The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-13

A Mystery UnsOlyed.
He is Reported to be Alive.

| Inc mysterious disappearance of Judge
Macarthur, about seven weeks ago, owing to
the high state of political excitement then ex-
listing here, did not produce such profound
sensation as it otherwise would have DONE
cipal Court brought him in contact with hun
dreds of the people of the city, and he was
therefore widely known.
/ The circumstances surrounding his un-
looked for departure into another or perhaps
different portion of this world, left no clue
by which to trace his steps, and since the day
he was first missed up to the present time
the police have not reported any successful
result of their search.
About two weeks ago it came to the ears of
a BULLETIN reporter that if call was made to
q certain lady living on Canal street, some
startling facts relative to the causes of Near
thurs disappearance could be ascertaiued.
On learning this, a visit was at once paid
to this lady, and from her we cleaned the
following facts:
| Macarthur, for some time past, had been
living with colored woman named Louisa
Williams on Rampant street, in concubinage.
They had never disagreed, but for some reason
the woman became exceedingly jealous of the
Judge, and being q firm believer in the efficacy
of Voudou charms and fetish spells she had
recourse to those old negro queans who make
a trade of this catering to the superstitions
of the ignorant.
Strange looking objects began to be found
about the Judges room. Little black collins,
old teeth, hairy shapes and other like orna-
ments of the trade were found in his pillows
and on the window SILL He thought little of
this for a long time, but the frequent repeti-
ton of these presents at last had the desired
effect, and the Judge became moody, despon-
dent and morose. From the commencement
of this, which was about six months ago, up
to the time of his disappearance, the Judge
had become SO singularly bewlldered by
these tricks that he believed fully that he was
under some spell. His health became poorer
and his mind was to noticeable degree un-
settled.
| When the reporter had learned this old
story of Voudouism. he at once set to work
to get, if possible, at the bottom of the mat
ter, and next interviewed an old colored
woman who occupies a little shanty on Ram
part street, just below Customhouse, who is
an intimate friend of the woman Lou Will
| liams.
After being invited into neatly furnished
room, with cheerful coal fire burning in
the CRATE and brisk little clock ticking
away on the mantle, the reporter thought
that he must have gotten into the wrong
place, but the colorod woman soon made her
appearance and seemed ready to answer any
questions.
| She said that she had known Lou for long
| time, and that she was an Industrious, hard
working woman. She was exceedingly fond
of Judge Macarthur, and would work night
and day for him. When the Judge was first
| missed Lou Williams was very much excited,
but in less than eight hours she was very
lively and appeared to have received good
news.
Upon being questioned, Lou stated to this
old woman that the Judge was all right, and
that she had received letter from him. Since
that time she has stated frequently that she
receives regularly notes from him, and that
he is we'll.
| Making an appointment with the woman to
have Lou at her house last night, the reporter
withdrew. On the following evening an in
terview was had with Lou Williams and she
seemed entirely willing to tell all she knew
about the matter.
| Judge Macarthur she said was not dead
He was at no great distance from where she
was sitting, and she heard from him aim ost
every day. "You'll see," said she, "he'll
come out soon and you'll see him for yourself
Why he is staying away SO is his business, but
he amt crazy" She denied that she ever ad-
ministered any vegetable drugs to him, and
smiled when the subject of Voudouism was
brought up. She asserted positively that she
had seen him since his disappearance and
talked with him, and that he looked WELL
Although after a critical cross-examination
this woman contradicted herself in some
minor particulars, in the main she repeated
her story several times without material varia-
ton. Of course, it is impossible to say how
much credit ought to be placed in all these
statements, for it may be that the woman
Williams is playing some role of her own, but
it is enough to raise grave doubts as to Judge
McArthur's death.
No unknown body has been found in the
basin, river OF swamps since his mysterious
absence that has not been identified, and it
would seem that if he had come to an un.
timely end, some tidings of his body would
be learned.
CoTTToS AT AUcTIoN.-Messrs Nash &