The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-22
Durell, Kellogg and Norton
The Bonds that Unite Them.
The Loot Of the Bankrupt

We can only surmise who the Washington
correspondent of the New York SIN is, but he
certainly evinces remarkable knowledge of
Louisiana affairs, and especially Of those three
worthless Durell, Norton and Kellogg.
In his letter under date of the 10th inst,
from which we have before extracted, he shows
what influences were brought to .bear to pre-
vent the impeachment of Durell, and points
out very clearly the very great interest taken
in the matter by Kellogg and Norton. What
he says in regard to ''Norton's merit and
wealth is rather an underestimate
In expressing an opinion and belief, founded
upon an intimate knowledge of facts. that the
Administration at Washington had exercised
its influence to prevent the impeachment OF
Judge Durell at the last session of Congress, L
did not say that other influences had not been
exerted to the same end. purpose now to
give the readers of the Sun some further in
formation ON the subject.
As the judiciary Committee Of the House
based their recommendation that Durell be
impeached, first, upon his maladn inistration
Of the bankruptcy business Of his court, and
particularly his order Of November, 1867, de-
signaling one E. f. Norton as the custodian
secondly, upon what is popularity known as
his midnight ORDER which had for its effect
to overthrow the government Of Warmoth
and to set up that of Kellogg, it is obvious
that the these two men Norton and
Kellogg deeply concerned in this move
ment against Durell and to save themselves
from sharing his fate, should it eventuate in
his conviction and removal from Office, would
resort to any and every means likely to defeat
the measure.
It must be perfectly clear that Norton and
Kellogg are SO involved with Durell as to make
it necessary that their decapitation should
follow his In fact they are the principal
persons who have profted by the illegal
mittee concede j., their report that the charge
made against him of having improperly pro-
cured money by means of his judicial Office is
not sustained by the testimony. Both indi-
viduals having been placed in the positions
they now'hold by means of orders issued by
Durell, which orders are held to have been
unlawful, it would seem to be unavoidable that
their tenure of office should cease with his.
Norton is even more deeply interested in the
defeat Of this Impeachment proceeding than
Kellogg, for a large portion of his gains as
general assignee in bankruptcy consists Of
real estate in Louisiana and elsewhere which
despoiled, and it is certain there would be no
end to the suits that would be instituted
against him for the recovery Of the property
and fees he has unlawfully taken.
NORToNs MINT.
The sum Of these gains it is impossible for
me to estimate with anything like an approach
to accuracy, because l have no data upon
which to base it. / doubt if his own books
would show what his profits have been. The
Judiciary Committee say in their report that
the property administered by Norton since
1867 g amounted to over three millions
of dollars = that he has been custodian
in 1900 cases in bankruptcy :" that
his charges were outrageously extor-
tionate, and seem to have been generally
framed to absorb the estate" The lawyers of
New Orleans familiar with Norton's transac-
tions estimate his gains to be upward of one
million of dollars. My own estimate is not so
high. think half million nearer the mark.
But it is evident that whatever may be the
amount Of his riches he has gathered enough
in Louisiana to enable him to make pro-
longed and obstinate defense, and as this
prosecution of Durell is virtually prosecu-
tion of Norton, OF course it is his interest to
resist it, and his friends say that it has already
cost him nearly one hundred thousand dollars.
This money has doubtless gone into the
pockets of lawyers in or out of Congress, and
of others having influence.