New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-26
JUDICIAL CORRUPTION.

plRTI AL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. VihhNAf'I'7
M BANKRUPTCY CAsES-DUREILs FAMOUS MID
-it NIGHT oRDER-Ius IMPEACHMENT PROBABLE
800, rms REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNE'i
W.suISGroN Feb 22.-At the last meeting oil inc
Ropse Judiciary Committee, the testimony III INC
Durell Impeachment case taken IN New-V'lo""S
during the holiday recess by Messrs. Wilson aho
Eldredce having been printed, was referred paoA ~
those gentlemen to be digested. They VIII propsoS
prepare draft of report and submit II u '"0 N'i-
xnittee within q week or two
. The subcommittee during the ten days they speht
S New-orIsans were very industrious. They calico
before them great number Of the leading lawyers
oS the city, of both parties, who practice III Juoso
Turelrs court besides many other persons VINO We're
Intimately acquainted with the Judges persoha ana
,ocaI habits or who have had business IN his court
aud the testimony, which covers more than 5Oo
pfinted pages. contains on every foho evidence OF
The thoroughuess and impartiaty of the lnVestisa-
ton.
The inonirv was directed TO discover three things
Tho first was the manner in which the Bankruptcy
act has been administered in Louisiana by Judge
Durels court and its officers; second, what are the
Judges personal habits and what his treatment OF
the members of the bar who practice before ms
court and third what were the circumstances under
which he issued his famous midnight order for the
SEIZURE IF the State House, and by which he over
threw the legal State Government of Louisiana
matters more or less related TO these three topics
The testimony in regard TO the administration of
the bankruptcy act is very vOluminous. The orders
AZ the oourS appointing Mr.. Il. Il. Norton official
assignee in every bankruptcy case and the subse-
ouent orders 70 protect him In his exoroltant
charges. have recently been printed In THE
TRIBUNE. Under these orders Nj Norton's manage
rncnt has been most outrageous. He got possession
&c al tbe assets of every bankrupt, whether an adj
L. IA l,,.t1 ,oo tors or mot
and his charges were of such exorbtant character
n m almost every to absorb the entire amount
OF property which came into his possession. He
.tnployed counsel at exOrbitant rates, paying to
nnrle attorney from $4,000 TO $4,000 year, and,
OF course added this amount TO the expenses OF
administering bankrupt estates. He made an agree
ment with c. L. Grardey & Co., auctioneers, to
rive them the business of making sales of property
TN condition that they would return to him one-half
Of the commissions, and from this source he re-
teiyed between June 90, 1858, and April so, 1872,
e24lG2 in cash. In all cases where Norton
sold OF private sale lands subject 10 the mortgages
thereon, under the order of the Court and
by authority Of the 14th and goth sections of the
law. no himself retained the entire price received
without ever filing any account of it. These sales
N the mortgages have been simply private bar
rains by which he has under the Hlea OF providing
Tor expenses always exorted the largest sums pos
nblc and IN the deed of the property which he has
Kiven he has generally named $40 as the sum re-
teiyed when numerous witnesses testified that they
had paid him $500 $1,000, $1,000, and even 5000,
and that he had demanded larger sums than
these. 4 single example viii illustrate this prac-
lice:
Mr. John r. Wyche became bankrupt and de-
hyered TO the assignee a plantation on which Mrs.
peorles held a mortgage for more than its value.
,ro,,, % W nrioSns 10 orraOOe the
Possession Of the estate of Mrs. Peoples. He first
attempted 10 learn from Norton, and Stone, hs at
honey, what amount Mrs. Peoples would have to
pay 10 get possession of the property. Thefoliowing
u an extract from his testimony:
~ was two years before could get them TO namo any
definite amount. 1 therefore had to bide my time;
finally they sent for me- and asked that should name
the price that would pay proposed the SUN of $26Co
lhal would pay the agent OF Mrs Peoples In order
70 have her claim suhstantated and the property sold
aud bought IN Mr.. Stone laughed at the proposition
and that would not psy The costs OF the court
hat It would not begin to do It, and that he could not
lbink Of that while he was disposed to AID ana ASSIST
me yet the costs OF the court must be secured think
before the conference with Mr. stone 10 end he
rad that would take s75O and grant clear title TO
abe property said that 1t was Impossible for me 10
raise the other $50, but that would try; Il went ou
and spent about trying 10 raise $3.50; then went
10 Mi Some after had succeeded IN raising this amount
Of money and asked hiu 10 tx mp the papers, and that
uen we would 20 aud take dinner; when the amount
Of $275O was mentioned, nc said that was not the
amount he had asked that was entirely mistaken;
insisted that that his agreement, but he would not
lake the money | remained here a few days and We
met AGAIN by accident when the subject talked
over and finally said that il would raise 5000 he
would see that the papers were fixed; went around
again and did raise S. coo and went back TO Mr.. Stone
be proceeded then to fix up the documents, aud when
saInc to the question costs he sand "YOu misunder
nf knrfn
are only included in this contract, the
entire expenses said l. In the name OF
God can you expect 10 bear everything 2" he said
there Gen. Heron the marshal, aud Mr. Ptkn, the
register whose accounts would have to he settled
"wel" SAYS after hesltating, let me know what the
amount bills is :; he went IN and brought Mr.
Prkn's bill Of $3.50 asked him # that was all he said
Gen Herrous account a. United states Marshal
shout the amount very good" says i, " fix up
papers and will pay the money - the papers were
then fixed up and he discharge TO the prop
erty and also receipt for $40 and costs.
O. How much money did you payI A. 1 think 1920.
q And TOR that payment did You gets A.
received tbe uue TO that property-at least, Mrs.
Peopee received the title TO the properly subject TO the
@ la Other words. she took the property subject to
her ow n claim against IT, and in order to get you
paid for her about t3.2oOl \. Yes.
q What evidence given you a. to the moneys YOU
paidi A. Nothing mat receipt OF and the title
10 the property.
= Where IL that paper A. have got it home l
think II Is on record IN the courts Of my parish
Al least q witnesses testified 10 similar proceed
ings to these.
Judge Campbell formerly of the United States
Supreme Court, gave the following testimony in
gard TO the sale of the New Orleans, Mobile and
IeXas Railroad last Spring: .
Y Since you were examined before, order has been