New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-29
The Returnin9 Board.


The Returning Board, yesterday, was
called to order at half past eleven o'clock,
by President Wells, who instructed the
secretary to call the roll. Messrs. Ander.
son, Wells, Casanave and Arroyo answered
roll call. The minutes of the previous
day were read and approved.
Mr.. Wells read q note from Mr. Ray ask :
ing q further continuance of the Carroll
case, in consequence of his being compelled
to attend the Superior District Court. Mr..
Ray stated in his note that he desired to be
present when the Carroll case was taken
up. as he was counsel in the case.
Mr.. Arroyo opposed the further postpone.
ment of the case. He said there were a
number of witnesses present, and unless
they could be examined at once the parties
in hose behalf they are to testify might be
deprived of their testimony.
Mr. kenner appeared and took his seat.
President Wells decided to take up the
case at once. Counsel for Mr.. Ola, as well
as Democratic counsel, were anxious to
have witnesses examined by the board be.
fore taking up the returns from the polls.
but as the president had already ruled in
the matter differently, on motion OF MIR. An.
derson a vote was taken to determine how
the board would proceed with the case.
The result of the vote was that the board
determined to pursue the course suggested
by the president, namely: To commence by
taking up the returns from the polls in Car.
roll parish. beginning with poll No. |. and
canvass!ng them.
Mr.. Kenner asked if there was any one
present to represent Mr.. Benham. He said
he did not see either Mr.. Ray or Mr.. Lowell.
Upon further inquiry the board was III.
formed that Mr.. Lowell was attending the
funeral of Major Mckay, and that Mr.. Ray
was compelled to attend the Superior Dis.
trict Court.
Mr.. Kenner was opposed to proceeding in
the matter in the absence OF counsel for Mr..
Benham.
Mr.. Arroyo still persisting in his efforts
to have the case taken up Immediately and
counsel present insisting upon that course.
the board decided to pursue it, and com
menced with an examination OF the returns
Of poll No. |.
Judge Sloanaker, General Chester, Col
onel Zacharie and NJ. Whitaker appeared
and opposed the complement Of the returns
from Carroll. There are five polling places
in this parish, and the returns of each. as
they were canvassed. are pronounced fraud
ulent and ''doctOred' in favor of Mr. Ben
ham by Judge Sloanaker, the leading
counsel in behalf of Mr.. Ola.
In substantiatiOn of these charges. nun
Der OF sworn statements were submitted
some of them read to the board-and one OF
the commissioners of election testified that
his signature to the returns from poll No. j
was a forgery.
As the proceedings had before the board
| in regard to this case have been thus far
entirely or partc, 1T is hard to say what
counsel for Mr.. Benham will have 10 say in
answer.
When the board had finished the canvass
| and received such testimony as counsel. In
behalf of Mr.. Ola, were ready to give the
| further consideration of the case was post
poned in ordered to allow Mr.. Ola time to
have the testimony of witnesses now in the
| city taken in writing before some person
| authorized to administer oaths and take
| testimony.
When counsel for Mr.. Ola have completed
| their case. 1t is possible that counsel in be-
half of Mr.. Benham will have something to
| say. Then, and not till then, can the public
expect to hear both sides of the Carroll
contest and not until both sides have Deen
heard can decision of the Returning Board
be reasonably looked for in the matter.
Shortly after the board had determined
to suspend the further consideration of the
Carroll contest in order to allow written
testimony TO the taken, Mr.. Ray appeared
and looked over the testimony already sub
mitted.
In consideration u che suspicious that
had been aroused in the public mind re
garding the returns from l. stayette-said
susplcions being very naturally engineered
by the .upposItior. IN the absence OF ans
knowledge OF their whereabout, that they
we're being tempered with-thc board de-
termined 20 travel out Of it's prescribed
course OF taking up the parishes alphabet
cally. by taking up these returns. and caa
wasting them at once.
The returns from the parish Of Lafayette
were then taken up and cauvassed. Thu.
work consumed good deal of time. occu-
pying the attention OF the board from Que
O'Clock until four. The number If regj.
tered voters in this parish is 1880. vote
polled 1911, of which Mr.. MoEcure receive. j
9.6 and Mr.. Dubuciet $50.
On motion 'he board Adjourned un,.l
Monday next at eleven o'clock.