The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-03
137 Bienville and ITO Custom.
house Streets and their
Memoirs.
!" A Pretty Little Lady Named
Clandine."
The Magisterial Garfield and the Bloom.
Ing Kelley-ssTho Gloss of Satin and
the Glimmer of I'earls.''
The Hon. John Sherman In HILLS OF
Dazzling Light.

A History Of a Night spent In New Or
leans by The Republican Visiting
Statesmen.
Bienyille street, 1877, New Orleans; that Is
where Jos. Hancock appears to have lodged
whilst he WAS In this city. Jos. Hancock, 10 we
know, is the telegraphis name Of Jos. II. Mao
dox, d gentleman who has lately become famous
throughout ihe country as the volunteer negotis.
tor Of magnificent financial transaction by
which q million dollars were to pass into the
pockets Of the Louisiana Returning Officers for
whose character 90 honest men aud eetimable
citizens Senator Sherman aud Repre- sentative
Garfield have advertised themselves AZ sponsors
and indorsers. How much Of this sum was to be
conveyed as brok srage or commission 10 the in
genuous and genial Joseph, we can only eoniec-
ture but We may be sure that he stipulated for
fee commensurate with the Importance Of the OBJ.
ject TO be accomplished.
To return 10 137 Bienville street. II Ia house
situated In part Of the city not dominated by
severity OF morals, or prudery of department.. II
is y oomfortsble-looking brick ediHce, modest
enough In It's exterior, but sharing with two OF
three others the grandeur OF contrast with the
collection Of obscene novels and vulgar cabarets
which constitute the neighborhood Just around
the corner, In Burgundy street, IL block infested
by swarms Of negresses, who add the practice of
thievery TO the profession Of trade more perti-
nent to their sex-womon who are unknown to
the census but ale carefully oatalogued by tho
police. At little distance, la Gu stomhouse street,
is
NUMBER t70,
referred TO Ia the Maddox dispatches as Tho
abiding place OF Calvert the after ego OF Wells.
II 10 the very spot that the fitness Of things
would have designated as the residence o! Wells,
on account of tho interesting and congenial mem
cries with which its chambers are thronged II
was in this house that the great rings" of
Republican Legislators had their meeting place
during the flush times Of go, 10 and II. Here
the "riug met every day after the adjournment
of the House 10 consider money" bills. TO receive
propositions from persons wanting 10 buy meas.
urss through the Legislature; to hear the reports
of Finance committees" and to decide on the
terms Of agreement with the purchasers OF
votes. II was here that the famous Chattanooga
railroad bills, TO pass which Governor e.
d. Morgan contributed 100000, were
engineered through by Rsynor and Williams.
YVES here tbat the Warehouse bill, and tho Park
bill, and the State. House bill were put through.
II was here that Charles 7. Howsrd would have
gone 10 negotiate for bis Lottery bill, IL he had
not bought II through before No. ITO became the
official headquarters Of The ring. II was here, in
short, that the State was run in debt to the ex-
tent of about s3o.ooo.Oo0, the subsequent repu-
diaton OF half of which constituted the grand
financial triumph OF Kellogs's administration.
Certainly 1t was fitting place for Wells 10 adopt
as the locus OF the grandest Of all the fioaucial
transactions that political history records.
But again we are strsyipg away from 1877 BEN.
vile street, the plaes selected by the more fas-
tidioua Maddox 90 the basis OF his operations.
II is what 10 known simply ~ q lodging house
that IL to say, a house where furnished rooms are
lot. II ia kept by pretty little lady whose irst
name Ia
cIAup1NE,
and whose last name 10 concealed behind the
mysterious veil which sometimes shrouds the
personal history of ladies who have loved not
wisely but too well.
But IL must not be supposed that this appella-
tive deficiency Ia regarded % detrimental TO her
character In that mystical circle Of which she is
considered one Of the brightest ornaments. In
short, Claudine IL m 0otoroon, or very light
Quadroon and TO the Oetoroon or the Qusdroon
a latitude, not to say license, of conduct
is permitted which Is altogether denied
to their white sisters who desire to
preserve the appearance OF decenoy and fair
repute.
In an elegantly furnished apartment of the
fair Claudine's house,
THE GENIAL MADDOX
install ed himself. Maddox, We must premise. was
not q stranger in New Orleans He lived here
many years ago, and had career, less brilliant
than brief, as proprietor OF the daily Crescent.
His first editor was q gentleman named Frost,
who, on account Of q fiery and personal article
directed against the Hunt family, came to bis
death in duel with DR.. Hunt. His next editor
was Mr.. Johnston, brother of Gen. Joe Johnston,
known widely at one time as II Segdretdt'io, n
correspondent OF the National IateHigencer. After
short experience OF New Orleans, John. ton
went away, and Maddox sold the Crescent and.
Withdrew from journalism. This was in 1866.
He then returned to Maryland, his nadve State,
where he remained during the war, except whilst
engaged In journeying to Richmond and back, in
pursuit of Confederate contracts on the one
hand and Federal contracts on the other. Out
Of these, In some inexplicable way, grew
CLAIM UPON THE UNITED STATES FOR 100000
on account of certain tobacco supposed TO have
been stored at fredericksburg, and to have been
reduced to premature ashes by the Union forces.
Hence IL will be seen that large financial opera
tions ere 40 congenial TO the mind Of Maddox as
to the fancy OF Sellers.
When Maddox arrived here, and took lodgings
with the fascinating Claudne, he gave out that
he was treasury agent and that he had been
sent out to procure evidence against the Wells
claims for s625 900 and the Bailly claim for $780,
600. In pursuit of this purpose, which was,
doubtless, genuine he made trip mp Rcd River
and came back charged with proofs Of