New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-19
THE WEEKLY REPUBLICAN
A PLEA FOR JUSTICE.

New ORLEANS, February 10, 1876.
Hon. A. P Field, Attorney General, ETC.:
SIR-You will doubtless remember that
was appointed by the court to defend Beau
regard j Amison, Bob West and Dick Brown,
charged with the murder OF Isaac Walker,
who were tried aud convicted. without CAPT
4el-npnishment, before the First District
refers a colorge Abel presiding, on the twen-
'o- aditor 49, J~euty-ninth and thirtieth OF
" ~, 1873. The only testimony against
the accused WAS the dying declaration of
the deceased. According to the evidence of
Judge HOughtOn and his clerk, who attended
for the express purpose of reducing it to
writing, the statement of the declarant was
suggested by questions asked and answers
animated by pers ms present. The deceased
simply replied yes or no to what was ad
dressed to him. Judge Houghton and his
clerk we're very positive that the dying
condition of the deceased was such as to
impress them that he was not fully and
clearly conscious of what was transpiriGg.
Under such circumstances the following
dying declaration WAS obtained:
On Wednesday night, August 80 man
by the name OF Beauregard saw me with
some money; it was 81. Beauregsrd thought
it was 500. fiddler, Robert West, was
with him. Robert West can tell you all the
rest about it Dick Brown was there. 1t
was between nine and ten o'clock at night
Dick Brown Jumped on me and choked me-
Robert West told the other boys not to kill
me. Dcn't know who struck me on the
head. Beauregard struck me sure.
ISAAC z 2' WALKER.
ISAAC WALKER, JR,
WILLIE MERCER,
JOHN b. JONES,
Witnesses to the marx of Isaac Walker, who
was unable to wri e his name.
Taken and subscribed before me this
G. P. HOCGHTON,
Recorder, First District OF New Orle ANS.
During the progress of the trial, when
you we're doubtless impressed with the |
weakness of the case against the accused,
you prOpOR' d 10 me to enter a nONe pr0sequi |
as against w, g.. aud make him y wituose
for the State, If he would testify against
the others. l submitted your proposition |
Immediately to West, who ditclaimed all |
knowledge OF the death Of Walker. de-
clsred himself innocent. and unable to &C.
cept your terms.
After your eloquent and exhaustive ad-
dress in clio ing the case for the State, in
which it is my humble opinion you unduly
pressed for u conviction. the jury retired
after an impartial charge from the
ty-nlnth OF April. Upon an intimation
from the Jury room that there was
no prospect Of an agreement, the court adj
jOurned to the following morning. On the
thirtieth, about p M, the judge sent tor
the jury ana recharged them in q manner
which did great Injustice to the accused.
The result WAS that verdict Of guilty was
Immediately rendered. While have the
fullest confidence III Judge Aoell'- judicial
integrity, am Inclined to think that be
erred upon that occasion.
filed u motion for new trial upon what
believed to b. .fficieut grounds. IL was
generally supp"eed that it would be
granted B.suregard, desiring TO avail
hlms.lf OF the masn ,ninous offer rendered
TO Weet. confessed that he was present
when Walker Wa. murdered; that the deed
was COMMITTED by Bob West and his
brother; thai Dick Brown was not present,
and That h- had never seen BcOwn until he
met him IN the Parish Prison. The effect
OF this confessl' n was to seal the fa,e OF
Beaurrgafd and West, to obtain a new
trial for Blown, and the arrest of the
brother OF Wes,, whose name l can No
longer remember. Beauregard was con-
Quoted before the grand jury, but that |
body refused upon his unsupported testi-
mOny t. indict the brother Of West, aLd
be Was discharged. You entered nolle 4
prosequi in the case against Brown anu he
WIS liberated. West and Beauregard were
|
ife
1t il due to West TO say that from first to
act, in oil Of my professional interviews
Y tn him, in the presence of the other &C
used, and alone with he, before his trial
md after hls sentence, ne has protested his
l Was tho first to commune Ito
o hun 10 confession of Beauregard. i'm
licailng him ana his brother after bis CON !
notion, ~h-n all hopes were dissipated, aud
hOugh W. we're alone in secret conference G
% sOlemnly declared his innocence.
The following letter from West gives to a
his case al additional interest, and de- /"
erves your earnest consideration: .
LoUIsIANA STATE PIN1rENrl Ry :,
March 10, 1875. u
enoral T. Morris Chester: a
DEAR SIk-It liz H. W long time since
ave heard from you, though have sent :.
,veral letters asking it there was any
nance for me ever 10 regain my llberty. G
The reason thai again undertake this
.sk il, that the party-Beauregard by !,
,ne-wh. lr represented a. having been -
v associate in tbs transaction ia no more.
. died Oh the fifth Of the presen NJ month,
I'd previous t, his dissolution be confessed
q f.llUw-prisun-r that he WAS the guilty
Irty ODiy, and that was IN no wise lM-
jcat. d in the crime. A TIE prisoners are
4 working all together, l was not near -
N vt the time Of his death, and was t"ih
IL by . fellow sufferer. B-auregard had,
ay,Sus to th,s. mace eimlar remark IL u
Q Of tho guards here.
Now, 1 SIMPLY submit this for your con-
lera ti0D, and 1 assure yon, General, mat
would please me very much II you would
orm ms if this confession can 0enent me
xDy Way, taking my situation anu the az
nation vi the Other party into CONSIDER oi
IN. ~