The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-11-10
The District Court in Rapides Parish.

The Alexandria Democrat Of the 3d. gives the fol-
lowing rich account of the bursting up of the fall term
OF the District Court for the parish of Rapdes. II
would look as though old Rapides did not want any
niger jury in hers:
The District Court of the parish of Rapdes met in
this town on Monday last. The first thing done was
to except to the legality Of the jury panel drawn by
the officers whose duty it is made by law to see that
proper jury is drawn. For several terms past there
has been jury in Radides owing to the difficulty in
drawing jury since the parish of Grant was specially
set apart for the benefit of Willie Calhoun and his
special friends The officers in charge having failed
to get jury their manner of drawing being in the
opinion of his udgship John Orsborn, Illegal special
form for the occasion furnished by that immaculate
lawyer, Attorney General Beden, who is now suing
the State for the modest of $685. for services
rendered The formula was decided by John Insult.
eient for Grant tive weeks ago, and it was supposed
would be so decided in Rapides. But when an excep.
ton was taken to the jury by the members OF the bar
Orsborn deciped that the jury legally drawn. I'm
medatey after this decision the grand jury was called
on which all were black, except Larkin D. Corley. of
Banks legislature reputation, who appeared very dig
n6ed among his colored friends. The grand jury was
called forward to be sworn, when Judge Ryan, the
Oldest member of the bar politely asked Of the most
intelligent negro called up to be sworn, if he knew
what an oath was?
Darkey-( Evidently minister of the gospel and
head devil among the niggers)-yes sab it is to speak
out in the aggregation.
Judge R.-And what do you mean by speaking out
in the congregational
Darkey-Dont know sab, 'cept to tell all you knows,
sab.
Judge Rand suppose you tell lie while speaking
out in congregation, what then?
Darkey--Den 'spose don't know.
The same questions were propounded to all of the
members of the congregation, with about the same sat
isfactory result.
Judge Ryan, with the most profound disgust depicted
on his countenance, then proceeded to address the
Court. He remarked that he would not be willing
partner to the inquiry which the court and its chosen
jury were about to nict upon the parish of Rapides
The lives, liberties and property Of the people
be jeoparded by being placed in the hands of set of
Ignorant barbarians who neither acknowledge the OBJ
legation of an oath, or acquainted with the
tous subjects which to engage their attentions He
referred, in the most eloquent terms to the old bar
when Thomas, and Brent and Dunbar, and Elgee, and
Flint and Boyce commended together in the forum, be-
fore ures of the best educated and most enlightened
men the South could afford "And has it come to
this" said the eloquent advocate: go Temporal, 0
mores." Proceeding at this rate for time, Judge
Ryan concluded of the best speeches heard
him make by calling upon the bar and all the white
to follow him out of the court house. Amid great
applause all the white left the court house, and liz
a few minutes there was to be seen no one within its
walls, except John Orsborn the bench looking very
blank, with the Hon. Larkn D. Corley and his sable
associates in the jury box. What occurred afterwards
we have not learned. Perhaps his honor and the
egrand inquest of the parish will hold Court on their
own hook" And then again perhaps not.