The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-11

A RADICAL COURT.
Judge Adams Makes some Interesting
Disclosures - The Administration nj
Justice In New Orleans.

Disclosures - The AdsntUtstrattOu O
Justice In New Orleans.
The Replbiican, yesterday morning
printed the following remarks of Judge
Lucien Adams at q meeting OF the
Southern Republican Association
Wednesday evening last:
Some time ago ] stated to Governor
Kellogg that for certain motives
the First Municipal Police Court for one
month. The Governor acceded to my
request, and ] accordingly took my seat
as Judge in that Court. The month has
now expired. and ! think it due to my
self and to the club to give some expla-
nation of the motives which actuated
my conduct.
Having reasons to suspect that the
practices of the court were corrupt, ]
wished TO satisfy myself as to the truth
Of the matter. During the short time
that ] occupied the position, ] found
that they were so, to considerable ex-
tent.
Instead of acting in concert for the
Chief Of Police, and the department Of
police have been conducting the affairs
Of the court i'm the interest Of private in
dividuals and Of q Republican ward
club, thereby frequently defeating the
aims of justice.
The police have been in the hbit ola
releasing whom they please, without
reference to the cause Of imprisonment.
It is from this that the controversy be-
tween the Chief Of Police and myself
arose.
Foster, notorious bunko roper and a
bad character, was arrested in conse-
quence of a requisition. He was re-
leased by the police. In my capacity
as magistrate, / ordered him to be re-
arrested. By Captain Loans orders he
was again released. In consequence,
Foster has escaped from justice, and the
law has been frustrated by those who
are paid TO enforce it.
Another abuse is the nefariols practice
of accepting straw bail. This is regu-
lar trade carried on by members of the
Republican ward club that have before
alluded to. This system Of blackmail-
ing the unfortunate prisoners Is sane
toned by the judge, and justice is thus
prostituted, to the pecuniary gain of a
few members of "a ward club.
do not state that which / cannot
prove; | will cite different cases. One
man, member Of the ward club, who
owns lot of ground valued at $500, in
Cue HlODLu Ol JdDuuTy, alOUe, BbOOu on
bonds for over $4,000. Another man,
member OF the same club, gave bonds
for over $4,000 during the month Of Jan
uary; that mans property did not ex-
coed $500 in value. A third, whose pro-
perty is valued at $500, gave bonds for
more than five times that amount. Be-
sides these amounts, there are bonds
for past months remaining uncanceled
amounting to many thousands of dol
lars.
In whatever position may have been
placed, have always done my duty as
my conscience dictated. / have not
acted otherwise during the short period
that ] occupied the judgeship OF the
First Municipal Police Court / &C
cepted no straw bail; / did not act in
collision with professional bondsmen
and with the police department, and all
the fines collected by me were duly and
promptly paid to the city without re-
tanning them in payment Of my salary.
My connection with the First District
Municipal Police Court Is now at an end,
and have laid before you this state
ment Of facts which points out some Of
the evils we are called upon to reform.
The campaign is now opened; let us,
thei efore, make use Of these facts to
show the fallacy Of the present system
OF police, and to uproot a power 50 per-
nicious and corrupt.