The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-12-11
Richard Z. Shelley.
TFrom the New Orleans Times.

| from Tile New UFledllS lluleS.
Among the so-calIed citizens OF louisa
ma, recently elevated to Office, there are
several of exotic origin. Assome of these
have been entrusted with positions Of great
and vital importance to the public interest
it would be well, perhaps, to take a casua
glance at their pievious records, in order
that very natural anxiety might be reliev
ed as to their capabilities and respectable
ty. Prominent among these political no.
MAIDS is Richard L. Shelly, a worthy mem.
Der of the widespread Barnacle family
Wherever the argosy Of official wealth and
plumber floats, this Shelly parasite is found
crusted on the bottom by the inherent
qualities of suction, as his history in this
city plainly evidences.
Of his previous career we have it in our
power to lay the following information be-
fora the public: During the riots in New
York city in 1863, Gen. Dix, then in COM
mand of that Department, issued an order
requiring all officers then in the city, and
in the service of the United States, to re-
port for duty in quelling the riot. Among
those so reporting was Richard L. Shelley,
who appeared 10 full military uniform, and
was placed upon the roll with the others.
Upon the restoration Of order he again ap-
peared at the United States Paymaster's
Office, signed the necessary warrants and
drew pay for his services. Tt was subse
quentlY discovered that Richard L. Shell
ley, though having at some previous time
been connected with the army, was at that
time attached to it neither in the capacity
Of officer or private. Search was thereup-
on instituted for the perpetrator of this
swindle. But in the meanwhile, through
friends or connections, he had made inter-
est with the N. Y. Tribune and left New
York for this city in the capacity of cor
A requisition was therefore
dispatched to Gen. Candy, then in COM
mand ofthis Department, who arrested the
accused and sent him to New York to be
tried upon the charge Of having swindled
the Paymaster's Department Of the United
States. The trial, however, never came
off, Shelly's friends succeeded in settling
the matter by reimbursing the distracted
money. He again returned to New Or
leans, where he acquired somewhat of a
Jeremy Diddler notociety among the board
ng house keepers. Of his mendacious and
utterly false dispatches sent from time to
lime to the Tribune, totally misrepresent-
ng and libeling our people, that paper it.
'elf will furnish abundance evidence. His
patriotism and nature are also illustrated
" the reported fact that on one occasion
lie publicly declared 10 the presence of one
# the Bank Presidents Of New Orleans, |,
hat if No one else could be found ~tot
'ssassinate President Johnson, he HIMSELF
pould assume the knife. I
We now draw the attention of Gen.
Hancock Of the above facts, connected with
he appointment by Gen Mower of Richard
!. Shelly to the Clerkship Of the Second
district Court, for full confirmation of
,hich he is referred to Gen. Candy, now in
ommand of the First Military District off
be United States, to the Paymaster's De-
artment at Washington, where the extant
roceedings will doubtless be found upon
scord. Neither is collateral evidence
'anting to substantiate all Of the charges
bove alluded to.
We would beg also to notify Gen. Han
ock, in the same connection, that the Of
&c now in the possession of Richard L.
belly, is one of the most responsible con-
ected with the jurisprudence ofthis State.
he most important interests are involved b
! and dependent upon its faithful and !
onscientious discharge. Not only are the :
states Of deceased persons and Of minor /
sirs, but large sums Of moneys are con- !
antly being collected by the Clerk and
cid by him for greater or less length of :
me, subject to the disposition of the !
ourt. The only security for the proper
,rformance of this important trust rests s
the integrity Of the Clerk and the res t
'nsibility Of his sureties. We have pre- s
ously demonstrated the latter in this \
stance to be next to worthless; and Of q
e former we now leave Gen. Hancock to =
dge, confident that his action in this mat I
r will be in full conformity with his :
lown character for disinterestedness and h,
justice.