The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-04-17
New ORLEANS CORRESPONDENCE
New ORLEANS, April 18th, 1861

D NEW VBLEANS CORRESPV I'm VE.
New ORLEANS, April 18th, 1861.
Friend Democrat The commission Of
the most terrible and frightful crimes
known to human nature is becoming so
common that we some times are lead to
think the world is indeed growing worse
every day. Wife murder has been frequent
of late, the past week two more cases have
occurred, both diaboleal and fendish in
the extreme. In the first, the man asked
his wife for a cup of tea which she furnish
ed and he drank it. lie then went to the
yard, and returning with an axe, coolly
knocked his wife down, and followed up
the assault until she was dead. In the
next case, a MIR. and Mrs. Burns were
both on spree and had been drinking for
several days. On Saturday Burns went
home, and taking up a Ratchet, attacked
his wife, inhicting terrible wounds, from
which she died in few hours. When
asked why he had killed his wife he replied
that he had intended to do it some time
ago." Both men gave themselves up to
the police and are now awaiting trial.
We have had lately poor imitation of
Northern sharp practice and "kite flying"
which is SO small that it seems strange that
man would sell himself so cheap. A
young man we'll known here went into
levee speculations, and having no money
he "raised the wind" by purchasing about
$4,000 worth of sugar-which, as he was
known, was readily delivered. When the
bill was sent in he put it off from day to
day, until cornered, when he gave check
for the amount, which, however, proved to
be worthless. After this he opened bank
account, and after figuring around for
while, overdrew his account $500. From
one bank to another he went, keeping
balance for few days and then overdraw-
ing, for amounts from $3.50 to $1,000. He
wound himself up" a few days ago in a
a transaction brazen enough for Wall
street. Stepping into an Office he request
ed permission to write letter, which was
readily complied with. The gentlemen
were talking about city money, and one Of
them was planning how be should use some
of it with the least possible loss, when our
Spectator looked up and quietly remarked
that he could use it and would charge
nothing" The gentlemen said he was too
generous, but he insisted that it was no
inconvenience, he had the money to pay
out and city money was just as good to
him. Upon this assurance, $500 in city
notes was handed to him, and he gave his
check as usual, for the amount. Next
morning the check was presented at bank
and refused, Of course. The owner of the
city notes at once made complaint to the
police, and procured the arrest Of this gay
fnancier-and thus, for the present, ends
the history of our New Orleans Ketchum.
Our Newspaper family has received a
new addition, which made its appearance
yesterday under the title Of "The Republic
can" 1t is under the management Of W.
R. Fish, a veteraa Of the 3lst Of July, and
it is scarcely necessary to say, will be de-
voted to the interests Of the "loyal" party
and will screech over the negro and his
wrongs, trying to sow discord and ill-will
everywhere The report goes that those
valiant warriors, Generals Banks and But
ler are God-fathers to the new CONNER,
and will back it up till the Cows come
home.
The other day our State authorities,
Gov. Wells, Mr.. Giffen, the Treasurer, and
Mr.. Peralta, the Auditor, went out to the
Gas Works and deposited in the furnace,
State Notes or certificates of Indebtedness
to the amount Of $780,O0O, and the reports
goes on to say that the notes were all
burned up-the quality Of the gas produced
that night was dim and blinky, whether
this was the effect Of the fuel used, or Of
the .fremen who assisted on the occasion.
| cannot say. This reduces the amount Of
State notes subject to circulation, great
deal, and consequently they are looking up
some in cur market.
Gold is going up again, is quoted this
morning at 1871. The probable cause
this is the "speck Of war" which has ap
peared in Europe-and which has spread
alarm in all the commercial circles of the
old world and is creating considerable anx-
iety and excitement in the cities of this
country. Napoleon having been disap-
/
pointed in the late war between Prussia
and Italy and Austria, and quietly frowned
out Of Mexico, has been trying to negoti-
ate with the King Of Holland for tie pur-
chase Of the Grand Duohy Of Luxembourg,
without which he considers the frontiers Of
France incomplete. The Fortress Of
Luxembourg is garrisoned, however, by
PrusSim troops, and the King Of Prussia
insists upon incorporating the disputed
territory within her own domain. sThus
placed, as it were, between two fires, the
King of Holland declines all further nego-
tiations, but France insists that her situa.
ton is insecure without this addition the
military pride Of the nation is touched, and
the Emperor declares that the Duchy must
be ceded to his country. All over Europe
active preparations are making for immedi-
ate war-and Prussia, flushed by her recent
triumph over her ancient rival, Austria, is
ready to bid defiance to France. The tel {