New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-14
The superior Civil Court.

This tribunal up to yesterday had sat
one week, transaoting business, and opened
and closed daily by the civil sheriff of the
parish of Orleans. On Friday rules and
hxings of cases came up in which several
prominent members of the bar participated.
The tribunal, notwithstanding the rumored
designs of suppressing it by force, was re-
cOgnized, at least by all the lawyers who
had any business in it. No doubt the fact
that most sensible non-partisan lawyers
were going right on with their business,
caused the factionists to see necessity of
suppressing it. Consequently, after the
court had sat some two hours aud half on
Friday, and Judge Shaw had adjourned
and left the Courthouse, the court room
was taken in charge and occupied by armed
men known Is Boylan's police.
Yesterday Saturday morning Judge
Shaw came to court unattended, and at the
usual hour, and on attempting to enter the
door, was stopped and ordered to stand
back. He then said, SIT is my duty to en-
ter here. The laws of the State of Louisi-
ana make it my duty, and shall do SO If
Gan" Being told they were policemen, and
under orders to keep HIM Judge ShaYl
out, he declared they had no right to do so,
and advanced. He was seized by the first;
second raised pistol and ordered him to
stand back. Four others closed up behind,
one of them with a musket and bayonet,
and, it is said, some twenty more were
within supporting distance, probably within
the courtroom and clerks office. Judge
Shaw said, in tone of indignation, "What
is that man doing with pistoll" COllaring
the foremost, who said, menaclngly, "Don't
you strike me, he attempted to force him
back and to effect admission for himself
After making some four or FIVE vigorous as
saults or efforts of this description, Colonel
Jack Wharton, who had arrived during
these occurrences, begged the Judge to
consider that he had used every reasonable
effort to gain admission to his courtroom,
and that the physical and armed resistance
made it impossible.
Judge Shaw then retired and repaired to
No. 112 Royal street, vacant portion Of
the State House building, ordered the side
doors connecting with the rest Of the State
House to be closed, and the front door and
windows opened, and appOintedJ. j. A. Riley,
formerly an assistant clerk of the House Of
Representatives, as crier pro tempOre, who
As such proclaimed the Superior Civil Court
for the parish of Orleans TO be opened.
Mr.. Bourges notified the court that he
had been appointed by the Supreme Court
and was acting as civil sheriff Of the parish,
and offered TO perform any duties required.
Judge Shaw thanked Mr.. Bourges, and OBJ
served that the civil sheriff Of the parish of
Orleans had up to today performed all the
duties Of sheriH Of the court, and now
claimed that his present course was in obs
dience to writ Of injunction. This writ
was illegal and nall and void upon it's facei
/ bus the court would take no cotton now in
reference to the aherifalty; he desired to
examine the statutes carefully on the sub
isct, and requested Mr. Bourgea to submit
copies of his orders and appointment.
The court then ordered the Mayor and
Council Of the city Of New Orleans to be
notified Of the temporary location of The
court, but that the original selection oi
eopstrooms and ofices WAS adhered to, and
.IlEags would be resumed there as soon q
armed force preventing the sams should
b smovod.
p oourt adionrned to Monday At 4
TIE oauEtroem Il quits an eligible
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