New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-18
The Returning Board.

Yesterday morning, Immediately after
the board had been called to order, Mr..
Campbell, formerly chief clerk of the
board, appeared in answer to summons
from that body to give testimony in regard
to afidavits signed by Messrs. Levy, Haupt
and Fische, also formerly employed rs
| clerks on the board.
about the subject matter Of those aftidavits,
| he said his statement was contained in .
card recently published in city paper
Mr.. Campbell was examined by Mr.. Whit
aker with special reference 70 the missing
testimony handed in by Democratic-Con-
servative counsel IN the Latourche contest.
Mr.. Abel, the assistant secretary Of the
board, is charged, indirectly, with abstract
ing papers and changing returns. Other
charges have been made duplicating others
| connected with the board with sim liar
offsnsee, and the atfidavits containing these
charges have been published before the
accused parties have been afforded an op-
portunity to make any defense.
The object of the crossexamination was
to bring out something that would lead to
q reasonable suspicion that Mr.. Abel or
some Of the clerks at present employed by
the board have been guilty of doing some
thing they should not have done, in order
to promote the interest of political friends.
But Mr.. Campbell's testimony has not aided
in doing this.
Mr.. Steele, clerk to the board, was next
examined. He testified that it was his duty
to take possession OF papers after the board
was done with them. He sealed them up
and placed them in an armoir for safe keep
ing. He had been doing this duty since
Mr. Campbell left, which was about the
twelfth of the present month. He said he
was appointed as aclerk of tho board some
time before it's first meeting.
The evidence of Messrs. Campbell and
Steele proved that the protests and election
returns, when they passed out of the hands
of the board, were received by them and
placed IN an armoir for safe keeping; that
they were not taken to any other place, and
that Mr.. Abel had NO means of getting
them except through either Mr.. Campbell
or Mr.. Steele.
The attempt TO prove that Mr.. Abel, or
any one at present connected with the
board, have been guilty of sbstracting
papers or changing seturns has. therefore,
proved failure.
Mr.. Arroyo took occasion yesterday 70
make allusion to "the day of the big scare"
meaning the day when tho board ad.
jOufned in consequence Of information
received that mob threatened to alta ok
it-and fidiculed the scare as having been
got up without foundation for fear. He
also spoke Of the police that was stationed
in the State House, and in the halls leading
to the office Of the Returning Board. He
said he was actually afraid to pass these
men, lest in doing SO he should tread on
their toes, and. they, in turn. knock him
down or put bullet through him.
He wanted the police removed, as he did
not feel comfortable in their presence. and
did not believe there was any necessity for
them about the Returning Board.
President Wells said he would simply say
in answer to the gentleman's remarks about
the big scare"-that the inventor often
loses the benefits of his invention; meaning
clearly that the White keaguers had derived
no benefit from the Invention that was
clearly designed to create excitement;
cause fear by means of intimidation that
might. under misapprehension Of danger,
by single misstep, lead to serious conse-
quences.
Mr.. Whitaker asked permission to intro
duce rebutting testimony in certain con-
tested cases.
President Wells reminded him that the
board. by resolution, had notified co unset
on both sides that it had limited the time
for receiving testimony. This had to be
done in order that the work of the board
might be brought to a conclusion.
MIR. Whitaker reminded the president
that opposite counsel, at the last mo ment,
had filed testimony that was suscept ible of
being disproved, and that it was absolutely
necessary, for the sake of justice, that
Democratic counsel should be accorded the
privilege Of introducing rebutting testi-
mopy.
The president said he could not resist the |
persuasive elOquence of learned counsel. |
and therefore ordered that the testimony be |
received ard filed.
On motion, at twelve o'clock the board |
went into secret session and remained there |
until five o'clock, when it adjourned until
elev en- O'Clock this morning.
The following parishes have been finally !
passed upon by the board: Ascension, East !
Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Con-
cordia, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Catahoula,
East Feliciana, West Feliciana,
Iberville, Lafayette, Livingston,
Morehouse, Ouaehita, Pointe
Coupee, Richland, st. Landry. St. Mary,
Tensa as, TangiDahoa.
The Ames Church Festival.
Among the pleasant events of last eve
ming was the gathering at Ames Methodist
Episcopal Church. Entertainment vas