The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-07
CVsTOMUOUsE NOTES.
Reconstruction Of the Grand Jury-Ths
IrOn-CIad oath and Philanthropy.

RecOust ructiOn Of the Grand Jury-Thc
IrOn-(lad oath ana Philanthropy.
The crowd gathered in the United
States Circuit Court room yester-
day was about as large ms
that Of the day previous and
consisted mainly OF the same parties.
Judge Woods assembled the bench
promptly ut eleven, ordering the
Jury in the case OF Mary Lott
vs.. the Louisiana State Lottery to
be called. The foreman having
stated that after "a violent discussion
the Jury had been unable to agree, Judge
Woods, with consent OF counsels in the
cases, discharged the jury from attend
ance upon court until Monday.
The talesman summoned Wednesday
to complete the Grand Jury were then
called, as follows: Edward Page, Chas.
Cavaroc, w. q. Elliott. Porel Potter, X.
b. Baquie and Morris Schooler all
answering to their names. save Potter.
dispensed from attendance by Judge
Woods, on account of the serious illness
Of his mother. The Grand Jury was
then called eighteen members answer
ing to their names Mr.. Edward Page
begged to be excused from service as a
grand Juror. on the ground that he was
not citizen OF Louisiana, but OF Massa-
chusetts. He was excused by
Judge Woods, who then ordered
the clerk to read the oath prescribed by
law to the jurors. The oath having been
read. Mr.. Cavaroc declared himself un-
able to take it.. and was discharged by
the Judge Mr.. Schooler. after carefully
reading the oath, arrived at the same
conclusion, he having helped to equip
military companies during the war he
was also discharged. leaving only
Messrs. Elliott and Baauie. colored,
who were both sworn In, Mr.. Semmes
Directing TO the mode Of completing the
Grand Jury. The Grand Jury being, in,
complete, the District Attorney asked
an order upon the Marshal to summon
the talesmen necessary to complete the
panel Marshal Packard was sent for
and instructed by the judge that the
order was returnable at o'clock,
the court then adjourning and dismiss
ing the Grand Jury until that hour.
Alta quarter past one o'clock Judge
Woods reopened court, and called Tor
the additional talesmen summoned, the
following gentlemen answering to their
names when called: Silas Weeks, Cyrus
Bussey, JOS. Dessommes and Il. n. kuss;
After questioning these gentlemen ana
reading them the prescribed oatH, uHuoi
section $40, II. S., the oath was admin
istered to all save Gen. Bussey, who,
y after carefully reading the oath. de-
clared himself unable TO take IT, me
provisions for disfranchisement therein
contained are so sweeping that the Gen
eral felt that his humanity towards
Confederate prisoners during the war.
to one Of rhom he gare his last shT Z,
might be construed, under the statute,
as giving aid and comfort to the rebel
lion, and therefore begged to be excused.
Judge Woods accepted Gen. Bussey g
excuse and discharged him.
District Attorney Beckwith then pro-
posed that the jury be sworn. in as
formed. Upon being called, eighteen
Grand Jurors answered to their names.
Mr. Semmes. on behalf Of the defense,
objected to the parties sworn in being
made portion OF the Grand Jury; the
learned counsel in an elaborate argu,
ment quoted law and precedents to sus'
tain the position taken by him, that the
GrandJury could not be completed In the
manner suggested by the District Attor
hey; that all could be fixed by the Judge
Diminishing the present jury and causing
new one to be summoned. de was