New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-23
Court items.

OK guilty against Alexander Newton fol
murder. It is understood there was mucl
difficulty in the juryroom in agreeing on al
unqualified verdict. and that, if possible. &
majority would have preferred to be dis
charged without rendering any. Blu. wher
Judge Brsughn appeared go decided il
agreeing with the Attorney General tha
The jury should remain locked up unit
they did agree. and stated that court woulG
be opened each morning for their benefit
conclusion was quickly reached. A: half
past one the jury we're again brought il
and Newton placed at the bar before them
Judge Braughn cautioned all in the court
room to refrain from demonstrations of an
KIND, no matter what the verdict might be
AS Mr. John Schellang. the foreman, an
e"ered the question whether the jury had
agreed the courtroom was painfully quiet
and the answer ''Wo have" took many tJ
surprise. The suppressed excitemen. be
came intense as he took from his pocket thu
indictment and handed it to Chief Clerl
Fitzpatrick. who show wed it first to the court
Newton was quite pale, but collected anG
calm. The finding was slowly read, and
seemed to startle both Newton and The
silent listeners around him. He shrunk 8
little as If receiving blow as the nnquali
he'd word guilty was said. and Mr.. Luzen
burg Immediately asked for polling of the
jury. Each one. some less firmly thar
others, answered that it was his verdict
Judge Braughn then discharged Mr.. Pete,
Metzger. OF the regular panel. whose name
was enormously printed John Hculgrave
in the court record. and dismissing the jury
remanded the prisoner to await Aentence.
The discharge of the grand jury after
hearing the usual report ended the June
special term. The report has the merit OF
being little less lengthy .han its precur.
sOrs, and makes suggestions for the benefit
OF pubic institutions. which would be OF
value it there were any prospect of their
being adopted. The actual business Of the
term has resulted in true bills for murder.
): granddaughter. 2; EN- bezzlement, 1; per
jury, Z: bribery. 6; accessory to embezzle.
ment. ]: extortion under color OF office. =:
mlsd demeanor in Office. .; false imprison-
ment, ?; assault and battery. ,; crime
against nature. la total Of thirty -four in.
dictments. The report states that thirty
three witnesses were examined in en-.
dsayouring to reach the truth on the ap-
preparation bill matter. but before the
bottom Of the we'll was reached it was dis.
covered no bill existed. the original having
hon c%ola <ho .,f b.,
OF State. A natural regret for the in
sufficient means Of preservation of the
archives Of the State follows. = queer
of the duties of the
judge Of the Superior Criminal Cour:
is shown by the request that his
"infuence will be used toward repeal
ing the law organizing the Metropolitan
Police. and the passage Of such a law as
would place the police under the control of
tho city authorities, as in every other city"
Judge Braughn's opinion on such matter
would be needed by any one interested. but
at present hs is an hOnored cxpounder OF
laws. and not lobbyist or legislator. and
all his time and talents are expended in the
to the great advantage Of the
public. If there were any possibility Of his
the suggestion Of abandoning this
field of labor. an energetic protest would be
filed lnstanter. The report also finds fault
with other laws, but address the complaint
to nobody in particular. Nearly all the
subjects discussed have been spoken OF be.
fore. several times before, and therefore
can not DO claimed for them.
But Superintendent Loan is honored with
= neat compliment to Offset the remarks on
the police. Judge Braughn is thanked. and
20 are Chief Clerk Fitzpatrick. Sheriff Fa-
gan and his deputy. Mr.. Thomas. Judge
Braughn then dismissed the gentlemen, and
,ilded their departure with the happiest
;erms he had.
The case OF the State against Auditor
Clinton came up yesterday in the Superior
District Court. with an imposing array of
counsel and about six cubic feet Of account
,ook.. Attorney General Field being
pressed by the extraordinary demands on
lis time. was assisted by Hon. K. H. Marr.
!. .. A. Fellows, Esq. and j. B. Cotton,
LsHs NilulOu " as AePASeChtSu W ASoAs
I. j. Semmes. Hon. Albert Voorhies and
,harles S. Rice, Esq. The books were piled
- in the witnesses chair, but never gave
nv testimony. Colonel Field. after discov.
ring the defense had filed answers to both
riglnal and supplemental petitions. and |
hat the books were present, declared tha: !
9 was not prepared for trial. and moved |
Or jury. Mr.. Semmes objected to having |
jury ordered, as the pleadings did not
all for one. Judge Hawkins signitied that
Q should sustain that objection. Mr..
emmes considered the State was not enti.
ed to a jury anyway. that the question
as one for the court, and not for collec.
on of gentlemen less prepared to decide
Colonel Field argued that this
as a suit on the conditional obi.
,tion of a bond. and therefore there
as the right to a jury. He asked to
mend his petition and pray for one. Mr..
,mmes said it was too late. The case was
the preference docket, had been contln-
d, an exception had been taken and
yned, it was too late for amendment and
9 defense was ready and anxious for trial.
consultation then took place and Colonel |
cid said he would take q non suit and
gin again. Mr.. Semmes proposed a
ecial Jury of merchants and all counsel
reed to it. Messrs. Semmes and Voorhies
en- stated the case to the court and Judge
.wkins said he would order such jury
len he was shown the law authorizing it.
;. Mari read the statute relative to special ,
les in Orleans. but the court stated that
Y and the decision cited did not apply to
, case as it then stood. Each counse.
empted to convince the court that they
I'D agree to it but signally failed. Mr.. t
Irr desired to except to the ruling of the a