, modification and indignation as
that the majority Of the jury in the Of John NJ Bell
against Joseph Hufty, given last Saturday night
The whole matter issue was whether John NJ Bell had
had received majority Of the votes cast for the
Office Of sheriff Of this parish the 9th Of November
That election had that day been held in every pre-
cnc of the parish and that in Of them the ballot
boxes ballots and tally lists had been destroyed by mob
violence after the election had been closed ques
toned by any person. jury empaneled to decide
whether Mr. Bell could have the benefit Of the for
him in those precincts In which event all knew that his
majority would very considerably 0urun that given for
his competitor in the Others where the officers charged
with making the had not been prevented by vo-
leuce from carrying out their duty The majority for Mr.
Iufty outside the seventh and ninth precincts was as is
well known, only SEVEN and therefore, If Mr. Bell could
show that in the two precincts where all evidence Of the
result Of the election the memory OF those who
Quoted IT. had been destroyed he had obtained majority
exceeding that Of his competitor he would under the laws
be entitled TO the Office.
We limit the those two issues and discard
all other questions to mscounting of ballots NJ
the place of depostes for them which made in
the Of the peading and evidence in order that
may present the subject in simple and plain form as
practicable especially the number of votes affected by
those questions was Insignificant
The jury had before them tho concurring testimony
positive direct and unqualifed-of commissioner and
both the clerks of election at the seventh precinct from
memoranda made while the still fresh in their
and while the two other commissioners in their evil
dence stuck technical construction OF the "count-
ng respected the straight tickets for all other officers
except those for justice of tho peace and constable in
spection Of their testimony will convince any faminded
that they corroborac the positive testimony of the
others 80 far establish the fact OF majority for Bell
of them Colonel Chrsty stated to the jury that
the next day he had stated his opinion that M Bell had
ESQ majority while another Mr. Horton testified that he
had stated approximation TO Mr.. Bell that IL the
had all been counted out they would have given
him majority of 400 votes.
But besides this evidence which ought 10 have brought
conviction 10 the mind Of any disposed to observe the
obligation OF his OATH all the commissioners and both the
clerks agreed in stating that eghtyRve scratched tickets
had been formally counted and Tailed and that the result
showed majority for Mr. Bell that classification Of
ballots Of 81 Mr. Hufty and Mr. Perkins who
received votes.
The testimony Of the commissioners and Others who
acquainted with the results of the election pvous
the violence perpetrstcd at the ninth precinct also
lshcd the fact beyond any reasonable doubt that the
jory for Bell at that poll not less than 80 votes
Hence the jury had before them these two facts
petcly established under the of the case was
practicable and resting for the most part positive
ments:
First. That including the majorities given him at the
seventh and ninth precincts Mr. Bell had Mr.. Huity
majority of about 300 the vote the election
We may here remark that many have been deprived
by the verdicts Of ures Of life liberty reputa
tion property testimony far less direct and concu
sive than that which established this fact.
But in the second place. admitting that there really
listed any ground for doubt in the mind Of conscientious
juror the majority In those two precincts being so
large there was the other fact that by regular count OF
IS ballots on the Of which there either
or substitutions Mr. Bell had therefore majority
cient to overcome by far the majority which his
competitor had obtained under the official returns from
other polls In the parish besides what additions had been
made to that number by the discovery of made
against him the first counting Of the ballots
those places
Ia brief 4he jury had before them ample testimony OF
pore character establish the Of Bells having
been really larger than that Of Hufy and that the off
Of the law had only failed to return such fact
qured by IL because they prevented by the violent
destruction Of their records and which testimony had not
been by negative evidence contradictsd.
They retired from the courtroom consult and after
absence OF three-quarters Of hour, returned with
in favor Of Mr.. Haty and Ave in OF Mr. Belt
That the majority Of them refused pay the least re-
gard the evidence in the must be apparent every
who has read or will read the report Of tine trial
II will be apparent to all readers that the effect OF this
condnct the part tho majority Of the jury will not only
be to njure Mr. Bells personal rights under the election
but Ia virtually endorsement of the of the runy
mscreans who broke up the ballotboxes and DESTROYED
the tickets at the seventh and ninth precincts. These
men, their oaths and presume after reflection
the consequences OF their vote urymen sane
toned the principle that whenever band Of ruthless vii
lains combine TO destroy the ballots by citizens at
elections there shall be remedy for the public or for in
dviduas affected by such outrages but that the Of
mob shall stihe the voice Of the people
Concealment silence the part Of the perpetrators
Of the infamous at those precncs the Of No
vcmber is take IL longer necessary After their
conduct has been thus endorsed they may safely come
forth and IT, In the eyes Of the SEVEN and all who
applaud their vses they have ceased to be criminals and
have become vrtuous patriots One thing least is very
ccrtaiher conviction upon tho planes evidence and
perhaps their admissions would probably be
to impossible after such verdict Of the ma
jority Of the jury in the cause Of Bell w. Huny
To saty the curiosity Of our readers here and else,