The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-17
The Journey Of Antoine, Lowell and Des.
lOnde TO New York.
They Want Bonds Issued in Lieu of what
they Claimed to have Funded
while Absent.
A Little misunderstanding about the Mat.
Deslonde Captures $50, 900 in Bonds from
Clinton and won't Disgorge.
Kellogg Threatens Criminal Proceedings.

The BULLETIN opposed from the very begin
ming the funding scheme for the reason that IT,,
bill creating the Funding Board placed in the
hands OF the members thereof the unrestrainef
power OF binding upon the State the responsible
lty OF settling at the rate Of sixty cents upon the
dollar any amount OF such Illegally issued bonds
and warrants as the funding officers, from any
motive whatever that might actuate them, should
see proper to fund.
We dwelt largely upon generalities touching
an act which appoints board to determine what
shall, and what shall not constitute the indebted.
ness OF the State, but specifically with the fact
that the act creating the board makes certain
State officials members of it.
The very character borne by some of these
Officials implied, in our estimation, that the
power vested in them would be exercised to con-
summate the veriest frauds, and how far these
misgivings have been realized, we now p-opose
to show.
1t will be remembered that, some two months
| ago, we charged that the original manuscript of
| the bill creating the Funding Board on file in the
| office OF the Secretary of State had been tam
pered with, and differed materially from that
promulgated in the official journal
It was ascertained that the phraseology of one
of the clauses had been greatly changed, the
object being, as was subsequently disclosed to
admit of the funding of a certain class of out
standing obligations, such as the Pnckney Smith
vouchers, certificates Of indebtedness, etc. We
were hardly prepared, at first, to believe that
the bill had been thus interpolated; hence, with
view Of ascertaining definitely, called upon Mr..
Deslonde, and requested him to produce the
original.
This he did not do, giving at the time some
rather lame excuse. Thereafter we persistently
importuned him to show the bill, until. eventually
he asserted that he could not produce the manu-
script, as his attorney had instructed him posi-
lively not to do go.
Upon that we became convinced that our infor-
nation was correct and that the phraseology of
the bill had been changed, for the purpose, too.
above recited.
Who did this we are not prepared to say, but
that it done is an incontrovertible fact, and
let those to whom circumstances point relieve
themselves from any connection with this piece
Of handiwork if they can; our duty is to disclose
these transactions as far as our knowledge of |
them extends, and we mean to do it.
Of one thing we have received definite infor. !
nation, and that is, that there does not exist |
perfect accord among the members OF the board |
relative to the manner or character rather of it's
This can be better illustrated BY |
reciting certain transactions which took place
asst summer, and which are of character cal
,ulated to revive damaging suspicious when
coupled with the stories of the interpoated docu-
nent.
Last August Dubuclet, Antoine, Lowell and Des
onde, constituting quorum of the Funding
Board held secret meeting, of which none of
he o;her members Of the board had any know-
EDGE whatever. At this meeting there was
passed resolution to the effect that an Office
or the board should be opened III the city of New
FORK.
Thither repaired Antoine, Lowell and Deslonde
hortly thereafter, ostensibly for the purpose of
ttendlng to such matters as they claimed re.
uired the attention Of the Board in that city
they appear to have lost sight Of the fact that it
equi1ed four members of the board to consti-
ute aquorum; however, these tn ee worthless de-
arted armed for the transaction of business,
nd to business they accordingly applied them
elves
During their short sojourn in the great metrop-
lis they claim to have funded State obligations
0 the amount of about 100000.
About three weeks ago meeting of the board
'as held, at which ons of the trio who had flown
. New York with such alacrity produced the pro- I
es verbal, showing that the obligations funded !,
y them had been destroyed and requesting j,
hat bonds to the requisite amount be issued in
abstraction thereof
member of the board being much amazed at
en- the said obligations destroyed, to which the
able Secretary replied he had not seen them
estroyed, but the other members, Lowell and
ntoine, told him they had been, and Of course it
as fact.
The law imperatively requires that members
gning their names to a process verbal, setting
nth the destruction Of bonds, must know from | :
,tual observation that these bonds were actu-
ly destroyed. Deslonde had inadvertently
nitted t. conform to thit specific obligation, yet
3 considered it all right.
Antoine on entering the room was asked if he
Id seen them destroyed, and replied 81 can
Ike an oath before any court that they we're all
estroyed," not admitting, however it will be =
,served, thas he had actually seen them con-
gned to the 1ames.
The manner of this trio was 80 very suggestive
at certain member of the board remarked,
am willing to do some things, but cannot b
rec to carry off red-hot stove" This i'm .,
les considerable q,
There ls more war in the camp relative to IS
other affair, which has created not little stir,
ID which may yet eliminate in the institution =
ansmitted eighty bonds, Of one thousand dol
Is each, to Kellogg and Derlonde to be signed,
use in the regu ar course of funding
Deslonde appended his signature and then
luested Clinton to sign them and return them
him Deslonde). This Clinton refused to do,
lereupon Deslonde retained possession of the
tire lot refusing emphaticalIy to surrender /
en-.
Kellogg eventually came to the rescue. but
slonoe, even under this PRESSURE would sur In
lder but e.half of them retaining forty
,usand. Evidently be desires to keep them to Je
isfy in part the obligations which he claims A.
re destroyed in New York. Al
lie maintains bold front, and clings with won
full tenacity to that forty thousand, despite -
eats Of criminal prosecution which Kellogg
repeatedly made.
wi
he New Louisiana Remedy for coughs, scro. Fl
!, ETC., from our swamps is attracting much W.
ention. 1t is strongly recommended by great
nbers of our citizens.
he Chinese have names which correspond 4
frequency with the Browns and Smiths of -