New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-06
taking any steps to have him tried before .

a. can not answer you; I do not know.
| o. Did YOU make any official cOmnnnica.
ton to the Governor, and If so. when?
| "A. made an official communication to
| the Governor; addressed him officially,
! think, few days after the adjournment Of
| the Legislature, on the subject.
| o. But you communicated the facts to
him long time before?
A. Yes.
O. What was your motive, after having
communicated verbally, 70 make more
| formal and official communication?
| tive officer of the State, whose duty it was
| to see that the laws were executed, was OF
the opinion that by waiting longer. no action
having been taken as yet, that would not
have been doing my duty.
Q. Did those members OF the Finance
Committee of the Senate, or of the Commit
tee on WAYS and Means of the House, with
whom you commu uicated, take any steps
that you are aware of to protect the inter-
ests Of the state from such dangerous in
divdual!
A. do not know.
Q. Why was it not communicated, go as
to have him impeached then as well as
now?
A. was in doubt as to what manner the
interests of the State could best be served,
as to impeachment, as said before did not
wish to follow that course myself, or those
who united with me. l was in doubt, as to
the best mode to pursue for the interests of
the State. therefore, had this bill intro
duced to prevent occurrences OF that kind.
0. can very we'll understand how that
bill could be introduced to prevent acci-
dents; but, if his conduct was criminal. I
do not see why some communication was
not made with the view to bring about his
impeachment?
4. For the reason that Ibid not know
what course was best to pursue, and upon
consultation with others.
Q. You knew that there was one Attorney
General of the State?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you, or not, communicate with the
Attorney General of the State, or seek his
advice?
A. No.
O. Did you, or not, advise with any one
as to what conrse to pursue?
A. l did not ask to be directed myself,
communicated the information. and con-
suited as to the best means of protecting
the interests OF the State.
@. Did you or not make any formal COM
munication to the Finance Committee of the
Senate. or to the Finance Committee of the
House on this subject?
A. No.
Q. Did you or not suggest to the Finance
Committee any course to pursue
A. do not know that l did.
@. How many members of the Finance
Committee of the House are there?
A. do not know; of the Senate COM
mittee there are five.
@. The House has an equally large num-
Der on its committee?
A. believe so.
@. When these facts were communicated
to them by you, was there any surprise
manifested?
A. do not know that there was much
surprise, but there was Indignation.
Q. What was the evidence of the indigna-
ton?
A. can not tell you, sir. q
Q. Then how do you know that there was
any Indignation at ali?
A. From the general tone of the remarks2
Q. Did this Indignation subside, and all
parties become perfectly quiescent; why
was not Wickife indicted then; how did it
break through or subside?
A. l do not know that it broke through
Or subsidized; the general impression was
that the State not having faithful officer,
should be regretted rather than otherwise.
O. Mr.. Lynch, are you not very anxious
to have Mr.. Wickliffe convicted on this
A. If he is proven guilty am.
@. But is it not your own desire to con-
vict him
A. No, my feelings are not prejudiced.
q. am not questioning your capacity as
a judge, but is it not your desire to convict
MIR. Wlckliffe?
A. No. do not know but that the mode
IN which the questions have been asked,
may have called forth answers uncon.
ssciously looking that way; but 1 certainly
have no such intention.
Z. You say that your disposition and
feeling is such as not to desire his convic-
ton?
A. If the evidenced is substantiated 1 de-
sire his conviction but l certainly do not
desire his conviction if the evidence is not
substantiated.
Q. You are already satisfied he is guilty Of
A. give my testimony and believe it to
be true.
Q. Therefore you must be satisfied that
be is guilty?
A. As far as my testimony goes, am.
Q. Therefore you desire him convicted?
A. You may draw your own conclusion.
q. ask you whether you desire his con-
Tiction?
a. Deileve my own testimony to be true.
Q. And you leave NE to draw the infer.
ance?
A. Yes, sir.
The counsel here CLOSED his cross.exam-
Mr.. Blackman: ask the Senator if he oc.
,upied any other official position in the
State or the United States except that of
Senator, and, if so, what official position?
The Chief Justice: The Senator will re.
luce the question to writing.
The following was then sent to the Score.
ary's desk:
Question by Senator Blackman: Do Won
1oid any Office, either under the United
states government or of the State. other
han member of the Legislature?
Mr.: Manager Lowell: Mr.. Chief Justice, I
I'm directed by the mahagers to request the
presiding officer, inasmuch as it has been
1eclded that the rules Of evidence are to be
applied, that these rules be applied to the
question propounded by the Senator. This
question we conceive to be not german to
he subject.
After some delay, Mr.. Manager McMillen
aid: MIR. Chief Justice, on behalf of the
managers, we desire again to object to the
question submitted by the Senator from
claiborne, on the ground that the question
s not pertinent to the subject matter of
his investigation.
Mr.. Semmes, of counsel for accused: Mr..
inlet Justice, it seems to me that the same
altitude given to the cross examination
hould be extended to any Senator. The
witness has been examined on one side, and
ross examined On the other. A Senator, it
GEMS, according to the rules of the court,
las the right to ask questions, ana is not
hat in the nature of cross examination
t S }, the same latitude should be allowed.
The Chief Justice: The Chief Justice is
lot prepared to say that it is in the
azure OF the cross examination, nor to de-
lde whether the question is pertinent.
he Chief Justice does not know the object
f the Senator in asking that question.
MIR. Blackman: hsve q right under the
ules, MIR. Chief Justice. Rule No. Is
ays-