The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-26
AUDITOR wICB.LIFFE INDICTED
AND ARRESTED.
THE TUG OF WAR. =
Forcible EjectEent From Office.
Suit for Damages Against Governor
Warmotn and Others.

Yesterday morning upon his arrival al ms once
Governor Warmoth sent q messenger TO Mr.. o. M.
Wickliffe State auditor of public accounts, to re-
quest an interview with him. In due time Mr..
Wickiffe made his appearance IN the office OF the
governor, who informed him that from informa-
tion received he was led to believe that MI. WICK
life had issued certain warrants without authority,
and demanded an explanation OF the transaction,
which Mr.. Wickffe save, but apparently not 10
the satisfaction Of the governor. who now told him
that be felt in duty bo1nd 10 lay the matter before
the grand Jury of thefState for the parish OF Or.
leans. Mr.. Wicklifei became very excited and
vehement denouncink his accusers and swearing
vengeance against them:
Governor warmotf. about IL O'Clock, appeared
before the grand jury, and, laying the matter be-
fore them. referred for particulars to Mr. Dubu-
clet, treasurer of The State, and his son. Mr..
james Campbell, bcsk-keeper in the treasurer's
-s.sa Cana Ichn -pnch-- Ahnnt 1oi clock
the grand jury retained into court with the fol-
lowing indictment:
THAT G. M. wiSkins, late of the parish Of
Orleans on the thirt1 first day OF December. 1868,
and being then and there auditor of public ac-
counts for the State " Louisiana, did issue GER
tain warrant In the name Of j. b. Richardson, Jr,
being for the pretended payment Of coupons Of
the General Assembly Of the State Of Louisiana
approved March &C., 1867, and numbered lis OF
the session acts of 1867 said warrant being for the
sum of FIVE hundred and lightweight dollars,
without having any authority 70 do, contrary to
the form Of the statute OF the State of Louisiana in
such case made and provided, and against the
peace and dignity of the same. And the grand
Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid. do
further present: That afterwards, to wit. at the
time and place aforesaid, and after the commission
of the msdemeanor IN manner and form aforesaid,
the said G. NJ Wickife, being then and there such
auditor Of public accounts as aforesaid, did issue
q certain warrant 10 the name OF j. b. Richardson,
Jr., being for the pretended payment of coupons
of levee bonds, ISSUED under the provisions of an
act OF the General assembly OF the State Of Louis
lana, as in the above court charged and stated,
said warrant being for the sum Of s702, without
having any legsl right 30 to do"
The indictment goes on 20 state that at the
time and plsca, etc., Mr. Wicklife also issued
without authority o third warrant for the sum OF
5000. of the same nature and on the same pretense
The Indictment being duly entered, Judge Abel
Immediately ordered that q capiss issue against
Mr.. Wicklifie, which was placed in the hands Of
Mr.. Oscar Peyrouk, chief deputy sheriff OF the
First District Court, for execution. About z
O'Clock, Mr.. Peyroux proceeding 10 the auditors
office, accosted Mr.. Wickffs and told him 10 con-
slider himself his prisoner under the writ which he
presented from the court Mr.: Wickll1e accept
ing the position, marched to the First District
Court with Mr.. Peyroux, where the bond In $1,000
required of Mr.. Wickliffe was given, with Messrs-
f. Dumas and Joseph Hernandez az securities
Whereupon Mr.. Wicklife, accompanied by Judge
Thos J, Semmes, his attorney, left the court.
Meanwhile we visited the office OF Governor
warmoth, who informed rs of the fact that the
amount issued, as alleged, without authority, was
about 1880. for the pretended payment of &c
coupons Of the ia 100000 per cent. levee bonds,
and that he had decided to eject Mr.. Wlcklife from
Office and had appointed In his stead Mr.. Il. L.
Delsssize, then present, "a colored gentleman,
well known in this city for his high moral stand
ing and integrity Mr.. Delassize aihis juncture,
In company with DIR. Soutnworth, Mr.. Rsmick,
brother of the private secretary OF the governor.
and Special Officers Dumas and Boulloss, walked
over from the governors office to the auditors
Office diagonally across the way, and entered the
clerks room just Mr.. Wicklife, In charge of the
deputy sheriff, wac walking out of his private
Office, thereby avoiding meeting by mere
chance.
Mr.. Delsssize Immediately took possession of
the office, the clerks closing their books and put
ting OH their hats and remaining to await further
Developments; the persons present quietly seat-
ing themselves IN the private Office OF Mr.. Wick
life, Willing AVA the time in miscellaneous conver
sstion. TO thtsswset warbliDgs Of pretty canary
bird 10 q cage 1spging up In the office. After
few momenfs--ebout o'clock--Mr. Wicklife,
accompanied BIZ his attorney, Judge Semues,
entered the prisate office, after passing through
the public Office ard seated himself at his private
desk. Mr.. Deiassize arose and. walking up TO Mr..
Wickliffe, presented him the following document
"SrATE OF LOUISIANA. Executive DEPT
New Orleans, March rs, 1869.
"S5r-Owipgto the arrest of g. NJ. Wicklife.
state auditor, ior msdemeanor in Office, you are
hereby appointed auditor of public accounts for
the time being
by the governor.
I" (Signed) II. u. WARM0TH,
Ex-Governor of the State OF Louisiana.
"S. T. Delssaize, Esq, New Orleans.
,(signed) PIrT CRAvArH,
4" Assistant Secretary Of State.v
Capt. Cain, who was present before the return
of Mr.. WickliIe, had departed, and the only per-
NJ bs,sss;1s snacisIs Dumss and RoulIosa Dr.
South worth Mr. RemIck and The renorter al the
CorsrvSr The cisrks bsino in the nnbc ofica.
M WickIi,e in reniy 70 Mr.. DeIssaze. told
hin, tbat he did not recoonize the anthoritv of
,hst a. A scb,nd,eI wsrmoth IN nut him ont of
b;s once wbich he mssnt IN keepr Tbese were
rs ,.sI;t,,v ,,r,ss
Jnaae ssm,aes now addreased Mr. Wictlfs IN
,hoss So,ds" !" M W,cL,iae NV ADVICE 10 won
a. vonr counsel "a n ksen vonr Office and IN re-
s;s; srv e,,e,nnt 20 mt Won ont Won are IN vour
v;sht ma ssanlS maintain IL have nothing
,nors N 40 hers' I hid Won good .davu And the
indoe waited ont
~ son,b,rorth called for his hat and walked
ont messenger from the governor 10 Mr.. De-
lsss.ze was snnoupced but nothing trsnspred with
in the writer's hearing.
Mr.. wickl.fie, somewhat excited, launched him
self in q string OF nvectives addressed to Cover