New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-14
THE AKREsr OF MAYOR HBArH.

Military Orders and Chief OF Police.
We have some further details to present
to our readers in reference to the arbitrary
arrest of Mayor Heath, and his election
from the Office by order of General Buchan-
an. With his usual mixed policy of ming
ling military and civil law, he directed
Captain De Russy to call upon the Chief of
Police for assistance in executing his orders,
instead of bringing soldiersinto requisitioD,
as the following document On file at the
Office Of the Chief of Police wi! SNOW:
NEW ORLEANS, June 1868.
J. j Williamson, Ohief Of Police:
sR-I am directed by the Major General
Commanding to place Mt ]. j. Conway,
Mavor elect, in possession of the mayoralty
Of New Orleans, and eject Heath, the pres
ent Mayor, by force II necessary, and to call
upon the Chief of Police for assistance.
]. D. DERUSSEY,
| Captain First Infantry, A. D. G.
The chief of police, the aids to the chief,
and Lieutenant schreiber, Of the first dis
trict police, agreed upon the point that the
police had. nothing to do with executing
military orders, except by express instruc-
tons from the commanding general, and
that their duty otherwise consisted in the
preservation of the public peace. It appears
that during the absence of the chief of
police, who was compelled to transact GER
tain business out of his Office ON the after
noon in question, occupying some forty
minutes, Captain De Russey entered his
Office and inquired for the chief. Being in.
formed ofthe absence Of that officer Captain
De Russey asked for the officer next in
charge of the police, and was told that Mr..
Smith Izard, one of the aids to the chief,
was in charge, but FaS not at that moment
in. When Mr.. lizard came in Captain De
Russey told him he was ordered by General
Buchanan to direct Mayor Heath to vacate
his office and turn over the keys to Mr..
, Conway. He said he felt little hesitation
about attempting to execute the command
with the large number Of persons in and
, about the building, He therefore asked
Mr.. lizard if he would be so kind as to have
, the crowd cleared away. Mr. Izart
then took some ofcars and cleared
the corridor from which the door t.
. the Mayors office opened. Returning tt
the Chiefs office and reporting to Captain
= De Russey, that military fuactionary desired
= Mr.. Izard to have the crowd removed from
:. the front of the building This Mr.. Izarc
a did also closing the main entrance to tn
hall, placing officers there, and directing
: that no person should be admitted exoep
, those who had business there. On return
i ing Mr. lizard informed Captain De Russo
that both the frontof tie building and tn
/. corridor were clearpd.
- Captain De Russey t-ea aslaj Mr. lar
if he would accompa2! In to the Mayor
, Office. He did so, and as he was euterin
n the Mayors parlor Mr. I.ari asked sergean
. Gibuey to send in few officers. Five 0
. six policemen followed IN and there Captai
" De RUssey addrese5 himself to Mayo
Heath, and the eon7s;sation resulted i
= Mayor Heath's arrest, ari his retiring frol
y the Office in compaz7 with Captain I
4 Rusaey. Mi. lizard thea asked gentleme
:. in the parIor if they would please to yacat
10 it, and they did SO.
a. Thus it becomes natter Of record th'
= General Buchanan directed Captain
: Russey to call upon the Chief Of Police fc
4, 4, assistance to place L. J. J. Conwa
90 Mayor elect, in possessLol Of the Mayorali
10 Of New Orleans, and EJECT Heath. II
of military commander may not have ira
AZ scended his arbitrary powers in this matte
~ but the country will hold him re5ponsib
= for his unwarranted violation OF Jaw.