New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-19
sLAUGHTERHOUsE INCENDIARIsM.
Examination of Prisoners.

Examination Oh fr1SOneFss
The five persons who, on Tuesday last,
were arrested in Algiers, on a warrant
issued by Recorder Dumont on charge OF
setting fire to the Crescent City Slaughter
house. were examined in the Recorders
court for the Fifth District, yesterday
morning.
The names of the accused persons are
p. Lafon, Francois Courizan and Pauline
Courizan, his wife, Bertrand Andrieu and
Maurison Hypolite. j. P. Hornor, Esq,
appeared on behalf, of the SlaughterhOuse
Company, and the accused parties were
defended by ex-Recorder Gastinel.
At the opening of the case Mr.. Gastinel
moved the court to quash the affidavit, on
formation; whereas, an affidavit to be receiv-
able must be founded on direct evidence, OF
the personal knowledge Of the afiant. The
counsel said the charge being a serious one,
it was but right that his injured client
should have recourse for the damage suf-
fered in reputation and in various ways.
The court ruled that the trial should pro-
ceed. and the first witness, L. Clayland, was
called to the stand. Mr.. Clayland's evf
dence amounted to nothing by itself, but in
connection with the testimony of succeed
ing witnesses it was more significant.
Mary Jefferson stated that she lived in a
building in Magnolia Park, and her evi-
dence was entirely like was stated in the
report of the Slaughterhouse incendiarism
in Wadnesdavs REPITRIICAN
Thomas Plummer, popularity known as
old Tom, was next sworn. Tom is an old
cray-headed black man, of the unmixed
African race. His manner of giving his
testimony, and his answers to questions by
counsel on cross-examination, show him to
be remarkably clear-headed. His testi
mony corrOborated that of Mary Jefferson
with the additional testimony that Nine
Courizan had handed can Of coal oil and
a sack to somebody in the cart mentioned
in the evidence, after the cart was hltched
up. and shortly before it was driven down
the road in the direction OF the Slaughter
house.
Mr.. Caporal was next sworn. His evi
dence did not amount to much, being mere
| ly statement of conversations between
| him and Mr.. Lafon, one of the accused.
William Pease was next called to tht
stand Mt Pease is Deputy Superintendent
trict He stated that on Monday last h'
| was on Patterson street, in the neighbor
hood of Magnolia Park, at present kept by
Lafon, having gone to that neighborhood tt
| see about repairing the street. While there
he encountered Lafon, and happening II
casually mention the slaughterhouse, Lafol
at once excitedly answered: "Oh, Wen burl
! that vet" and sfterward he said, with al
| emphatic oath, "Oh, it will be burned yet.
| This comprised the case for the State.
| For the defense the counsel for the ac
| cused declined to call any witnesses. Mr.
| Gastinel made few remarks on the weak
ness of the case for the prosecution, sane
asked a dismissal. After remarks by Mr.
| Hornor. the court decided to send the par
| ties to the First District Court for trial
under bonds of one thousand dollars TO
each. The necessary bail was at once fur
| nished.
Toward the close of the examination, on
! of the accused, Lafon, bacame much eS
cited, and on the termination of the case
he made serious threats lat least the,
sounded seriousl against Mr.. Clayland, VIII
had made the affidavit against the parties
| This necessitated fresh affidavit agains
him, with consequent bonds to keep tn
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