The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-19

Prom the New York world
NEW ORLEANS, October 1.-The trial 81
Anderson and Wells, which l. about 10
come on before the Superior Criminal Court,
Judge Whitaker presiding, exclt.s much
attention and discussion. The feclingof the
public l. strongly against the accused per-
sons and, whatever may be the disposition
Of the officials, II j. certain that they will not
venture 70 relax the energy Of the pro-ecu-
ton or forego any effort To assure conyic-
ton. However, there Il no reason 70 sup
pose that there IL any disposition "a shield the
cuIprits In official quarters. There Il absO-
lutely no ground for the supposition that
Governor Nichols has made any promise OF
pardon In case Of conviction, and those who
have been intimately conyersant with affairs
At Washington emphatically deny that i'm
munity from prosecution for crime was ever
even remotely suggested by the President
or his advisers.
The Indictment Of Wells and Anderson at
the July term Of the Grand Jury OF the SUI
perior Criminal Court was compelled by
public opinion which could not be resisted.
In the month Of February last Judge Whit
taker drew the attention Of the Grand Jury
10 the facts elected before the Field House
Committee In regard 10 the Justification OF
the returns from Vernon Parish, and sug-
gested that some action be taken on the SUBJ
ject. Nothing however, was done At that
ducti0n OF new sources ~ excitement might
be attended with injurious effects. Public
feeling, however, remained and still remains
very bitter against the persons believed 10
have been the chief agents Of the fraud by
which the vote OF the State was falsified,and
the prominence lately assumed and main
tanned BY Wells and Anderson in political
matters has tended TO aggrayate the hostility
Of the public towards them. Wells remains
Surveyor OF the Port and Anderson has been
appointed Deputy Collector and il supposed
70 be the controlling spirit Of the Custom
house. This naturally tends 70 keep alive
and 10 intensity the resentment Of the pub
lie against him and Wells. President Hayes
Is freely criticised for retaining Wells and
appointing Anderson, and IL j. urgedthat 10
permit them to retain the prominent posi-
tons which they occupy j. a gross insult 70
the community. On the other hand, II l. ar
gued that the President can have no official
knowledge Of the acts OF these men; that he
knows them only as prominent and Jealous
Republicans, who have been strongly rec
commended to him by trusted friends like
Sherman and Garfield. II i declared that
the President could not and would not keep
them in office II they Were proved 70 be
guilty Of the charges brought against them,
hut that he l. justified in assuming them 10
be- innocent n long n they have not been
convicted. and that he would certainly have
no reason TO ignore them II they were not
even indicted and prosecuted. Hence II II
said thar the President can not look with
di~fayor on these prosecutions, since, II they
are succes-ful they will afford him an OPP
portuniiy 10 disembarrass himself OF Two
very dangerous friends, and II they fail, he
will BE- relieved 81 any anxiety on the sub
ject.
The crime of which Wells and Anderson
are accused and for which they are indicted
l. forgery, in altering public record, To-
wit the official returns Of the election in
Vernon Parish. The alteration Of public
record BY any public officer or other person
Il declared to be forgery by the law Of Lou
i~iana. II l. 70 be noted that none OF the
testimony produced before the House Com
mittee pointed directly 10 Anderson as par
ticipant i'm the crime, and II any evidence
sufficiently strong, in legal sense, 70 I'M
plicafe him has been obtained and l. 10 be
produced it, nature has been kept secret. In
regard 10 Wells, however, the evidence Of
Littlefeld was direct, and II i now said that
this can be supplemented by other and cor
roborative testimony equally a. conclusive
Nobody. however. seems TO know where
Littleteld T., and many persons think that
the prosecution Will be unable TO produce
him on the trial. AT all events both Wei,
and Anderson maintain very confident and
defiant attitude. Their friends say that they
have the support Of the Administers
ton. and that no effort u
protect them will be spared. On the
other hand. persons who ought 70 be well
Informed declare that the President and his
advisers have declined and will continue 70
decline to interfere in the affair. One thing
i sure. and that j. that the prosecutions are
conducted with the sincere purpose OF Sc
curing conviction, and that nothing but a
failure 10 procure testimony-a thing very
likely to happen-wlll prevent this result.
Nor will Governor Nichols interfere 70 save
the culprits. His position i such that he
can not do il even II he would, and there Il
no reason 70 suppose that he has any such
desire. Action on his part favorable "a
Wells and Anderson would vastly strength
en- the opposition TO his administration, OF
which there i no little concealment, and
which would become formidable and ire
si~tible in case he were TO do any very I'M
popular act. Hence II Is that all divisions
Of the Democratic party join in and urge for
ward these prosecutions.