New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-04
WI h0 He Is.

KNOW something about the man Barrett.
whose name has been telegraphed from
Washington occasionally in connection with
Louisiana politics. We copy the following
from it's issue OF November 2s:
The New York World Of Wednesday last
devOtes much space to the consideration of
affairs in Louisiana. and makes an especial
point to impeach Judge Durell, about
whom SO much has already been said. To
crafty its spite against Judge Durell and
all who act with him. the World publishes a
letter addressed to District Attorny Phelps
by one John +. Barrett. Jr., in which the
last named person prefers all manner of
charges against Judge Durell and his
then proceeds TO explain that Barrett was
one of the workers for Kellogg, and init
mates that he is q high toned gentleman.
who knows all about the inside workings of
the Kellogg "ring." It appears to think, in
fact, that it has d;scovereda political mares
nest, and that the testimony of Barrett is
all that is needed TO establish the infamy Of
Dusell, Norton and all who have been
associated with them.
remarks, cditorially, that at seems there is
an effort making TO get the Louisana i'm
brOgliO before the courts in this city. Nor.
ton, Judge Durells assignee in bankruptcy,
threatened to have Mr. Barrett indicted for
libel tor his attacks upon Durell, both in
letters and in his testimony before the con-
gressional committee This threat coming
to the ears OF Barrett, that gentleman sends
letter to the district attorney of this
county, urging him to assist in obtaining
the Indictment. We have procured copy
of this letter, and publish it elsewhere.
commencing it to the special attention Of
all who wish additional light Oh the Louis-
ana infamy."
II will be noticed that the World speaks
OF Barrett as that gentleman" He Is no
gentleman. He is a thief, both by nature
and by practice, and his testimony is utterly
valueless. In Albany Barrett is pretty we'll
and lied about-and they are numerous
here-would like to have him put in an ap-
pearance in Albany for q short time.
Let US give leaf from his history. He
first came to Albany in the campaign of
1868. in the capacity of q stump orator for
the Democratic ticket, representing that he
had been colonel or lieutenant colonel Of an
iowa cavalry regiment during the war.
That representation was undoubtedly q lie,
Having plenty Of brass and cheek, he suo-
ceeded in inzratiating himself with some of
the most prominent Democratic politicians
in the city, and was finally given a position
as copying clerk in the Office of the Super
intendent OF Public Instruction. From that
position he was subsequently discharged by
Mr.. Weaver, the Democratic superinten-
dent. for theft. Mean while he had pro-
cured money and other valuable things
from various of our citizens under false
pretenses, and for some time after his dis
charge. before his character was fully
known, he prayed upon our citizens, and
also upon those of Otner localities.
Other incidents in his career in this city
we pass over, for the time being, because if
they were mentioned they might bring
shame to other parties. He was a thorough
going confidence man, representing himself
at times as y lawyer accumulating large
lihrery, in order to obtain credit for books
which he afterward sold at auction; at other
times a. one of the editors of the Argus;
again as confidential purchasing agent of
the State Department OF Public Instruction.;
and yet again as gentleman of leisure and
means, owning large and valuable landed
estate in Iowa. OF course all these state
ments were lies. but he made money by cir
cu!ating them.
Albany finally became too hot for Gen
eral' Barrett. and he went to New York
where he continued to practice his little
games, and tried to get something to do
under Tammany. Not succeeding as we'll
as he anticipated. he became q violent
Radical, and finally brought up in New
Orleans, where be was used, in small way,
by Governor Kellogg. His pretentious claim
that he defeated the admission Of Pinch
back to the United States Senate is absurd.
Such il characterless fellow as he is not the
kind OF a man TO have influence before a
legislative COMMITTEES.
And nov We adviss Barrett to clean up
his own record before he assals that of
other people. We also advise the World to
look = little more closely after the char
actec of its witnesses before it makes SO
much OF the III.