The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-18
Outrageous and Unprovoked Assault
Upon a Citizen

scene of one of those disgracefnl transac-
tons which are of late becoming altogether
too frequent in our midst, and which are a
stain upon the fair name Of this community.
Such was the nnprovoked and brutal as
sault made by certain tax collector-one OF
Xellogg's pets Of conrse-npon Mr.. W. w.
King. a well known and prominent lawyer
Of this city, and one Of the Oldest and most
respected.
The matter was brought mp before Judge
Macarthur this morning, in whose court Mr..
King had made an affidavit against o. Della
houssaye, charging him with assault and
battery with intent to kill.
The gist of the testimony is as follows ::
Mr.. King declares that some time last Janu-
airy, he was informed that certain sugar
plantation, the property Of his brother and
himself, had been sold to pay last years
taxes, the taxes of all previous years hav-
ing been settled, and the sale being made
by o. Delahoussaye, a tax collector for the
parish Of St. Martin. Mr.. King, considering
the sale illegal, applied to the Auditor for
redress, who replied that he could do moth
ing for him, but that he must see the tax
collector Of the parish about the matter, re-
ferring him, at the same time, to Attorney
General Field, who in turn, directed him to
Assistant Attorney General Dibble.
Mr. Dibble told Mr.. King that it would be
advisable to get confederation OF his
statements in the form Of writing. Mr..
King then, by letter was informed by Ills
brother, that o. Delahoussaye, the tax-cOl-
lector in question, was in this city. Mr..
King sought him and requested him to
allow him to commit to writing the an
swers to the interrOgatOries, which he. Mr..
King, would put to him, having in view
simply to obtain a truthful statement OF the
facts relative to the sale, and thereby pos
sibly avoid the annoyance of law suit.
To this Delahonssaye objected strenu
onsly, and yesterday, while accompanying
Mr.. King to the Auditors office, for the pur-
pose Of inquiring further into the matter,
Mr.. X. again asked Mr.. d., in the most
polite terms, why he could possibly object
to giving written statement of the truth
full facts, whereupon the tax-collector ex-
in most irate manner: ado You
mean to insult me 7" and there and then
began his assault.
Mr.. King claims that Delahoussaye made
the motion and assumed the position of one
about to draw weapon and in court this
morning was produced one of those horrible
and cowardly instruments Of assassination
known as the gimlet knife, which was found
npOn the person of the tax-cO' lector immedi-
ately after the arrest which took place by
the timely Intervention of police officer.
The tax collector stated he had sold the
Of every person in the parish who
had not paid the taxes. Mr.. King further
stated that he had not controverted any
statement made by Mr.. Delahonssaye, and |
that no reasonable man would ever have |!
taken Offense at his request to have truth /
ful statement of the facts as to the manner
in which the sale Of his property had been
made. That he believed the prisoner made
he assault upon him to provoke difficulty,
lnder pretext of which he would take his
life, in order to prevent any investigation
INTO the illegality of his tax sales in that
arish.
From the above, it is evident the tax col
eotor had sold great portion of the prop
rty of the parish. He had purchased the
anne in the name of the State If the State
eceived the title, she was bound to pay him
is charges, expenses, etc.
II this he done by the State, the tax col
ector would realize very large sum on
ccount Of his illegal sales. The sales were
II made in the same manner as Mr. Kings .
roperty was sold. If he made statement
facts in one case, it would have covered
II, and shown the illegality Of his proceed
lgs under which he expected to receive ,,
lrge sum. Hence his reluctance and refusa
0 make any statement US to how he had '
lade the sale.
The following is the statement Of E. T.
ing concerning the sale of the plantation a
W. w. 4 E. T. King by 0. Delahoussaye, 9
TX collector for the parish of st. Martin:
Some time in the month of October hearing
lat Mr.. Delahoussaye was advertising and
,lling the plantations in the parish for T
lxes. | wrote to him by Mr.. John Tully II
nat l did not object to paying the taxes, t
nd that would call on him and pay them e
short time; that had always paid the
lxes, and had receipts to show the same, l
nd that l did not wish him to pnt me to Il
ny unnecessary trouble or expense. Mr..
nily brought me back answer that if :
ould send him draft on w. W. King, pay
BILE on LIST January, that he would accept
10 same.
did not send him the draft because I was $
repaired to pay him here, and was certain y
doing SO before January. Some time :
bout the middle of November, notice was
rived on me by Mr. Carln, of Bayou Chine. {
otifying me if did not pay my taxes in
N days, that the plantation would be sold :
n taxes. Before the ten days expired l I.
slied on him to pay the taxes, when he in
'rmed me that he had sold the plantation !
n the taxes and that il had haan hid II, ~ | l