The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-16
the statements and tally lists, but who has. or
have, distracted important evidence.

have, abstracted important evidence.
Mr.. Clay Knobloch, representing the inter
ests Of nseryative-Democratic candidates in
the parish of Lafourche, has made affidavit,
which he will file this morning, setting forth
the fact that evidence accompanying the re-
turns from Latourche are missing. The facts
upon which the affidavit is based are here.
with given:
That he framed protest of Airien Rogers,
Democrat, 9. S. Commissioner Of Latourche.
and drew affidavits in support Of protest. and
davits to one Murrel, Supervisor of Lafourche,
on Wednesday, 4th November, 1874. That
Murrel suppressed protest and atfidavits;
that Mr.. Zacharie filed Q second duplicate
original protest with accompanying affidavit
when returns from LatOurche We're canvassed !;
that yesterday in calling for all evidence on
file in the matter of the contested polls from
Lafourche, it was ascertained that the second
duplicate original protest and affidavits in
support had been distracted whom is
not known. Although Nj. Knobloch believes
Colin had hand in the business.
Mnrrel, supervisor, filed a protest against
Poll 3 Conservative polly on pretext that T.
J. johnson, candidate for Legislature, tam
in at the courthouse. Among many others, all
of whom corroborated each other, S. p. o.
Norris Republican Commissioner at poll 3,
and Alexander Barker, Clerk Of the Super
visor, made oath that the box was opened in
the presence of the three commissioners at
Murrels request that the returns and tally
sheets had been inclosed in the box, and that
johnson, at the request and under the I'M
mediate eye and supervision OF Murrel, made
out second tally sheet corresponding with
the one which had been handed in with the
box, and that johnson had not tempered with
the tally sheets on file, and had not touched
the returns. The stfidavits of Morris and
Barker are also abstracted. Strange to say,
that all the best evidence of the Conservatives
is distracted, and nothing remains but eyi-
dence OF secondary importance.
Tie president OF the board seemed very
much exercised concerning TIE disappearance
of these papers. and suggested thai they
would probably be found in some Of the
vaults wherein the returns had been kept.
This is not at all likely, as there is very good
evidence that they have been made away
with.
Here is startling disclosure. It shows
that Benham wants to serve his country in the
capacity of Representative, and is willing to
60 whole length to accomplish his object
The subjoined affidavit will be submitted to
the board this morning:
State of Louisiana,
Parish of Orleans
Personally appeared John w. Durkin. Jr.,
who being duly sworn, deposes under oath,
that on Tuesday, December 2, 1874, George
G. Benham, Republican candidate for the
State Senate in the Seventeenth Senatorial
District. approached deponent in the bar
room, No. As St. Louis street. in the city Of
told deponent that Ola. the colored candidate
in that district, had defeated him for the SEN
ate, and that he, Benham, desired to-havc
him, ella, put out Of sight.
Three days afterward deponent went to said
George C. Benham, on Charities street, within
forty or fifty yards below st. Louis street,
just outside OF the bird store, on the swamp
side of Charities street, and told him that his
pistol was in pawn for 50 80, whereupon he
handed deponent SIS, and told deponent that
was the nearest that he could make it. De-
ponent answered what do You want to get
ella out of the way for ? He answered, CHA
has been duly elected; but l will beat him if
money can do it. He then told deponent that
II u6 (ucpOucnU) "OUNV SCG via O'll VI LIZ
way. he (Benham) would give deponent 5000.
William Moran Of this city heard CONVEX
sation between Benham and deponent on the
same subject in the entry OF the S;ate-House.
Deponent than went and informed Ola of
these conversations.
(Sgned) JOHN. W. DUEK1N. JR.
Sworn and subscribed to before me on this
18th day Of December, 1874.
(Sgned JOHN LEMoNIEE, :.
Third Justice of the Peace Parish Of Orleans
SABINE PARISH
To-day. counsel representing the Con-
servative Democratic party. will offer the
following protest:
fcers:
The undersigned, as counsel for the Con-
servative Democratic party Of the State of
Louisiana, beg to present this their respectful
protest to the PRONUNCIATION Of the vote of
poll 4, Fort Jessup, parish OF Sabine. az now
canvassed and compiled by your honorable
board for this:
That the statement Of votes and tally sheets
are false, and the signatures thereto are
forgeries: that the original returns for this
pol! have not been laid before the board but
that fraudulent and fals.. returns have been
substituted therefor, except as to the CONSOLE
dateu returns ZOE tAc IitIIsL, WHICH, u;tNt Ooell
altered that at poll 4, Of Sabine parish,
there were thirty -four votes cast for Smith as
candidate for Representative to the General
Assembly, and forty-tour votes for Self
as candidate for the same position
but that the aforementioned fraudulent
substituted and altered returns show the woe
for such Representative to have been at said
poll Al votes for Smith and "a for Self; that
this wrongful and fraudulent tampering with
said returns affects the result of the vote OF
{ said parish as to Representative to the General
Assembly, and may wrongfully deprive said
Self Of his lawful election and give, illegally,
the election to said Smith.
And appearers are prepared to make due
proof of these averments.
&c. ZAcHAR1E
| WIN. Il. WHITAKER,
! CHAs. CAvANAC.
/ PETITION TO CONGRESS-.