The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-14
Now Upon This!


translate the following editorial and submit
to our readers without comment. 1t speaks
for itself: it is a sweet morsel
Mr.. Atocha arrived here in the baggage
train OF Banks army, and as Provost Mar
shall he was one of the vilest Instruments of
that pro-consul. We remember that once
he summoned before him score of respecta-
BILE heads OF families, in order to com
pei them to act as managers of ball that
Banks gave at the Opera House, and to or
der them to bring thereto their wives and
daughters. When he was no longer Provost
Marshal, Mr.. Atocha, who was not at that
time a lawyer, played an equivocal part,
which we are at a loss to designate by its
proper appellatiOn. For a pecuniarv con
sderatiOn he undertook to procure the re-
lease of citizens imprisoned by the Federal
authorities, and to arrange matters general
ly. Later, and when military rgor had
somewhat subsidized, and this kind of bust
ness somewhat diminished, he opened ~ pri
waite Office where the people who had been
robbed and the thieves who had committed
the rObberies, could arrange for the return
OF part Of the spols
In this last mentioned business Mr.. Atocha
must have col lie in contact with majority
Of the evil-dOers who make New Orleans
their field of operation and he must have
obtained deep insight into the character,
the habits and the modus operandi of that
class Of people. Should he be willing to APP
ply that knowledge to the repression of
crime, it would certainly prove boon to
the community. But that he shall not spare
his clients, and that he is no longer the man
to compromise such matters, is what we
shall only know after his installation in
office. There is no incompatibility in the
position of an eX-defender Of criminals and
that Of a judge or public prosecutor. At
torney General Field has most Of his time
defended criminals and it will not be one of
the least curious features of the times in
which we live, to see at the head of crmi-
nal Justice the two men who have most con
tribnted to the rescue of culprits amenable
to the very authority they now represent.
But, as Judge of the Superior Criminal
Court, Mr.. Atocha will not only be called
upon to decide upon crimes against the
common law, but he will also, according
to the statute, pronounce on all otfenses
committed against or by the officers of the
State and city; upon all infractions of the
election and registration laws and upon all
offenses prohibiting unlawful assembages,
etc. The returns of election and registry,
instead of being made to the First District
Court, must, hereafter be made to the Supe-
rior Criminal Court.
Mr.. Atocha has only been lawyer for
few years, and he has not the reputation of
being jurlst or even a criminal lawyer.
He is, however, an intelligent man, who
understands several languages, and he would
not prove worse criminal judge than many
lawyers, if he took a conscientious view of
his duties and flied the place in an honest
and impartial manner. But we have the
right to believe and to say that his appoint
ment has not given satisfaction to the pub
lic and that Mr.. Kellogg has selected him
simply because he thought he had tou.d in
him a plant tool to carry his political
schemes
the character Of the nominations made
thus far by Mr.. Kellogg, and particularly
those made for the Superior Criminal Court,
are sufficient indication Of the kind he
will make for the city officers. The Con-
servatIves have nothing to hope from the
usurper; for he will always allow himself
to be governed by the interests of his party,
with which his own individual welfare is
inseparably linked.
Our non-committal contemporary, the
Times, of the 18th inst, INDUCES in the fol-
lowing bit of sarcasm, the adroitness of
which is perceptible:
The new Judge has, moreover, a thorough
knowledge of criminal law and clear,
judicial mind. In his present position he
will have an opportunity of earning the
confidence and respect of this whole CON-
munity. and we trust that his efforts to that
end will prove successful.
Beecher's congregation have definitely de-
cded to build new church. 1t is to cost,
with the land, 100000, and seat six thou
sand peOple.