New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-28
DEMOCRATIC PARISH CONVENTION,

DEMOCRATIC PARISH CONVENTION.
seventh Dav.
When this convention adjourned Tuesday
evening the general impression was that
but little trouble would be had in electing
two cOrOners, but it proved to be q mistake,
for an entire evening was consumed in
nations were announced as in order the fol-
lowing names were showered down on the
secretarys desk: DR.. A. Chastant. j. G.
Roche. ]. Frye, w. j. Boylan, w. II. Wat
kins, DR.. J. C. Beard, j. NJ. Cullen. w.
Bailey, Jr., DR.. j. N. Fslwell and Dr. s. r,
Chambers, all or either of them perfectly
willing to fill the position Of coroner for the
upper municipal districts.
Before business was commenced it was
found necessary to close the doors against
the rsbble, which required the appointment
of many sergeants alarms.
During Tuesdsy's proceedings. when the
balloting was for criminal sheriff, Mr.. Law
Ter withdrew the name of j. E Guillotse in
favor of Mr.. Houston. Yesterday, Mr..
Lawler was called to account for that ac-
tiop, and was asked why he had done 60.
Mr.. Lawler stated, in open session, that he
had been duly aut horized to do so.
He had barely uttered the assertion when
Mr.. GuillOtte took the floor and fatty en-
neuuced that such was not the case, and
sent the chairman the following letter:
Gentlemen-I,t the undersigned, hereby H.
form you that did not authorize any per-
son to withdraw my name as q candidate
for the position of criminal sheriff in favor
Of James D. Houston or any other can
didate for said position; and further, that
did not authorize any person to make any
compromise on my part.
This left the question of veracity between
Messrs. Guillotte and Lawler, but as the last
named did not furnish his authority the
public sided with Mr.. Guillotte.
Mr.. Barnes, third ward, said that, accord
ing to these statements. it was evident that
there had been NO election Of criminal cher
if in Tuesday's proceedings.
On this the opponents of Mr.. Fitzpatrick
raised such . confusion that nobody could
be heard-certainly not understood. That
faction called lustily for nominations ter
cor0ners.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick was on the foor and be-
gan to address the chair, asserting that
fraud had been praotioed in the voting for
criminal sheriff and that he could prove it.
All he asked for was fair play.
The president piled his deafe ming gavel
| and mixed voices shrieked all sorts of
| words.
In half an hour bit of quiet was re-
| stored, when the chairman ruled that
nothing WAS in order excepting nominations
for coroner. This caused another outbreak
confusion worse conf ounded. Finally the
list of candidates was read, and before
many wards were heard from it became
evident that the battle was between DR.
Chsstant and Mr.. Roche, as the others foand
no friends. Before the vote was announced
several wards changed their votes, the
changes favoring Mr. Roche. The secre
tary WAS instructed to call the vote, and
the chair announced that Mr.. Roche had re-
ceived 40h votes; DR.. Chastant, 39la.
motion was then made and carried to make
the election unanimous.
The shouting for Roche was tremendous
stopping further proceedings for the time
When order was partly restored, MI
O'Brien, president. stated that the secre
taii.s did not agree in their tallies. Jus,
then, both the aspirants appeared on the
floor, and the buzzing sounded like young
tornado. Motion on motion was made, al
without feet, 40 dozen or more delegates
addressed the chair in the same breath
none of the motions we're entertained.
Mr.. Payne eventually succeeded in oh
tanning q hearing, and stated that he hae
voted for DR.. Chsstant, and consideret
that, ss the vote had been formally ar
nouuced that Roche's election had beel
made unanimous, the convention could not
! as had been proposed, 20 behind that action
This little speech caused q general out
burst, and all business was suspended TO
the time.
A voice: 1--WE will soon need coroner
official services if this rumpus continues"
A motion to adjourn met with emphati
nays.
During this confusion a delegate state,
that his deleg atoms vote had been recorded
wrong by one vote, but Secretary Schreibe
drew the deleg ate's own written ballo,
This did not ans wtr the delegate tfsvorin
Chastant), for he insisted that they vote
one more than was to their credit Th
chair here ruled that the secretaries ha
made an error in tallying. and ruled tha
another ballot must be taken, as the vote
was tie in that case-40h and 40l2.
This action redoubled the confusion
members favoring Roche trying to imp-es
the chair that as Roche's election had bee
made unanimous. and so declared by tn
convention, nothing could be done excep
to appeal from the chairs decision. Th
professed error being corrected, a propos
ton was made to call the vote as it thel
stood, which showed that Chastant ha,
39h votes, and Roche 3S14, Chastant hav
ing gained convert in the first ward.
The Roche party thereupon held that 39l
votes did not elect, as by right q msjorit,
of the convention was 40 votes. However
nothing came of that, as the chair ruled i
out of order.
A motion to adjourn for an hour met witt
grand majority.
On reassembling, the old question wa
taken up and the presidents last rulip,
was appealed from. The vote to sustain
the chair was "a; opposed, 50; blank. 16-
the entire convention voting. This sctiol
| elecfed DR. Chastank cnroner of fhe npne
districts.