The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-02-27
TUESDAY, January a7th. 1s74.

4
| The Police Jury adjourned until tomorrow
| at 10 O'Clock A. NJ.
TUESDAY, January 27th. 1874.
| The Police Jury met pursuant to adj djournment
Present: John Roy, President; TheOdule FOn
tenot, 4. G. Chachere, I. 8. Fonten0t and n
DllriO. " 1s5<
Attorney at the last meeting to prepare q me
mortal to the Legislature, suggesting and peti
tf0ning for apprOpriate legislation to diminish
costs IN criminal eases, and the Parish Attorney
having been called upon, reported tile following
draft of a memorial which was unanimously
adopted and signed by the Police jury:
TO the Senate and House OF Representatives oi
the state OF louisiana, in General Assembly
The undersigned, President and members oi
the Police Jury of the Parish Of ST. Landry, with
the concurrence OF their constituency, respect
fully ask that the taxpayers. of said parish be
relieved by appropriate legislation Of part .oi
the burden imposed on them by payment of the
enormous fees and costs arising from criminal
e TN ena they Fegsst saa
act to increase the salaries OF the SheriR and
Clerk OF the Parisho of ST. Landry, De repealed
in SO far as the said Sheriff Is pcerned
Further, that the fees of the SAID Sheriff be re-
duced 30 as to allow him the sum of forty cents
per day for maintenance OF prisoners, and that
his compensation f1sr nilags In criminal cases
' rs te same end they ask ask tilt ali Justices Of
the Peace OF the parish Of St Landry, be Invest
ed with authority to examine into, and to take
bond In all criminal eases In which the law adj
rnits parties accused to give BAN.
And further that all witnesses summoned to
Eftand theeOtlrts in criminal cases shall receive
no more than five cents mi1age In lieu Of six and
d quarter cents now allowed.
Your pefitfOncTs further requests that an act
be passed that the right of coInpuIsOry process
to cause the attepda daloe df Witnesses in the pre-
Iirninary ttQn Of Grim casea, except
said casea be capital shall he restricted to six
witnesses, provided that the prosecution and
defence shall each have the right to ssimnaon
that number, and provided fur ther that in case
OF che voluntary attendance of other witnesses
nf such trials, their evidence shall be heard, If
either party request 1T.
Y0nr petitioners further ask that Police Ju-
ries PC elnpow welea 20 levy ard assess lsIon tle
several parishes, their adv al0rfna proportion OF
taxes levied and assessed for the purpose of de
fraFtftg the expenses OF criminal prosecutions,
there being no reason why thia class Of eitizens
Of the several parishes should be exempt from
their due share OF this common burthen.
Your petitioners respectfully ask the fayura-
BILE consideration of the foregoing recommended
tIons which they have caused to be Incorporated
In drafts of appropriate bills fer said purposes,
and which tlsey have forwarded to their several
Representatives III the Senate and the Lower
House.
And asin tlaty bound they willever prays etc.
On motion af Mr.. TheDd1Ie Fonfcnot, the
Parish Attorney was instructed to Incorporate
the recommendations in said mRm0l1M into
said memorial TO Our Representatives IN the
Legislature without delay.
On nlOtfUn, tile Police jury adjourned Until
't''',''''s s. . JoITN ROY, Presidents
Attest q. .ssNd Alo Clerk &