The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-23

[From the New Orleans Picayune, june 1871
The case of Victor Gerodias and Amedee P0rche, who
have for time past been under accessories
10 the murder OF Francois Grard, yesterday exami
ned We have already given synopsis OF the testimony
adduced before the jury d inquest and in the main that
taken before the Recorder Of similar character.
All the witnesses agreed to the fact that Arthur Padron
was the man who shot Grard and that Glstave Dccoux
and Eugene Drat the chief accessories Mr. Dorrs
the keeper of the coffee house at the Of Orleans
and Maras streets, where the offence was committed,
states that he Padron, deliberately take aim and lire
at Girard and that Decoux struck him moi only he
was falling, but after he had fallen and dead ex-
claiming French e te lie,s maintsan,e, Il have got
you nowD He did not see Gerodias Porche take any
active part in the attack.
Paul Rosseau stated that he standing in front Of
IRENE market and all that occurred. 1t the
night of the SOth ult at IL O'Clock NJ -Four men were
playing cards in Dours' coffee house, and four
other men advanced towards the house, three Of
whom were Padron, Decoux and Porche. They
sat down with two others on u bench in front
OF the coffee house. Paron being the door, Directly
lac heard the report of pistol and going to the house
have been fred att AT this timc padron was in the
coffee house, and had the butt end Of pistol sticking
of his pocket Witness asked him If he knew who fired
the pistol He said no, but If he did know he wouldn't
tell" Witness then arrested him, and crowd, among
whom were Decoux, Gerodias and Duprat During the
struck knife and did not enter his body BY this
crowd the prisoner was rescued from witness and Louis
dron drew his pistol and aiming at Gerard sho, him
the breast He then fired twice at Witness but missed
his aim He also fired twice at Louis Rousseau the last
shot slightly woundng him in his right arm. The crowd
then cried to Padron, run and shoot and he did so.
After Grard shot he began TO stagger when Dec0ux
struck him with black cane he also struck him after he
had fallen on the floor and dead, for he died nmed-
ately. Porchc held Louis Rousseau by the arms and
hindercd him from doing his duty. Saw weapons in
tho hands Of either Porche Gerodias Paron Decoux
and Duprat the chief actors in the murderous aray
Another witness deposed that he Gerodias raise 4
chair and advance towards Rousseau declaring that he
should not arrest Padron All the other facts
by Rousseau were corroboraed by other Witnesses
OF whom Padron when he fired at Rousseau before
Girard was shot. II was before the murder also that
Gcrodias raised the chair to strike Rousseau.
The Recorder in rendering his decision stated that the
charges brought against the prisoners not fully sub
santatcd, though they doubtless guilty OF gross
breach OF the peace and OF interference with the police
the discharge OF their duty he would therefore, commit
them for trial before the First District Court and
mended that their bail be fixed at 81 500.
In accordance with the call published in the New Or
leans Journals meeting of the French residents of that
city held on the 18th inst. It
Resolved, That the Governor of Louisiana would be in
vited, in the of the French population Of New Or
leans to take the necessary steps TO have the murderer
of Froncos Grard arrested and brought to justice.
Resolved, That general subscription be opened among
the French OF the city, and the amount subscribed
Iloycd 10 facilitate and procure the said arrest.
Resolved, That from the amount subscribed part will
be appropriated to the usual church services and to
erect tombstone with the following inscrption-t'Here
lies Francois Girard murdered in New Orleans Orleans
street, on the DIST May, 1856"
Resolved, That the balance If any, be handed to the
Orphan Asylum Of the city.
The other resolutions severely censurc the conduct Of
the agent Of the French Consulate whose dismissal
percmptorily demanded.