The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-21
OPENING OF TME BALL.
The Indicted whisky Men at Ray-Tht
Ferenbach Men at'tine Vanguard.

After many long, pefplcXlnS anu coH
fusing delays the whisky prosecutions
by the Government yesterday assumed
a clearly defined shape by the impanel-
ling jury in the Ferenbach case. About
two weeks ago the offensive movements
of the Government were checked by the
sudden and unexpected bursting, in its
camp, Of the ring bombshell, pleading
against the validity of the Grand Jury
that had found the indictments on the
ground that many of its members had
served in, or otherwise aided and abet-
ted the late Confedcracy, and were,
therefore, disqualified from service as
grand Jurors. This much of their plea
was sustained by his Honor, Judge
Woods, but that portion which asked Tor
the quashing OF the indictments found,
and the discharge OF the entire jury, was
overrued All the members OF the
Grand Jury unable to take the iron
clad oath were discharged, and their
places filled by citizens possessing the
necessary qualifications. The GRAND
Jury thus formed proceeded rapidly to
find new indictments against the ac-
cused, and after delay Of some ten
days, the first ola series OF cases Is now
brought to trial.
The lobby was crowded after the
manner of our popular theatres on gaia
occasions, and inside the railing were
massed the one hundred additional
Jurors of the special renire. Still nearer
to the front were massed lawyers in
! l., Il thnvn indicted
whisky men and officials, OF the other
cases as well as OF the case under trial.
When the court opened there was evil
dent relief in all quarters at the prospect
of at last seeing the long standing
charges preferred against some OF our
leading and most substantial merchants
brought to the test Of q trial before a
Jury of their cOuntrymen. Several par.
Ties were arraigned on the renewal Oh
old indictments and gave bond In the
required sums.
The grand jury was then called and
afterwards retired to its room, accom-
panied by Assistant Attorney Gurley
| When it returned in the courtroom with
certain findings, which were entered on
the secret files Of the Court, Judge
Woods ordered the Marshal to finally
discharge it. The Government then
announced itself ready for trial. The
names of the petit jurors were called
and capiases issued for those failing tC
! answer.
THE FEHRENBAcH CASE.
The first case to be called. as agreed
on Tuesday last. was the Fehrenbacf
case, comprising Messrs. Edward Fehr
enbach, O. II. Karstendeik, John Nc
Whirter,, J. r. Beales,, Paul Bruce, Wm
NJ. Todd, F. Reynolds, and Chs. w
Wills. The above named gentlemen are
represented by Messrs. Semmes,. l. A
Sheldon, W. II. Hunt, VIM. Benedict, J
ID. Rouse and w. r. Whitaker. OF the
witnesses summoned by the defense thu
following are known: Messrs. Il. +
Jouhert, b. +. Flanders, +. Heath, o. G
Blandin, Thomas Carey, Nat. Burbank
w. +. Monk, +. Booth, Webster Long
r.. NJ Lusher, August Hoops, w: @
Kenet, A. NJ Moulin and r. G.. Pitkin
The case being now fairly reached
Mr.. Sheldon, of counsel for the de
Tense, asked which of the two indict
ments the Government intended to try
first. District Attorney Beckwith stateC
that he would begin with the conspiracy
case, but Judge Woods decided to TT!
the cases in their order on the docket
The conspiracy case being the first, wa
then set for trial, and the jurors called
G.. L. Esnard was the first juryman t.
answer to his name, and was examined
at some length by the District Attorney
Mr.. Esnard is a money-broker, speaks
French, understands English imper
fectly. and was excused on that scor'
by both prosecution and defense;
! VIM. M. Alternately was next called
up. Is a book keeper of the SINCE
Sewing Machine Company. Excused.
c. ID. Maginnis, the next juror, wa
excused for homage.
f.. w. Barnes, Superintendent Uniol
Telegraph Company, was excused, being
British subject.
w. H. Letchford is also British sub
ject and therefore excused
Jas. r. Flood, bookkeeper Of Sam
Jamison, lime merchant, was the frs
juror sworn in and took his seat in tn
box, Mr.. Semmes reserying the right t.
peremptoIy challenge when the pane
was complete.
VIM. Holland, fancy dry goods deale
and a member of the old panel, wa
sharply examined by the District Attor
ney as to his movements and converse
tons of Tuesday night, and finally rea,
to him the Confederate oath Tn
would-be juror answering in a satisfac
tory manner. took his seat as one Of tn,
panel, but with reservation of challeng
by the Government
JnO. ii. blackstone, a printer in tn
Bulletin office, had derived no impress
sion and formed no opinion as to tn
guilt and innocence of the accused from
the copy set in the composition room 0
the Bulletin. He was accepted. II.
Lacroix (colored), a member Of the oil,
panel, had formed no opinion and wa
accepted
Victor Darensberg (colored), caulke
and ship carpenter, knew nothing Of tn
case or Of the accused; cannot read no
write. Judge Woods stated that tn
bare fact Of not knowing how to read o
write did not operate as disqualified
ton. Accepted.
William Sarrazin; resides below AL
giers. Accepted.
Clement Buzet-excused; does no
speak English.
Thomas Mangin-knows some Of tn
accused by sight: has formed an opin
ion about the case. Excused
AlphOnse Drez, halter, was in Franc
during the war was born here; know
nothing Of the case. Accepted.
Henry Bacas, real estate agent, hat
formed an opinion relative to the Skin
mishing about the jury; was inclined
to believe the accused guilty. Excused
J. A. Adams, Professor in the Stat,
University; votes here; has been a resi-
dent of the State for two and a hal
years; has read the papers, but would
Judge from the evidence Accepted.
JnO. A. Stevenson, steamboat agen