The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-05
THE VENDORS OF TAINTED MEAT,
FISH, ETC.

AuUInlSUIHJDT OHFbuHC 10 pLOC5SdluB
with rigor against the vendors OF faint
ed meat. fish and vegetables In our
markets. Several parties have been ar
rested for such violations OF the ordi-
nances. This is right, though 1t must
surprise parties arrested by the eocen-
tricity and suddenness OF the proceed
ing, In thus reviving and enforcing
ordinances which have been dead letters
for some years past. These ordinances
used to be enforced with great rigor
In the olden time, when our
markets were In charge of that
ancient and respectable municipal
official, the Commissary OF Mar
kets. There was no offender against
municipal ordinances who was more
certain to be brought to an account
In those days for his misdeeds
than the vendor OF tainted meats
and rotten fruit and vegetables.
The parties arrested by order or on
motion OF Administrator Cavanac, for
violating the ordinance In Poydras
market, would have been summarily
disposed of In the day Of Commissary
O'Grady, who was the model city official
OF his day. He was retired sea captain,
q strict disciplinarian,' and especially
vigilant and inquisitive In regard to the
quality Of the article Of food to be fur
nished to his "crew and passengers"
1t was In that light he looked upon his
constituents Of the Second Municipality.
Every day he might be seen leading
to the nearest magistrate some unhappy
culprit, who was always made to carry
with him some specimen Of the tainted
meat, rotten fish or vegetables, and ex-
hibit 1t In open court as evidence OF his
crime--parts Of the corpus deficit. The
magistrates courts were frequently per-
vaded with the most offensive odors,
proceeding from these instruments of
proof" as the lawyers styled them.
The Jealous official, the justice and the
culprits were the only parties who
could remain In the rooms during the
prosecution OF these offenses. 1t was
not often that the commissary failed to
make good his charges, with such
strong testimony, and so he generally
got judgment with swinging fine, or
Imprisonment in default.
There was one occasion, however,
when the rigorous old commissary was
put out OF court. It was the case of tur-
key merchant, whom the captain had
up for having at his stall some of the
most wofully demoralized and disorgan-
lied specimens or this fine bird ever
seen in market The culprit was a good
representative Of that mysterious class
known in this State, and nowhere else
in the world, as Dagos, who for long
time enjoyed monopoly Of the poultry,
fish and game trade.
:" Here they are. Did your honor
ever see such birds offered for sale for
Christian food?" exclaimed the indig-
nant commissary, throwing upon his
honor's table two specimens Of the de-
iectable fowl. which had orderly antici-
pated their neck-wringing by dying of
starvation or disease. They were in
such condition and of such character as
to have called pause and provoked
elaboration and hesitation in the craw
OF even a hungry buzzard before en-
barking in their mastication.
lis it possible" exclaimed the ius-
tice. pallid with horror and the odor of
the offending birds, THAT you ever sell
such birds to civilizs I'D people for food"
"Oh no, senior. 1 no sell him to dem
He not for de roast, de boil, not for de
gentleman or lady, but he be good for
de gombo-for mig, Chineyman, Dago.
and dem Sort"
This plea raised question which
greatly perplexed the learned justice,
and we never heard whether he arrived
at conclusion thereon-and whether it
is notstill one Of the QueSti0nes UeratP of
the law, to wit. whether turkey or other
fowl, that may be considered whole
some food through the process of our
Incompatible gombo. and which would
be entirely unfit when served in other