The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-07-18
THE CLINTON CASE.
Fourth Day.

the courtroom was more pleasant. At 1920 tn
jury was brought down. They, like their prede
cessors of the Beecher case, begin to look slckly
| One individual in the middle Judging from ap
| pearances is in fair way ,rd suicide. HI
looked very weakly. The Auditor rushed in a
1910, and the mill was set in motion.
After the opening OF the case, the Attorney
| General read the opinion Of the Assistant Attor
ney- General relative to the legality of funding
| the Benham warrants. He said that he would
| read the letters to show that the Governor wa.
not as i'll in August as he had testified he was
1t was mere matter of memory.
The letter set forth the reasons in favor oil
funding the warrants, and stated that the ques
ton involved much time in the solution.
j. PInckney Smith was first called to the stand
Tor the defence was warrant clerk of the Leg
lslatuTe IN 1872. was warrant clerk of the first
Legislature after the war.
/ he act allowing the sale of warrants to pay
the per diem of members was read. There is a
difference between Pinckney Smith warrants and
Plnckney Smith YOU hers
The vouchers are from the committee, adj
dressed to me, and the fact that they are now on
the street dishonored is sufficient to show that
have not recognized them. The warrants are
drawn on the state Treasurer. The warrants
alone bear my sgnature-the Pinckney Smith
ton with them. / would like to make an expla-
nation with reference to these arIants hold in
my hand This is addressed to me, signed by
the Speaker, and was presented by broker after
the adjournment, and the broker: insisted
the Governor (Warmoth) insisted, too, and
wrote me; letter about it. All the warrants
bearing my signature were genuine. being
handed his warrant-book used in legislative
tmes.) One Of the warrants is 'as per House
resolution" another is for mileage and per diem
OF members. l have eX mined all the vouchers
offered 10 this case and found them all properly
entered in my book. The warrants were always
made payable to those in whose favor they were
drawn.
Cross Eran,jnation-I have examined all the
claims in til case.
dldn't issue a warrant for one Brown. Being
shown letter, says l think did issue war
rant for this to ID. W. G. Brown for vouchers
oy book doesn't show what it was drawn for. /
know personally myself; drew in 1870, or in
fact can not tell for | have not my book here
In 1871 drew $4,000.
he Brown warrant was for mileage, per diem,
etc / don't know how much of each. l was
under the control of the Committee of Contingent
Expenses of the House.
Dol. tield-I now put you on your guard, Mr..
Smith. want you to produce the resolution of
both Houses, on which you issued this warrant
Of $1,000. You owe it, sir, to yourself to produce
Mr.. Semmes objected.
The witness then went on to vindicate his ac-
ton Warrant Clerk at length.
was here in 1874, off and on. | did not know
that any 1870 warrants had been taken up and
paid until yesterday.
+. III. ech0ltZ then took the stand.
l filled in the body and then made out one of
,he receipts for the Benham vouchers in advance.
| he way we Cancelled vouchers was by piercing.
Mr.. Clinton did not know the Benham vouchers
we're presented; he was absent. l do not know
he pecuniary responsibility of Benham.
Cross ErUIn1ned-I made out one receipt for
'ouchers in this case. the warrant clerk knew
low to make out receipt. The reason l made
tut the one for him to copy from was that he
night know how to make che others. I often did
hat.
William Vigers here took the stand-I was
jlerk of the House from reconstruction to COM
promise. was not member of committee.
only know what they did from the record.
Cross Erdntned-I only know about Browns
ignature.
H. c. Dibble was called up. His reply to the
etter Of Clinton was read By direction of the
Governor l took the office of Acting ATTORNEY
feneral. Col Field sent for me and informed me
hat he was about to leave the State, and he |
wanted me 70 attend to civil matters. 1 attended |
meet ng of the Funding Board, several of them |
fter the departure of Col. Field. |
l was asked about certain matters by them |
ven when he was here. Under the letter they |
rst sent me did not act as Assistant Attorney |
ieneral. merely drew up the form of bond |
Or Mr.. Baldwin. After the 18th August, 1874, |
'as cent for. l went before the Funding Board. |
hey asked me about the fundablllty of certain
bligatlons. gave some opinion. remember
swing been present when Mr.. Clinton asked |
DOuJ UH6 D6DDhIn Warrants. L understood that |
ley were Pinckney Smith warrants.
Cross ErdBline1-I had not examined the |
ouchers before the Board when l expressed my
pinion. rely on the Sd section of the Funding
ct for my opinion that any Indebtedness could |
g funded. / do not recollect that I was in
ructed not to interfere with Col. Fields injunc-
Geo. Drury on tho stand
must have given a notice for the special meet
* of the Funding Board.
Gross ErGntlned-The meeting of the 28th was
called meeting.
Joseph Hernandez-I have been broker in
lis city for thirty years. The Pinckney Smith
arrants were worth, when issued. about 66119.
hey afterwards declined.
Cross ErdD1ined-I was very large dealer in
ouchers and warrants. l have got Pinckney
NTH warrants on hand yet l have held as
uch as $4,000 on hand at once. I got paid
Their selling thu m for premium or getting the
oney from the Treasury. l never knew Ben
I'M had 500 600.
Here the defense rested.
The Attorney General here offered letter to
he Auditor, but Mr.. Semmes objected.
At l o'clock a recess was taken.
After the Recess
he Jury came down, looking in some degree,
leiyed by the idea that nothing but the argu-
ent remained. District-Attorney McPhelin
,ened the case for the State, and lucidty and
early set forth the grounds upon which the
ate rested. He made quite an effective speech
Id referred to the sections of the law bearing
BON the barge. At the close of the District
ttorneys argument, Mr.. Semmes stated the
,fense needed now reply. Col. Fields stated
at he was entitled to the close.
There was battle between the Attorney Gen
al and Mr.. Semmes upon the question, and ex-
ov. VOORHEES, took part.
The Judge ruled that the State had closed ,
The District Attorney here, after Mr. Semmes
d stated that the opening was a trick, arose in ,
) seat and said that he repudiated the state
emit and the person who uttered it.
Col. Field left the courtroom in disgust and {
id that he would have nothing more to do with t
e matter He would leave with the community ]
e matter, and they could see how the case was I
There was evidenced bitter feeling on both
les, and at one time little set to was probable |
After Col. Field had left the courtroom Mr..
,Pheln remained, and the Judge made !. .
lgthy and very fair charge.
Judge Braughn in an elaborate manner spoke '
the several questions of law, and gave to the |
" full exposition Of the case. '
The court then adjourned until 7 o'clock in the q
aning. 8
At Hills, "Waltham" gold watches $50, guar !
teed.
The highest Endorsement as to the merits of
lrsdens Zarsaparilla is, that physicians a