The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-14
THE HAWKINS INVESTIGA.
TION.
Worse and More of It.

Hon. Glenn. L. Walker, Member Impeachment
Committee, House Of Representa- ives, Louis
. lana:
Dear sr-In reply to your letter under dat
23d November 1875, asking tor such inform
alton as | can give in relation to the miscon
duct Of Jacob Hawkins as judge of the Supe
!; rior District Court, l have to state tina
, during the year 1872 was elected for tire
years the president OF the Loan and Ped
Association, corpor ition chartered b
act of the Legislature of Loui.iana Sub
sequent to the granting of the charte
the Legislature passed another act al
lowing the stockholders of the Association
to change its name to the Accommod atio1
b INK Of Louisiana. Some time in August
1872, all the stockholders, except F. c. Ma
han, voted or acquiesced in the acceptance o.
this change Of name, and as they represented
more than three-fourths of the entire stock
the Board Of Directors assumed to do business
under the name of Accommodation Bank, ana
In that name brought suit against F. G. Nj
han for about $500 which was due for money
loaned to him by the association. The suit
was tried before Jacob Hawkins, Judge OF the
! Superior District Court, and judgment was
rendered In accordance with his rulings Il
became final, execution issued, and the sheriff
seized and advertised property OF Mahan's to
satisfy 1t, but prior to the time fixed for the
sale, Hawkins granted an injunction restrain
| ing the sheriff from selling it, and thereby
prevented the Association or Accommodation
Bank from realizing anything On their claim.
About the time this suit was instituted,
Mahan was the owner of $50 shares of the
capital stock Of the association. $50 shares OF
which he pledged to Isidore Newman & Bro
for loan OF about $4,000, which Mahan
failed to pay, and Mr.. Newman sold his stock,
which LETT Mahan the holder or owner of only
10 shares, the par value of which was $500
Mahan purchased the greater portion of his
stock in 1871, with view and for the pur-
pose OF exciting himself President of the
association, but he failed to be chosen, and 1
was elected instead
For this he ever after manifested an en-.
nifty toward both me and the association,
and after he had thus realized about $2J, 900
out OF his effects and WAS indebted to me
Individually for over $1,000 and 10 the asso-
citation for loan of about 5000 and inter
est, for all Of which judgments were held
against him, he proceeded to carry out his
oft expressed determination to ruin both me
and the association by bringing frivolous and
vexatious suits. Although Hawkins was
thoroughly acquainted with all these fac IS, and
also Well knew that NJ ,han Was actuatsd only
by malice, he nevertheless encouraged and
assisted Mahan /in various ways In his pro-
ceedlngs, aud without in my recollection ever |
hearing and determining single suit which |
Mahan brought, he lost no opportunity to utter
f.lsehoods and ISLANDERS az ainst me. This |
state of affairs existed about eighteen
months the standing and business OF
the association had been greatly injured,
and L had been almost constantly kept at |
court. Among the suits which NIahan hau
instituted was one against the members of
the Board of Directors, as individuals, for
$40 900 as damages, on the plea that they
had loaned the moneys Of the association at
a less rate of interest than three per cent per
month, etc. In this suit, although the asso-
cation Was no party to it. Hawkins ordered
the seizure of all its books, money, pledges
and property; and, as am credibly informed,
at Hawklns's own suggestion, after Mahans
attorney had expressed the opinion hat no
law would warrant such a proceeding, and
that Hawkins had no jurisdiction over the
matter, it being solely between individuals
[m mediately after the Sheriff had obtained
possession Hawkins appointed a receiver
rom which appointment the association took
IN appeal, but Hawkins continued to allow
he receiver to proceed in destroying the
business Of the association and winding up
Is affars.
The association then made application to
,ond its property. This Hawkins refused to
How unless the association would give a
'ond of $50 900.
Finding the association could not give a
ond of $50, 900 within the time allowed, | |
rent to Hawkins In person and stated to him
ne wrong and injury his action was dong; !
nat the association Was without single
reditor, and that no one, not even Mahan,
lsimed or asked for anything Of the associa- !
on; that | was the principal stakeholder, and {
lat M han, instead Of having really any in {
rest at all in the association or against me,
as largely indebted to both, and for which I
pigments were held rs Hawkins we'll knew.
asked him what reason there could be that
lonld cause him to take such acourse toward
le association.
He replied that he did not believe the as
'ciation had done anything improper, ex-
pt in buying up its own stock, but he
i'd, had paid my money to support III 4jor
ev, rebel attorney, who had held him
p to ridlcule, and this was what got for it.
hat the State of Louisiana had got my prop
NV ana that could not help myself / re-
lied that It was true that the association had
urchased considerable portion of its stock,
At 1t was done at the unanimous wish Of all
le stockholders aud directors, tina. Lo one
ID been injured BY it; nor had any one, not
'en Nahan. com planned Of it, but that al
tercsted had been benefited, and were we'll
tished; aud, as to my employment of Maj or
CIV as the attorney of .the association, that
3 had been chosen long before Hawkins had
sen thought of as Judge, and simply on the
'ound that he was considered the best We
'uid get, and had continued to employ
m, as We had no reason TO change
II opinion Hawkins replied in
Try bitter manner, thaG I could easily
we Seen by his rulings that Major New could
me no good. Hs then said | had talked
IDLY Of HIM (Hawsnsl, ana had been before
e Senate committee then in session, to get p.
n lnpeacaei or his court abolished This
denied, although had made some inquiry
relation TO il. He tnally told me that if I
Is good business man I could easily see
.t there was but one way for ms TO ever re-
"a ANYTHING for my interest IN the Loan
d Pledge Association. which was to allow
n to appoint a l;quidator. and have all it's
9dg IS and effects taraed into cash and d. =