The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-07-23
Lynch Law in View Orleans.

ring. HAVING succeeded in nCarturnin9
| the legal Government Of Iouisiano nv
the use of United States troops sun
piled by President Grant, are now en-
gagged in an enheavor to muzzle the
press. Not satisfied with obtaining II, |
.tlie important Offices in the State in de-
| fiance Of the popular vote. and secur-
/ ing the manipulation of the public
funds, the representatives of the AID
minstration in Louisiana are striving
to terrify into silence such newspapers
| in New Orleans as dare to object to
the manner in which they execute their
villainons designs against a subiugated
and helpless people. This is but pat
ural, for free and independent press
has always been the most effective Toe
TO usulpers and public enemies. and it
is dreaded accordingly by corrupt men
everywhere.
Judge Hawkins, of New Orleans, one
of the members of the fraudulent
Board of Canvassers which pretended
to count in; or return as elected to va
rious Offices, the Kellogg candidates at
the last election without having any
votes before them to count brought an
action for libel against the PicaYnno
for lis comments On The laW!es5 as
sumptions of that spurious board,
which it charged with perjury and per-
fdy. The defendants claimed that
their structures were fully justified by
the facts, as they were prepared to
prove. The case was brought TO trial
before Judge Lynch, who had been de-
teated at the polls, bnt had been fraud
nlentiy returned as elected by the aid
Of the same man, Hawkins, who came
before this spurious Judge Of his own
creation to claim 100000 damages for
the aSpers!ous on his character put
forth by the Picayune. The propgiety
of such Judge presiding in such Il
case must be obvious to the most COM
mon understanding.
The defendants proposed to prove
, that Hawkins did violate his oath and
betray the people, by showing the man
Her in Which the pretended returns
were made up. Judge Lynch would
not allow their witnesses to testify.
, They proposed to examine Hawkins
himself, but Judge Lynch would not
permit it. They wished to put the
principal defendant on The stand, but
; Judge Lynch overruled them. Judge
, Dibble, one of the counsel for Hawkins,
was put ca the stand as Il Witness for
the plaintiff, but when the counsel for
the defense wished to integragato him
concerning matters in regard to which
: Hawkins complained that he had been
libeIled, Judge Lynch ruied ont the
questions. The same outrageous rui-
ing was shown throughout the trial
and finally Judge Lynch announced
that the defense Was taking up too
much of the time OF the court by argu-
lug on the admiSsibility OF evidence
and notified the counsel that 10 fur
| ther argument would be permitted on
| that point. 4, last tie case was given
to the Jury, all evidence as TO the truth
, of the charges against Hawkins having
been rigidiy excluded. Six of the iu-
rols we, G ignorant negroes who prob
ABLY had lis clear an idea of law as
they have of the nature of pure nlath-
F ematics. These negroes when the jury
first went out were in favor of award
ing Hawkins $4,000 damages. Bat -
, notwithstanding the fact that from the
time the Jury was impannelled its mem
bers were beset by employees OF the
Custom House and followers Of Hawk,
ms, it was a long time before they