The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-07
INVESTIGATION EXTRAORDINARY.
THE AUDITORIAL COMMITTEE DEvEL-
OPEs A MINE OF RICH COR
REsPONDENCE.
Marks Goes for johnson ana Wands
wants ''Tl,at Printing Claim" Paid.


mittee have got in fair way to unearth some OF
the crookedness that has occurred in the Audi
tors Office during the last few years they may
find that Kellogg had more to do with that Office
than the mere reception OF warrants and th at he
even compelled johnson to let up, as it were,
ON DEFAULTrNa TAX COLLECTORS.
They can ascertain that as late as Dece mber
II, 1876, the great truth stretoher address ed
general order, or letter Of Instructions, directing
that the time-fully prescribed by law-for the
settlement Of the tax collector of Madison par.
ish be- extended ten days beyond the limit pre-
scribed by law "without putting the collector In
default"
There is evidence, also, to show that in the
Kerrigan. Yates muddle for the possession of the
81. James collectorshp, District Attorney (now
Judge) Morris Marks figured conspcuously
pending the contest, and even when the powers
that we're finaly ousted both Kerrigan aud Yates
About the time the administration were after
Kerrigan his enemies claimed that he had col
leoted taxes in advance or had taken drafts in
payment FOR the same, and Yates, succeeding him,
would hot recognize his receipts, going so far
rs to
b SEIZE A PLANTATION,
the taxes upon which had been paid to Kerrigan.
just About that time the Auditor seems to have
put his fingers into the pie and issued contrary
orders, which not only nettled Kerriga an, but got
Morris Marks somewhat on his dignity, as the
following sharp document, written by Marks, will
show:
OFrICE OF NJ. MARKS,
District Attorney Fourth judicial District,
Donaldsonville, La., October 25, 1876.
Hon. Geo. B. johnson, State Auditor:
Dear Su-Yours Of the Oath inst. has been re-
ceived and contents noted and In reply thereto
can only express my utter surprise At the unten-
You probably overlooked the fact that those
parties paid to Kerrigan
UPON YOUR ADVICE,
and which consider proper and legal. Besides
you have since recognized officially his receipts,
and I have acted upon your instructions so far
t1st l cannot, therefore, follow your bad exam
pie by changing every day in the week, to the
utter disregard OF the interests of the taxpayer.
am determined now to assume a position that
viii compel your office to take stand, although
1t will estop the collection Of all taxes until the next
year. Besides, l shall publish the instructions
received from you, and all correspondence on the
subject, to show my part In
THIS RIDICULOUS COMEDY.
We are both candidates before the people, and
propose that no one shall place me Ia bad faith
or in ridiculous position before them. I leave
to-day for St. James, and shali at once ins ttute
legal proceedings against any taxpayer holding
he receipt OF Yates If the courts alone can de-
eide it, propose to bring 1t up myself, and let
those who acbed without yours and my advice be
put to the Inconvenience.
Yours, in haste, M. MARKS
District Attorney.
This letter app ears among some Of the records
'ound, and was intended for the State House fur
lace, but it escaped.
A little later in the season when the Republi.
',ns were pushing the tax collectors for set
dement's, in order to
ACQUIRE CAMPAIGN FUNDS,
hey touched Kerrigan up with the rest, and |
Marks again comes to the front in his official |
'apacity and recommends that the outstanding
ORDERS against Jack tKerrigan we mean) for
licenses collected by him in the parish Of st.
lanes, be settled for by him with warrants Of that
'ear.
Whether Kerrigan settled In that way or not |
3 not known yet, but the committee can find out
md will know all about
THOSE COMPROMISE SETTLEMENTS
,efore their labors are ended.
Evidence has been obtained which will Justify
he assertion that quite number Of the tax rolls
we're sent to the Auditor from the parishep, al
hough they were not in the Office when it was
AIKEN possession OF. In the case OF the parish OF
't. Landry, the collector forwarded his rolls by
,oat, and when punched up by the Auditor for
heir non-appearance, he declared that they had
zone forward, and that Gen. Anderson, who was
bout to leave for the city, would get the rolls
md see that thsy we're delivered in due time.
An instance IL also noted in the matter of COM
promises with collectors, where mercb ant of
his city states that
RELY, OF MoREHoUsE,
lad sent twenty-six bales OF cotton to assist in
he liquidation of his arrearages, and requested
he Auditor to dismiss proceedings against him
or Two weeks.
In the case of Harlow, Of Tensas, who is short
1000 or 80, it will be shown that he received his
riders to settle, and upon going to the Treas-
rer's office he proposed to pay in warrants for
he school, interest, leyee repair and construc.
ion funds, but proposed to
KEEP THE STATE TAX FUND,
nd he has done it satisfactorily to himself to his
ay.
About the lamest excuse presented by any Of
ne claimants for warrants is that made by J. B.
Vands. who. it will be remembered, got from the
tate s14372 of the Sandford warrants--sha
$4,000 fraud funded August 20, 1S74-an.i as
ate as October, 1876, he tries to get his hooks in
nee more.
In the month named, while at Amite. he wrote
SEPARATIONS. and was in pinch for money
FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES,
nd begged Johnson to Issue him warrants
FOR PRINTING DONE FOR THE STATE,
laiming that he hsd been badly treated by john
on's predecessors in the matter, and that he
ould be down the next week. wishing that
ohnson would il there was no proper way
, which his bill could be paid He added that
is prospects were bright if the State Central
ommittee took prompt action; but is satisfi ID
ow, perhaps, that he looked on the bright side
the picture.
1t the claim was paid by Johnson the commit.
20 will ascertain that fact, and the Treasurer |
i'll be able to state whether the warrants we're ,
r were not cashed in his office.
These are but few of the matters which the
)mmittee have brought to the surface With the ,
,sistance of the DEMOCRACY, and in due time ,
roper explanation will be wanted OF these {
iflng ~ p ccadllloes.
AUDITORfAL INVESTIGATION. Ii
riders Issued for the Arrest of Stubborn {