New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-29
THE TAKING OF TESTIMONY
COMMENCED.
Terrible Details of Democratic
Persecution.
DEEDS THAT WOULD SHAME
A COMANCHE.
How it was Hoped to Carry Louisiana
for Tilden and Reform.

"
read and approved.
General Anderson rose to question o.
privilege. with reference to an Article IN the
Constitution, published at Atlanta, Georgia
charging that there were lrregniarltles or
the part of the board with reference to the
canva-s of Ds S,to on Saturday last.
The following communication was re
ceived by the b Jard and ordered filed:
The following document vas presented
and fled
NEW ORLEANS, November %, 1876.
Hon J. Madison Wells. President Returning Board
SrR-We, the undersigned. beg l.ave mos'
respectfully 10 state that the Hon George Il
Smith, Republican candidate for opSrese
in the fourth congressional district, has not
nor has he ever had, the returns of our
parishes in his possession or under his con
troll in any manner, shape or form what
ever, as represented by the Democratic
press and attorneys of the Democratic party
before the Returning Board.
T. II. HUTTON,
Supervisor Of Registration, Bossier parish
C. L. FERGUSON, De Soto;
A. w. CORNOG, Red River;
j. T. MORROW, Webster:
Elk. RUSS, Nstchitoohes;
b, w. WOODS, Rapides.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, NC
vember q, 1876.
f. A. WOOLFLEY.
Commissioner, United States Circuit Court,
District OF Louisiana.
Also the following communication from
General Sheldon:
New ORLEANS, November 2S, 1876.
Hon. J. Madison Wells, Chairman Returning Board
S1R-Act No. 45, approved March Is, 1876
extended the iur, sdIctlon of the Second Ju-
diciaI District Conrt tor all purposes, ex.
cent proba =, over the Sixth and Seventh
Munic Il Districts of the city OF New Or
leans, and iI terms provides for the elec-
ton of clerk for that court in said muni-
cipal districts by the qualified electors
thereof. So much Of said act as relates to
the election of the clerk IN said districts ls
plainly unconstitutional. Article eighty
three Of the constitution says: THE clerks
of ths district courts shall be elected by
the qualified electors of their respective
parishes" That this means that all the
qualified voters OF the parishes shall have
An opportunity to vote for clerks is too clear
to req nire argument. The Legislature can
not change the requirements OF the constl'
tuition.
w. G. Mcconnell was candidate for
clerk OF said court, and was voted tor all
over the parish of Oileans, as the const itu-
ton provides. This was done advisedly,
and because his friends believed the con-
stitution required such action. His COM
petitor was voted for only in the Sixth and
Seventh Municipal Districts.
w. G. Mcconnell insists that he is en-
titled to have all the votes cast for him in
the parish of Orleans counted tor him.
1t is clearly the duty of the board to
count these votes and leave the question. il
there be any doubt about it, to the decision
of the court having jurisdiction. to be set
tied on contest l.. A. SHELDON,
The board occupied some time in open
session, and the u went into executive ses-
sion for the canvass of the following par
ishes and wards: The fourteenth ward of
the parish OF Orleans; the sixteenth ward
OF the parish of Orleans. At the conclusion
of which the board took up the contested
parish of Ouachita for the purpose OF tax
ing testimony.
Con siderable discussion ensued with ref
erence to ts king up the same.
Henry w. Burrell, colored, was intro
duced and sworn, President Wells admins
tering the following oath, on the Bible:
e'Do you solemnly swear that the statement
YOU are about to make to the Board of Can
yaseers all be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth. So help you
Godg"
The witness-I do, sir.
Judge Spofford-I desire to state that the
counsel v ho have the immediate charge of
this case, under tho belief that this testi-
lnOny was to be taken before commits
slOner, are now engaged in that business,
aud we have sent tor them and their
examination be delayed until they have
got here. 1t was entirely unexpected
that this would be taken up to-day,
there has been so much misunderstand-
ing. Our witnesses will be here in
few moments.
President Wells-We will proceed until
your witnesses come.
Judge Spotford-And will yon allow me
to crOss.in terrogate the witness!
Mr.. Morey-I shall object to that. Under
the twenty four hour rule you must furnish
us with a copy of your CROSS -lnterrOgato-
ries. That time has passed and We have
not been served, and we shall object If
they are brought before the board.
President Wells-f you are not ready we
must go on,
anime the witness!
President Wells-If Won have delayed
your rcrcss-interrogatories
General AndersOn-lf your crOss-lnter.
rogstories are here we will PROFOUND
them.
Mr. Morey-Ours were propounded and
copy served on the twenty y-sixth Of NOvem-
ber at P. M.
Colonel Zacharie-From our understand
ing, We thought it was thoroughly under
stood that all the examinations we're to be
taken before q commissioner, and we had
made preparations accordingly; and all our
papers are now in the hands OF the gentle
man.
President Wells-In the meantime we
will 20 on with the examination. Ipresume
there are other witnesses.
Colonel Zacharie-It is impossible for us
to comprehend the testimony without the
presence of that gentleman, in order that
he may hear the testimony.
General Anderson-Will your croes inter-
rogatories be responsive to those here!
Colonel Zacharie-My impression is that
they will be. You have copies OF them, MIR.
Morey7
Mr.. Morey-No. sir. None have been
served upon us. We were not apprlzed OF
the appearance OF counsel until yesterday.
MIR. Bnrke-I am informed that the party
who served the interrOgatories on Governor
Kellogg stated that he said that he dellv,
cred them, and that he Governor Kellogg
threw them aside, and said that they were
and he would pay no atten-
ton TO them. Carroll johnson is the name
Of the messenger who served them.
MIR. Morey-Do you mean to say that The
c-oas -;nte erropatories were with reference to
this witness!
General Anderson (readi1g) -Iaterro-
paso1ies TO be propounded to Henry w.
Burreli
President Wells-This witness is before
The board at the request of the board.
Question-Where do you live, ana where
have yGu lived the present year!