New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-06-17
FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE II, 1859.
g0taL SMttIliatntk.

Though there were clouds and breezes, the day was
awfully hot
WANT OF RooM compels us to defer an account oi
the Fourth District School Exhibition yesterday,
well as some other matters, including that serenade
What we can't offer to-day, we will endeavor to oel
tomorrow.
IHE FIRE BELLS rang fierce alarm at o'clock
this morning, and the fremen went laundering BY
All we had time to learn was that some dairy stables
were burning on Third street. in the Fourth District
TIE INVESTIGATION OF THE LATE ELECTION Diff.
crLTIEs commenced last evening, before Recorder
Summers. Robert Mcneil, better known as Bob
johnson, and Policeman James Boyle, were exam.
med on Gen. Lewis charge Of having brass-knucked
him and beat and kicked him about, at the Basin
street poll OF the Seventh precinct whilst he was in
the discharge Of his duty as Superintendent of Elec.
tions.
MCNEIL was defended by Mr. Blocker, and Boyle
by Mr.. Van Dolsen. Judge Reynolds represented the
prosecution.
Gen. Lewis testified that at about halfpast 10
o'clock whilst he was at the rendezvous of the off.
GERS under the election law, a gentleman whom be
didn't know came and asked for Mr.. De Choiseul,
saying that party of men breaking the tables
and destroying tickets at the different polls, The
gentleman invited him into his cab, and they drove
around to see At the Carondelet street poll, found
the Independent ticket table broken asked who did
it; the judges said, party of five or six men headed
by Bob johnson.
Went next to the Common street poll, and then to
the school house poll, where also the tables were
broken Went after that to the poll on Basin street
where he saw a party breaking the tables Went up
to them they all had their backs to him they were
pulling tickets OFF the table. Recognized only one,
and that was johnson. Touched him on the shoul
der, and said that would not do.it would create a
rowland if not stopped, it would be his duty to
arrest him. johnson spoke violently, saying he
would like to see the man who would arrest him.
Ihen policeman, Boyle, came up and said be would
arrest him for disturbing the peace Of the poll and
insulting gentlemen. Witness tried to pacity them
and to explain to them his duty public officer
Whilst so talking he received blow on the head
from behind, and fell; it seemed as if the whole
party then kicked him three pistols were drawn.
and there were cries of +" shoot him." !" kill him. ]"
etc. Boyle was the most violent man of the
whole party, and he must have seen who gave the
frst blow from the way they were standing. Wit.
ness could not tell who struck him; the blow felt as
if from brckbat or metal knuckes, and stunned
him very much Boyle afterward showed his police
badge and said he arrested him for disturbing the
peace, striking johnson and creating row at the
poll. johnson coared witness as well as Boyle when
he was arrested. The crowd divided ehalf took
Witness and the other half took laborer; witness
and the laborer taken in cab together to the
watch house; did not know what the laborer had
DONE
Being cross-examined, the General could not re.
member that he had mentioned his capacity to BOYLE
Boyle came up very violently. Did not explain to
him after that was talking to johnson at the time
me crowd were engaged in pulling tickets off the
table when the witness went up. There were no
others there except the officers of the poll and the
crowd around the table. There was no fight or dis
turbance going on. If putting ones hand on anotbers
shoulder to call his attention be striking then wit
ness struck johnson. Witness was shamefully abused
NV nd nlyod md r,.1
MIR. Helm was the gentleman who gave the informa.
tables
G. w. Helm (who that day was candidate> test.
ned hat he gave the information of the table break.
ing to Gen. Lewis, and went with him in the cab
AS they drove up to the poll Basin street, there
was cab ahead, with three persons in it, whoopipg
ana halloong:, They sprang out; recognized one as
johnson; another was tall man do MT see him in
court. Witness saw Boyle with his crescent on saw
johnson sweeping the tickets from the table. Lewis
put his hand on his shoulder and said that would MT
40, ETC. johnson at once faced him Lewis said,
" Bob, this won't do; you know me- / m Superin
tendent of Elections this won't do. johnson said,
:, know you you re coward and id old vii
lain" Boyle stepped up and collared Lewis, and ar.
rested him; then a tall, thin.vsaged man, struck
Boyle seized him by the hair he was the most vic.
lent OF the crowd. johnson cried, Draw your pis.
tolls +, and there were other cries of "kill,"
: shoot etc; and then Boyle and johnson put
heard the cry, Draw your pistols,' when he step
ped ont into the street. 1t was ali in very short
time. Witness never left the place during the fuss
Cross'examined DON'T know that any one was
been there don't know who it was that first struck
Lewis but can point him out. Lewis manner was
patronzing. johnson was arranging American
tickets on the table saw that when Lewis touched
were commissioners of the poll do not think they
could well have seen the affair from where they were
i, ). NJ Moody, commissioner at the poll, testified
lnat whilst he was receiving votes, he heard some
carriages drive up; saw johnson and others in one
cab, and Lewis and Helm in another johnson pro-
ceeded to put some American tickets on vacant
table. Lewis put his hand on his shoulder, and said
that wouldn't do. johnson called him d. ID vii
lain, or something of the sort Lewis backed into
the street; some one struck him in the back of the
head; saw him lying in the gutter; saw pistols
drawn and one knife; heard cries of "shoot .: think
ewis was struck several times; did not know any Of
those who struck him.
Cross.examined: johnson was at the poll an hour
previously; he voted then; he took up an Inde-
pendent ticket and swept the rest of the tickets off
the table Did not hear Lewis call names; he said
to johnson, you know me- etc. johnson was fix
ng tickets on the table at the time. Did not see
him strike Lewis, or have any weapon but he smoke
very violently; Boyle also spoke violently telling
aim that he was disturbing the election and that be
would take him away.
N. H. Bailey, another of the commissioners, testi
others were around table, they had arrived Just
before Lewis, and everything was quiet. Witness
lit ,ntion was first attracted by Lewis talking in
oud voice, as be reached the curb. johnson called
iim a liar and coward; Boyle seized him by the
,oat saying he arrested him for disturbing the peace
Witness was at a window, in such position that
when Lewis was struck he saw only the hand of the
nan who gave the blow, from behind johnson was
n fall sight of the window he had pistol drawn,
md this made witness notice him particularly. Heard
,ries of shoot him, knock him down. arrest |
him." and SO on Heard Boyle say he arrested him
or disturbing the peace. Is satisfied that johnson
lever struck Lewis be stood full p front of the win
!ow and whilst the row was going on did not say or
10 anything. Did not see Boyle strike Lewis John
on never moved till some one called him. upon
which he went and got into cab with Lewis can't
ay who it was that called jhnson; thought then it
vas Lewis; heard since it was Boyle. The Independ.
mt tickets had been swept from the table an hour
before. Did not see what johnson was doing at the
able when Lewis came up.
s. N. Moody recalled. Did not order Boyle to ar.
est Lewis, but afterward told the Mayor he Thought
Boyle had only done his duty as a policeman
,eyond his unnecessary violence of speech witness
hought he was right Lewis was excited when he
ame to the poll, but not SO much SO as to justify his
rrest.
Mr.. English the third commissioner at the poll,
esttied that he three cabs drive up about the
anne time; Johnson was in one and Lewis in an.
'ther. Johnson got out first he took brick and
,egan mailing some tickets on a table I4ews went
p to him and said there should be no disturbance of
he peace; when johnson got through fastening down
n atyil md had