The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-19
THE FORGED RETUINs--TaE DOCUMENTS ON
WHICH THE LOUISIANA PROSECUTION IS BASED

WHICH THE LOUISIANA PROSECUTION is BASED
SAID TO BE IN THE POSSESSION OF DAVID
DUDLEY FIELD IN NEW YORK.
From the New Orleans Times. July 16l
Apropos Of the discussion provoked by the alleged
Indictment OF the Returning Board, and the
quences which might follow the prosecution and con.
viction oil that body, there many curious cicum
STANCES connected with that matter concerning which
no one in authority has yet vouchsaled an
explanation. 1t is not to be presumed that the Grand
Jdry would Investigate so grave a charge without
some documentary evidence of probable guilt, ana
when the specific allegation OF forgery and perjury
made, and the special instance Of tho parish OF Yer
non IS cited, It is sale to suppose that
The Grand Jury was In possession Of these re-
turns The possession OF documentary evidence
Is also implied in the information filed by the
District Attorney and the TACT that the tour accused
persons arc under bond aud would be IN jail had
curity not been given would indicate Possession by
the court OF evidence showing reasonable grounds
upon which to base the prosecution Very naturally
would be- the returns OF the parish Of
Vernon, IN when the alleged forgery and icrjury
committed. representative of the Tfmss yes
terGay started out In search Of these documents and,
as was ant cipatcd, his mission was unsuccessful.
MISSING PAPERS.
At tho Office OF the Secretary OF State, the legal
todiaa OF all returns, no trace oil them could be dis
covered. Tho closet IN which those documents are or
dInarIy placed was searched through, but while tho
of Vernon proved 70 DO missiug Calling at the Su-
perior Criminal Court he learned In tho Clerks office
that the retarns OF Vernon parish have been
nIcd IN evidence, anu they the building
ut all 1t was without the knowledge Of the officers OF
hat tribunal.
Tho wrncr next visited a prominent State officer,
who, he learned possessed important information
corning tue matter Tho following Is in substance the
coloquy which TOOK place -.
RnPoRrER-l have learned incidentally that you
something OF tho whereabouts OF tho returns OF
Vernon parish upon which the prosecution OF the Rc
fnrn HnurU IL @NI ar al
the Secretary Oi state nor at the Superior Criminal
Court Can you tell where thoy arey
ANswER--In New York city.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ANswgR-At the Office Of David Dudley Field Mr.
ri'dcns attorney, whom rumor credits with the man
agcment OF this prosecution.
THEFT
QuEsrios-How did tney get INFO his possession?
ASswgg--My Information IS that they wore stolen
from the records vi tho Congressional Investigating
committee, and that Field has kept close
them ever SINCE never leaving them out OF his pos
scssior. Tho testimony givcn before the committee
the orscrics alleged to have been committed IN
the returns Of Vernon parish were suggested and con
scented by Wells was not corroborated.
QURsToy--Havc these returns ever been laid before
the Grand Jurys
here secretly, have never been able to ascertain
the act
QuKsrios-Do you not think that these documents
wuuid be Genital in the finding OF an Indictment
ASswRR--l do not see how II would be possible 10
secure indictment without them. They exhibit the
only evidence OF forgery that exists, II any there be,
aud the strict guard which has been Kept them
by their present cus,od does not suggest that they
have been hawked around the country 10 DO examined
by this or that tribunal.
II tho facts contained In tho foregoing be subsian-
tiatcd and the writer's informant spoke not only Out
unrcscrvedIy, but with the utmost confidence. tIe
queries WIN naturally Suggest themselves o, why
un important document, which should be u TIC pos
SO son the Secretary OF state In the Office OF Mr
Field; should criminal proceedings be directed from
Now Orleans the Stale capital, or New York; and IL
local sell government be the watchword. wherein do
we benefit ny removing the central power from the
national capital TO the national metrOpOIsY