New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-16

cred Tor more Gnan TOUR months aIC6r warn.
An amount of $500 IS appears to have
first Of March, 1875. by q check numbered
;309 on the stub-book, and charged to the
interest fund of 1875.
This amount was paid back to the treas
ury in the following manner:
On March 81, by warrant No. 4426,
tor. .................... 900. $5OO w
On April Z. by warrant No. 1927,
Tor. oUU w
On April 7, by warrant No. 1871,
for. .................... JOO w
On April r. by warrant No. 5s3,
1Or..... ......... 90 w
On April IL, by cash deposited to
the credit Of the interest fund
of 1874. 1908 IS
Making total OF. SIS, 208 IS
The explanation given by the Treasurer
of the entries and cOunter-entries relating
to this sum Of SIS, 2O8 s. is unsatisfactory.
The following checks appear Oa the stub
book to have been drawn to the order of J..
H. Oglesby, Fiscal Agent, and charged to
the interest fund:
On the thirty first of October, 1874, check
No. 1858, for 10000.
On the thirty fret of October, 1874, check
No. 1857, for S25. 0OO
duce the warrants for the two checks above
described, was unable to do 80; but he i'm
mediately gave to your committee, repre-
senting the same as proper vouchers, two
checks drawn by him, az Treasurer, on the
Louisiana National Bank; both checks
being to the order of J. II. Oglesby, Fiscal
Agent, by him Endorsed in said capacity,
and properly cancelled by the bank. One,
check for SO, 000 was dated October "a.
4. fnr Ae<
October q, 1874.
Thus, in support of a payment of $35, 900.
on the thirty-hrst of October, 1874, the only
voucher produced is the evidence of other
payments made by him on the twenty
fourth and twenty eighth of the same
month. Your committee have since ascer-
tanned from the Louisiana National Bank,
that the check for s25, 900 was placed to the
debit of the State Treasurer, on the twenty
eighth Of October, 1874: and that of $4,000
on the twenty ninth Of October, 1874.
In answer to the inquiries of your COM
mi.tee with regard to this disbursement
of $4,000, the Treasurer submitted a
swor, statement made by him on the
eleventh of June, 1875, to l.. H. Gardner.
one OF the experts appointed in May, 1875,
to examine the Auditors books. This
statement, which is hereto annexed, and
the testimony taken by your committee
during Gnelr luFcstlAdtIou, uoVolOp tuo lOl-
lowing facte:
IN October, 1874, Governor Kellogg urged
upon the Treasurer the necessity of using
the State funds for the purpose of paying
the police: the fiscal agent of the Police
Board, j. II. OglesOy, declining to advance
funds to the extent Of the amount agreed
npon by his contract with the Metropolitan
Board Of Police. A copy of this contract
is hereto annexed for reference.
The Treasurer, at first, refused to comply
with the Governors request, subsequently
he seems to have yielded to the represen' a.
lions made to him by the Governor Of the
Importance and absolute necessity of pay
ing the police force; also to the strong pres
sure brought to bear upon him by the Gov
ernor and his friends to induce him to
consent to the diversion of the public funds.
Thus, in October. 1874, first advance of
$35 900 out of the State interest funds was
made, ss evidenced by checks Nos. 1852 and
1867. Further advances out of the same
fund were made in January, lS5-By
cash, from safe. $3.50 81: by check, No
IL, $l6,4 S9 49, These two last amounts az
gregating $4,000.
These advances. made out of the State
interest funds, was a direct and fragrant
violation of the law.
Following their investigation, your com
mittee ascertained that on the twanty-ttth
| of February, 1875, an an cunt of $751; 900 was
deposited in the treasury at credit of gen.
| eral account. Whence this amount was
| derived does not appear, as the entry is not
supported by any voucher or order from
| the Auditors office.
On the twenty third OF March, 1875, g
sum of 10000 appears to have been paid
| in the treasury without Auditors order
| and your committee was informed that this
| sum was the reimbursement in part of thu
| loan made to j. H. Oglesby, Fiscal Agent, al
| above related. Of this amount OF so, GOO
| $l9, 800. being q check from j. H. Oglesby
| Fiscal Agent, was deposited in bank to the
credit of general account, and 5000. cash
| retained in the safe. On the thirty.first o
March, 1875. check NJ 80 Of the stub book
for $4,000, was drawn in favor of P. f
| drawn $55.0O0 from the thirty-6rst o
| March, 1875, to tao twelfth OF April, 1875
on which latter date $55000 were paid into
| the treasury without Audito's order ex
| planat0ry of the payment, and deposited
directly to the coupon interest account O
No direct loss to the State can be traced
| from all these Irregularities, and in fairness
| to the Treasurer, your committee beg leave
| to state. the cash balance ON hand on thu
fret Of January, 1876, is in conformity will
| the books.
The investigation reveals, however, tn,
| start ling fact that the public funds hav,
been tempered with by the highest official
| of the State.
| The evidence shows plainly that q heavy
| pressure was brought to bear upon thu
Treasurer by William Pitt kellogg
Governor of Louisiana; by Henry c
Dibbls, Assistant Attorney Genera
of the State, and at that time
acting as Attorney General during the
absence Of the Attorney General; by Jacot
Hawkins, judge of the Superior District
Court for the parish Of Orleans; by Alfred
| shaw, the attorney of the Metropolitan
Board Of Police, and J. H. Ogesoy, the
Fiscal Agent, and that under their com
bined influence the Treasurer succumbed.
| But although your committee are in
/ clined tn look upon this pressure as pali
alive. to some extent, of the Treasurer
| conduct. vet they do not believe that he Cal
| plead it in extenuation Of his official acts
Were such o departure from the duties o1
| nnblic office cOuntenanccd, q dangerOu!
prscedent would be established that woult
open the door to violations of the law BY
unprincipled men, who would thus abus'
the discretion and power at their pleasure
Your committee, therefore, though satisfied
of the guilt of Antoine Dubuclet; believe hi
was handled as q mere instrument by thu
other parties, who were ready. if need be
to make him a scape-goat, and to cast upol
him the entire odium of the transaction.
Your committee have accumulated sniff
cient evidence to establish the fact tina
Antoine Dubuclet, who has thus dispose
of the State funds without warrant OF law
is less guilty than William Pitt Kellogg
the originator of the whole scheme; tina
Jacob Hswkine, the Judge of the Superio
District Court Of Orleans, who used his il
auence to encourage the nefarious deco
than Henry C.. Dibble, tho then actin
Attorney General, who advised the unlav
4 ~