The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-12-12
THE DISTRICT COURT.

This honorable body has now goa
through its first weeks session, an
its doings have passed into Parochis
and Judicial history, and the DEMc
GRAFT as a faithful home chronicle
must jot down these proceedings an
edicts. En- PEASANT we cannot foreg
the mention of the great complaints
whether just or not, that we hav
heard from almost all quarters, from
the witnesses who were all summon
ed, in criminal cases, to be here, al
of them on one and the same day
Wednesday, the 9Th of this month";
We confess that never before wa.
such rule enforced, and never be
fore did such a rule fall as hard OF
witnesses, and for the future, W.
hope BY request of these witnesses
that it never will again be enforced
Again, the District Attorney mas
surely been too heavily handicapped
in the first week of Court, in having
important criminal cases called, tc
which he had to give his closest at.
tention, and at the same time to di.
vide his services with the Grand
Jury and keeping up with them, as
fast as they find "true bills" and we
learn that they have already found
no less than forty. We believe this
is rather overworking the States re-
preventative, and can't result in
much good. The State has already
all pressures against it, has to fight
against heavy odds, and should not
be thus overcrowded with labor and
taxed with too much work.
The entire week, besides the regu.
lar default day." has been con
sumed mostly with three criminal
cases. In the first case taken No.
that of the State vs.. VIM. Dahmen,
indicted for larceny, which has caus-
ed great comments, and seems to be
ourthened with severe hardship and
IN overdose of persecution, the De.
Fendant, hitherto considered a good
and honest man, and surely an up
light citizen, was actually found
guilty and sentenced by the Court to
'ix months Imprisonment in the Pa.
'ish Jail, and costs of the prosecu-
ion; three months were added to the
sentence in case of non-payment of
he costs.
The next case taken up was that
u the State VS.. Elias Grinstead, who
vas tried last Court for murder, and
whose trial resulted in a mistrial.-
Inc Defendant is an old man, verg-
ng on to three score and ten. in fee
lie health, and has been confinea IN
nr Jail for over year. A great
many hardships, some persecution,
nd really some just charges have
oIlowed in his wake, ever since the
llling, which occurred in Pineyille
'ore than four years since, and at
ast his case has come to a close by
Jury of his neighbors and peers
nding him guilty of manslaughter.
IS yet he has not been sentenced,
nd his lawyer, j. G. White, ESQ.
ow holds that this verdict of the
NY 10 equivalent to an acquittal,
10 OF course the old mans case will
'tract still more attention from the
nportant point we have mentioned ,
ne plea of prescription has been I
ed against the finding, on the f
'ound that the indictment failed to a
ate or show that Grinstead had y
"a the State, and that manslaush- c
Is prescribed after twelve months, n
ON our common sonse view of the
Sc, we feel certain that be stands o
quilted and will be so declared bv " y
Supreme Court, where his case "
lst surely reach. i,
Inc last case of the week was that l.,
the State vs.. C. P. Owens, indict- d
ior murder, and found guilty the
It term of the Court, without the e.
ath penalty. This case, too, has 5!
ne through rough course of judi s ss
spoats, and has been a sensa h,
nal' though an important one.- Ii
ice Owens was found guilty he o'
$ granted a new trial, and even III
IN tried to procure change of OF OF
'ae, IN which he failed. His case h,
ne OF on Saturday, before R. P. tL
inter-, acting as Judge, the Dis W
ct Judge, W. F. Blackman, having .;
used himself in the case. This ~
ond trial has resulted in an ac. or
i'ta ia the accused proving by no B.
3 than five witnesses an ahbi. So a.
ems Is once more q free man .na Nc