The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-24
The Raid After Berlin.

The following statements of Mr.. Avegno
and Capt. McCanu, relative to an affair
which occurred on the late raid after Berth,
will be read with interest. We give both
sides Of the question.
John N. Avegno says that about half past
10 o'clock, on the night of the 22d of May,
as he was walking quietly on Carondelet
Walk, near Basin street, in the Second Dis
trict of this city, he was suddenly approach
ed by person, who leveled pistol at afr
ant, and ordered him to stop.
Affiant then retreated to the corner and
took refuge from those advancing. He
further states that he repeatedly called for
the police for help, whereupon Capt. Nc
Cam, Sergeant Gray and another officer pre-
tended to come to atlantis assistance, anil
ordered him to keep quiet, and further,
that he, afiant, did not know what was
going on. Mr.. Avegno further says that the
officers were abusive, and arrested him on
a charge of disturbing the peace.
This arrest was made with unnecessary
violence, and affiant was treated as a COM
mon criminal. He further says he pointed
ont the officer who levelled pistol at him,
but Capt. Mccain refused to arrest him. He
further charges that Capt. McCann felon-
ously arrested him whilst he was claiming
the protection of the police, and charges
Capt. Mccain, Sergeant Gray, and another
officer, with conspiracy and an attempt to
assassinate him, and further he charges them
with brutal conduct.
Statement Of Capt. McCann.
On Friday, May god, about $50 P. NJ,
received information as to the whereabouts
Of Berth and Bordelais, who had lately es-
capped from the Penitentiary The parties
from whom l received the information
told to call at my Office at 6 P. NJ. They did
call. l then made a detail of Sergeants
Gray, McManus, Malone, four privates and
myself.
We then proceeded to Palmyra street, be-
tween Tonti and Rocheblave streets, to the
house of one Bertrand, where Bordelais had
be- n employed as painter.
We found the information was correct.
then found a boy in bed in this house who
had taken note from Bordelais to woman
Peter streets. then started to the above
place with the detail and boy arriving
at Congo Square, asked the proprietor OF
the coffee-house at that corner to furnish
me with a lantern to search the premises.
which he did. Before going upstairs sta
toned an officer at each corner, with in
structions to permit no one to leave the
buildings whom they did not know, until
came down stairs.
Whilst searching the rooms up stairs
heard noise on the street, and thinking
ttnvy hol lad; IL.
We were in search Of hurried down stairs
with my force. To my great establishment,
l found one of my Ulcers had detained
man who gave his name as AvegnO, who
was very much excited. The officer re-
ported to me that he, Mr. Avegno, came out
Of the bakery adjoining the building we
were searching.
Finding Mr.. Avegno very much excited l
told him to keep quiet and allow me-
chance to say a few words in quiet to him,
and that would satisfy him that the officer
was correct in hating him, which he refused.
| then told him to keep quiet, or would be
compelled to arrest him on the charge of
disturbing the peace. He continued his
noise on the street, and was arrested by
Sergeant Gray.
Mr.. AvegnO had tumbler in each hand
in the cotfee-house at the corner of st.
Claude and st. Peter >streets, which the
proprietor took from him. l then again
asked him to let me say few words to
him, and l would convince him that the
officer was correct in what he did, which he
refused, and stll continued his noise l
then told him that he could tomorrow
(meaning the next day. go to the Police
Board, the Grand Jury, or to HI, as he
thought best; that my name was Mccain,
Captain of the Police.
He then told me he didn't give d-n
for me. then called my detail of men into
the square when he was arrested by Ser
geant Gray. The noise and interruption
caused by Mr.. Avegno tended much towards
obstructng the objects Of our expedition,
for the reason that the house we We're
searching was occupied by the mistress of
Berlin. w. MCCAIN,
2o4 Melpomene street, corner White.
Available Ran L iur 1 a uit al IF VovU Arlnouc