New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-01
.UpERI0R DIsTRICr COURT.


SUPERIOR DISTRICT COURT.
! auditor Clinton ON Trial.
The second day OF the trial of Audito
Clinton opened about quarter OF twelv
! o'clock.
The Attorney General first called for sb
stub book sf the warrants issued on tn
voucher to :. W. Armstrong. He then sea'
the proclamation Of the Governor OF Jun
l9, 1873, calling on all persons holding Ger
tifcates Of the States Indebtedness to pre-
! sent then to the Auditor for yefification
and offered it in evidence. together with th'
! Auditor. report OF 1874. pages 80 to lOl, de
Ealing the uumbes examined and taeil
| value.
I Mr. +. Scholtz was then called, but Mr.
Semmss suggested Mr.. Lowell was thu
prope. witness, as tho defense had not fin
ished cross-examinipg him, and Colone
Field acquiesced.
! M Lowell on cross examination testified
| on the contingent expense voucher te
] Arustrong that he did not know the writ
| ing Of the body Of it but the signature was
thst Of Mr.. Matthews, and tho body ap'
pesred similar to it; thought it was signed
b.fore presented for his signature. c. E.
bowman was Matthew'S clerk. Don't
know who made the Endorsement on the
back. Except the cancellation, the memo.
randum of figures and the Endorsement,
the voucher is the same as when presented
for the Speakers signature.
In answer 70 Colonel Fields questions
Mr.. Lowell stated he had no distinct recol.
lection Of the peculiar circumstances of
signing the voucher; knew nothing Of the
Endorsement because it was made after his
signature. and did not recollect whether
Mr.. Matthews or his clerk presented it for
approval. It was voucher of March 5, 1873.
Mr.. Semmes offered Che voucher in evi-
dence, and Colonel Field objected on the
ground that the court was obliged to take
notice the session Of 1873 closed March 4,
and this was . voucher of March 5; that it
was warranted foy year after its issue by
an illegal warrant; that the Endorsement
was not proved; that John w. Armstrong
was the only person to whom the warrant
could be delivered; that tho Auditor was
not justified in paying any other person.
and it was not negotiable.
The court admitted the voucher. and the
Attorney General excepted.
Mr.. johnson Armstrong being sworn,
said there was no company in the title Of
his firm; that he did not know of any ono
named John w. Armstrong except book.
keeper whose name he saw in the directory;
that he had been stationer Of this city
since lS46; did not know all stationers of
the city, but knew there was none OF that
name; never heard Of any in 1872 OF 1873;
had supplied limited amount Of stationery
to the Senate and House. and never been
paid for it; also supplied other State officers
with small amounts; never asked about
John w. Armstrong. and first heard Of him
in the investigating committee; do not know
the indorsement on the voucher.
The defense had no questions to ask.
Mr.. J. w. Quinn testified he was Sergeant
alarms of the House during 1873; had
charge Of the supplies ON the contingent
fund, and obtained them from John w.
knew nothine of tho Armstrong
no Armstrong furnished any sta
.ionery to his knowledge; would have
Known it if he had; such bill was not on
;he memorandum book he kept.
Nj. Semmes saying he wanted that boob.
Mr.. Quinn stated it was private book. not
ecuired by law, kept by his clerk (Mr. Lip
hus), and did not contain an exact list or
ny cash account, but only such memoranda
# articles as he might forget. He could not
ell if it had been preserved. but it so wonld
roduce 10.
Mr.. Quinn further testified that all sta
ionery. coal and wood, etc.. the half dozen |
rushes included, must be received by tho !
who approved the bill !
efere tho chairman of the committee gave !
voucher. Nobody else but himself pus-
hased snch supplies that he knew Of, or in.
urred contingent expense. The signatures
, the voucher are those Of Mr.. Matthews
nd Mr.. Lowell; know nothing of the issue
it; never approved bill Of that amount.
! in the name Of Armstrong.
Ts Mr.. Voorhies--The total amount of
ationery for that year was between
4, 1000 and 10000; don't know if any other
mounts were paid out Of the contingent
md, or that others contracted bills on it;
on't know what the amount OF the fund
as that year. (
Colonel Field then offered the torty-nine
arrants paid by the Treasurer on the Arm.
rong claim, and Mr.. Semmes made no OBJ. |
ction az they appeared to be genuine.
hey are numbered 1871 to 2Of9, some num-
'rs being skipped, and indorsed J. w.
lmstrong s. Co., or John w. Armstrong, I
different handwrltings. Colonel Field |
He'd attention to the Endorsements, show.
e that they had been distributed in the |
'rious parishes. returned by tax collectors /
received for taxes and paid when the | ,
had been exhausted. The
dorsements of the Armstrong name were
identity forgeries.
Mr.. Semmes said the defense did not care G
nat the Treasurer had paid in. ss he vas :,
I included in the case.
It was agreed by counsel that all docu- q
,nts that should be fled should remain !
the custody of the clerk during the trial, '
in case of appeal the originals to go to '
. Supreme Court, each party fling Q se- q
pt for the papers withdrawn. II
Theodore Lipshuts, sworn-Nas clerk 9
the sergeant-at-arms in 1874 and secre- o
y of the special committee of that year ! b
pointed to investigate the accounts of the Ii
mmittees on Contingent Expenses of d