New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-03

himself. 1he senators had assembled IL
the Customhouse prior to their departur
on the Wilderness, and were, he supposed
secreted there to avoid the sergeants-a at
arms Of the Legislature. The arrival o
some other members was hourly expected
and it was contemplated, when this should
occur, to Join the absentees make a quorum
and proceed to the decapitation OF Mr.
Pinchback
As to the history of certain check
drawn ON the Louisiana Savings Bank by
F. j. Heron, in favor of an unknown per
son and payable to bearer, John s. Walton
Administrator of Finance in the city gov
ernment, testified that he was present when
the bearer Of the check came in and de
manded to be paid, accompanied by Col
onel Field as her counsel, the bearer being
lady. The check had previously been
presented TO the bank and was certified,
but accompanied by instructions from the
signer that it was not to be paid without
his consent" When it had been certified
and handed to the bearer. and afterward
| presented, payment was refused as unac-
| l.
Heron, but the check was cashed on Mr..
Fields laying down the law to Mr. Walton,
that check payable to bearer and certi-
tied required no Endorsement to be paid
Mr.. Field knew the lady who bore the
check, but refused to divulge her name, as
| were the reasons, and no other, which
| prompted his refusal. The committee
| decided not to probe into professional
| confidence. Mr.. j. Seymour Walton, paying
teller. had paid the check. 1t had been
presented TO him. accompanied with the
above instructions, by Mr.. Van Norden,
president of the bank. 1t was an extraor-
dinary proceeding, he admitted, but he was
subordinate. one of whose duties was. he
answered in reply to question, .'to have
no suspicious Mr. Field stated in an
swer to interrogatOries, the bearer of the
check was not the wife of a member of the
Legislature. but declined to commit him
self as to her identity. Mr.. Heron had
funds in the bank, it was testified but the
paying teller did not know the precise
amount. only knowing that at the time the
check was certified, there was enough to
cover it. and that it vas drawn in the sum
OF $500.
Mr.. John S. Walton testified he had never
left in the hands of Governor Warmoth an
undated resignation" and knew nothing
about any other resignation OF the kind.
In relation to the charges of legislative
corruption, Mr.. c. w. Hawksworth, civil
engineer, was sworn. He testified that lit
was customary to pass laws having an in
terest in them through the Legislature by
bribery. He had promised bribes himself
in order TO secure the passage of legislative
acts ane he cited as an instance the ..act
for the relief of Ex-Governor Wells" where
that gentleman claimed about $4,000 from
the State TO remunerate him for cotton de-
stroyed during the war. He had promised
to give members an interest in this bill,
should it ever become a law, but it failed.
In the session of 1869 and 1870, they had
an office on Royal street, near where the
Legislature met, in which it was customary
90 off. The Wells act was Just one, and
failed because the friends of the bill would
not pay. Mr.. Wells himself "had promised
so much that there was nothing left
In a general way the witness testi-
fed it was a regular business. He
had been about the halls of the Lesisla-
ture. and had seen members paid upon
the floor of the House-nO secret made of it
at all. He swore he had seen them count
ing the money, and had been a witness of
its liberal use. He was closely questioned
as 10 the names of the members whom he
had seen with tlis money, but he could not
call them to mind. He was also questioned
as to the particular bills for which money
had been paid, but could recOlect but one
the Chattanooga railroad bill He was
closely questioned as to the amounts paid
to each-whether the Democrats ranked
lower or higher than the Republicans, and
which charged the most as to color, to which
he answered that the amounts varied all the
way from S. to $5OOO but he did not know
much difference as to color or party
The witness began TO detail the process of
enactment of the Crescent City Gaslight
lobbied to secure the passage of the law
by promising the members an interest in
the stock, conditional ON their vot-
ing for the bill. The act passed. !
1t provided for new company |
to take the place of the present gaslight |
company when the charter of the latter ex-
plred. There were corporators in the. bill |
who represented members of the House and |
Senate. He had received three thousand |
shares of stock himself, which he had sold. |
\ The testimony of Mr.. Mortimer Carr bear. |
ing on this point, about the Crescent City
Gaslight Company act. he being the next
witness called, was that he paid for the
stock in his name by check like man.
and paid up all dues upon it, He did not
recOllect any one coming to him with such !
a promise in reference to this or any other
BILL He knew nothing of the business
referred to OF obtaining the passage of bills
by corrupt agencies; and being asked as to
the interest of Mr.. Devices in the gas bill.
his friend being one of the incorporators
that Mr.. Devices could tell more
about it; he could n not say. Questioned as
to the amount of money he paid for tie
stock, he said he believed it was about
$500, drawn on the Merchants Bank, to
the best OF his recollection. Knew of no
bills that had been changed after the House
passed them; had heard it alleged bnt
knew OF no such transaction. Ga beinr
closely questioned if any one had ever