The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-12


met again last evening, according to adjournment;
Mr.. J0ubert in the chair, aud the following mem
bers present Messrs. Straight, Sterry, Mary and
Gsuche.
The testimony given at the last meeting was
Col. Field read s1etter from Mr.. D'Homergue,
stating that be sick sbed and could not attend.
The colonel said he was ready to proceed with the
case provided no important testimony implicat
ing Mr.. D'Homergue should be brought up. The
testimony was resumed.
Mr.. Burclfeld sacorn-Hss been employed in
the Bienvile street draining machine since 1856
The machine belongs to the surveyors depart
ment. Some brass and copper were stolen from
the engine. When Mr.. Cronsn took charge Of the
machine, ON the 10Th December, the copper was
already taken. The place is a closed building.
The doors were broken open between the 10Th
and 10th, and fifteen inches OF copper pipe stolenf
Has suspicion of what became of the copper
and brass taken previous to the 18th. Ii was
taken by fireman employed in the building.
To AT. two hundred pounds of
brass, worth Is cents per pound, were taken.
Sixty-eight feet of copper pipe, averaging
pound and quarter to pound and half a foot
worth about so cents per pound, were also taken
Mr.. Bell, city surveyor, took the proper steps to
find out the person who took the brass and
copper.
Mr.. John P. Cszelar wasscaled, and after being
reprmanded by the chair for failing to appear,
to which he gave q valid excuse, was sworn, and
said He was employed in the street commission.
eI's department from July 10 the I'd of Novem-
ber, as foreman of the fifth ward, under Mr.. D'HO
meTgue; was employed in washing and cleaning
the streets; commenced with ten men, then had
eight men, one of whom was sent to the levee
digging sand; sometimes bad five, sometimes
six, and sometimes seven men; does not know
whether the street sweepings were used to fill up
lots; never sent any of his gang to fill up lots;
kept them faithfully at the work he had TO do
does not know whether the man taken from him
did haul sand he was told 10 mark his name
down on the book as working in his gang. The
first mans name was Dennis battureau: he
worked during one month on the levee. and left
because he said il was too hard work thereafter
other men worked a week or so at q time.
Mr.. Mooney paid his men. In September Mr..
Mooney called for more men than there was in
wiiness's gang; witness eXpostulated; Mr.. Moo
ney told him that he was mistaken, the men
worked for the city. A person in the crowd,
stronger, told witness TO look out or he would be
discharged; witness told him that he didn't care:
Witness was discharged on the I'd November, and
replaced by Mr. Eugelhart. Never made any re-
ma TX on the subject to Mr. D'Homergue, who was
TIE party who discharged. Witness gave the
names and time of the men and signed the pay
rolls. leaving plenty room to insert names. Kept
the time in a book and gave list of the men sad
time on piece of paper. Being shown the pay
rol for September, witness ssys that Ryan, Berry
and Desborde never worked in his gang, and that
he never reported those three names. Nobody
has since offered him position in the street cCm-
missioner's department; he has proclaimed that
be would not work in the department. Mr.
D'HOmergue knew how many men witness had in
his gsng.
Cross eranined-witness had eight men in his
gang in September. Martin was in his gang; can't
TecOllect how long he worked. Romero worked
with lin. Is sure Ryan never worked la his gang.
Washington worked with him short time. Signed
the pay rolls in the street commissioners Office
without looking at them. All he cared for was
for his own money. Mr.. DHomergue said that
witness spent his time reading newspapers in
grocery stores, because when man wishes to
kill bis dog he accuses it OF being mad.
Join =. EOntdnGt SUOrn-Has been mem
her of The council has been in the habit of riding
out almost every day; has frequently, while
member Of the council, made 1t business to ride
over almost all the roads Of the city. Since. has
done so less frequently has found the roads in
good order in good weather has seldom rode
over the road iu bad weather has seen the roads
repaired by Mr. Marquee after bad weather /;
kpows that MARQUEE, in the month Of July, 1861
when witness member of the council,
cen panied Of trouble 20 obtain his certi
Gates and called witness, requesting him 10 go
| and examine the roads on Canal street. Witness
| 1sn'ined this road. Esplsnade, Fre1chmen, Gen
tilly Broad street and Bienville street shell roads
| they were all in good and complete order
| saw it by the shells placed On them Mar
| qUez requested witness TO so and see
D'Hcmergue with him at his Office on st. Peter
| street. Witness went with him between 10 aud
| IL o'clock in the morning. Marquee told D'Ho-
mtrque that be had taken witness over his roads.
| Witness told D'HOmerque that he (witness) had
|
| did rot give MARQUEE his certificate? Marquee
| proposed that if D'Homergue would appoint q
| day, he, witness, would pay the carriage to go
over the roads D'Homergue aoceded and sp.
| pointed the next day. Next day, witness and
Msrquez went to D'Homergue, who told Marquee
| he could not go that day, but would go the next
| day. Witness told D'HomerRue that he had to go
across the lake the next day, but was ready to go
that day. DHomergae said he had other business
| 20 attend IN, ard could not go that day.
| Cross t@dmined-To the best Of his knowledge
the roads we're made in accordance with the speci-
| fcations. Was chairman of the committee on
finance. Had TO sign the certificates for the
payment Of contractors after the streets and land
| ings committee had signed them. Did not gener-
ally examine contracts before signing them.
| Examined Marduez's roads at Harquez's request.
Did not see Er. Marquee afterwards about the
| certificates, as witness went across the lake.
Marquee told witness it was necessary that
| DHomergue should make his report IN order that
| he might obtain his certificate.
| Judge Collens now announced that there were
| several witnesses who had failed to appear, by
whom he could multiply The testimony already
| given but he was Ni'iirg 10 close the evidence
for the proEecutoD, ss he 2espaiIed to bring then
| before the committee.
lbout this time sn individual named Henry
Reulling volunteered evidence. and being sxort
SAYS: He was asked twice BIZ EBgelhart, his
ioiemsn, to pay two dollars, in April and May
lie refused TO psy the FIRST time, but did SO The
se, ond time EOgehsrt told him that when ht
|
due to him, he was to hand over the difference Il
him (EDglehsrt.)
Col Field now asked for some time to prepare
Isis and notices.
Judge Walker rose TO state that the examination
should now close as the committee had been in
siituted only 20 inquire il there were grounds o
plausible reasons for an impeachment, and tha
The process. ss established by precedent, wa
similar TO trial by jury, where the accused wa
rot consulted that sufficient evidence had nO7
been presented to the committee TO justify then
| to send the matter before the Board of Assistan
| Aldermen for their action on the question OF I'm
| peachmeDt.
Col Field responded by reading laws relative 4
| invest t1ations and was opposed TO the attempt q
| siifle the evidence of the defense which woul'
| prove that perjury had been committed by som
| Of the witnesses for the prosecutiOn.
Mr.. Hornor followed by deprecating what h
called an attempt 10 dictate 20 the committee thu
course they were to pursue. He thought tn
| course of the prosecution was outrageous; tha
| il belonged TO tie committee alone to decide
what they should do in the matter, and appealed
10 the committee TO hear the testimony in favo
| Of che defense.
Judge Walker denied that he attempted to die
tate to the board the course that they should pur