New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-06

Braughn, Campbell. COPELAND, Darrall,
Day, Egan. Foute, jerks, Jewell, Kelso,
Lewis. Lynch, Monette. Ofutt, Ogden,
O'Hara. Packard. Pinchback. Poindexter,
Williams, Wittgenstein-29.
By direction of the Chief Justice the Ser
geant-at-Arms opened the court by the
usual proclamation.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. Chief Justice, move to
dispense with the reading Of the journal OF
yesterday.
The motion was agreed to.
The Chief Justice will inform. the Mana.
gers on the part of the House that the Sen
ate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment, is
ready to proceed with the trial OF G. n.
Wickliffe, Auditor of Public Accounts.
The Managers on the part of the House OF
Representatives appeared and took the sets
provided for them.
The Chief Justice: When the Senate,
sitting as Court Of Impeachment, ad-
iourned yesterday, the Senator from Clai-
corne asked question of the witness then
being examined Senator Lynch). The
Secretary will read that question.
The Secretary read the question as fol-
ows: ...
Do you hold any office, either under the
United States government or the State gov
ernment other than that as member OF
the Legislature.
Mr.. Manager McMillen: Mr.. Chief Justice.
the managers desire to know whether or
not, the objection urged yesterday to this
question has been overruled by the Chief
Justice.
The Chief Justice: The Chair stated yes
terday that he was unable to decide
whether the question was pertinent OF
not. As far as the Chief Justice could see
the bearing of it, it was not pertinent, but
it was possibleit might be, he was not pre-
pared to say it was not pertinent
Mr.. McMillen: The Chief Justice, then
we understand, permits the question.
The Chief Justice: Yes, sir, the Chair is
disposed to permit the question to be put.
Mr. Lynch The witness has no objection
at all to answer the question. THE records OF
the Sanate show that I hold the office Of
United States Surveyor General for the dis
trict of Louisiana.
The Chief Justice The managers will
please proceed with the examination.
Mr.. Manager Lowell We have no fur.
Their questions to ask this witness
The Chief Justice Do counsel for the &C.
cused desire to ask any further questions
Cross examination resumed.
By Mr.. Semmes of counsel:
@. The only question l deaire to ask. is,
whether or not after you held this CONVEX.
sation with Mr.. Wicklitfe with regard to
these two bonds which you have testified
about, you attended an entertainment given
by him OF social character, and II so al
what time and where?
A. Going to the treasury Office from the
building occupied by the General Assembly
at its last session, found in room Oppo'
site the Auditors Office, large company OF
people attending what understood to be an
entertainment given by the Auditor.
went in, stopper some time there and lis
tened to the speeches. l was not there as
his guest.
Q. When was that,
A. 1t was some time during the session
of the Legislature, the exact date can not
recollect.
Q. Was it within week, ten days, or two
weeks from that conversation?
A. I could not say.
O. Was it month or six weeks2
A. The date has entirely escaped my
memory, except that it was during the ses-
sion of the Legislature.
@. Did you participate at the feast 4?
A. did not eat or drink there.
@. How long did you remain there
A. Perhaps fifteen minutes | was there
when General Thompson was making some
remarks.
Q. Did you address any remarks to Mr..
Wickliffe?
A. Not that know of. Ipresume l may
have.
Q. Did he shake hands with you or make
- >
A. l remember his Offering me some
CIGARS which l declined.
Q. Was the Governor there?
A. / do not know whether he WAS or not.
" Q. Were there much company there?.
A. The room was full.
.. Had you mentioned this disagreeable
&, duct Of the Auditor in your communica-
ton 20 the Governor before the feast!
@. l could not say as have very indis-
tinct recollection as to the time.
The evidence of this witness here closed.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN ocoNNoR.
John O'Connor, witness for the prosecu-
tion, was called, and duly sworn by the
Secretary of the Senate.
EXAMINATION IN CHIEF.
@. (By Mr.. Manager LowelD: What is
your name?
A. John O'Connor.
@. Where do you lives
A. At Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Q. What official position do you hold
under the State of Louisiana
A. am a member of control of the Deaf
and Dumb Asylum.
Q. In that capacity have you ever had
transactions with the Auditor in regard to
the issuing Of warrants
A: Yes. sir, called on him as Treasurer
of the board.
@. State the conversation you had with
him =?
A. In my capacity as Treasurer, called on
him to audit the amount due the Asylum on a
certain appropriation, and asked him to
issue warrants in small amounts. He re-
fused to do it, and said he would issue it in
large warrants, as it was drawn. After some
conversation with him, | had eventually to
take the warrants in large amounts-one of
ten thousand dollars and two Of five thous-
and dollars each.
Q. What reason did he give for not issu-
ing them in small quantities
A. He gave as a reason that it would take
up too much time; that he had not the cler-
ical force sufficient, and that he could not
do it.
Q. How long have you occupied this posi-
ton upon the Board of Administrators
A. For the last five years.
Q. Have you had settlements with the
previous Auditor?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How have you been in the habit of
receiving your warrants?
A. think Mr.. Peralta, the previous Au-
ditor, always issued them in sums of about
one thousand dollars-never more, to my
recollection, and frequently less.
Q. Why did you want warrants IN small
amounts?
They were more marketable, and would
command better price.
@. What difference was there in the price
of large and small warrants?
A. From five to seven cents, according to
the amount or size of the warrant.
Mr.. Semmes, of counsel: We have no
questions to ask this witness.
The examination Of this witness here
closed