The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-01-30
LOUISIANA.


NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 2S.-The Superior
Court room was crowded to day when three
accused members of the Returning Board,
Anderson, Cassenave and k0nner, We're
brought to its bar. Counsel for Anderson
filed motion for change of venue, alleging
he could not lave fair trial In this Parish
prejudice against him having increased In
the last few days. After argument, Judge
Whitaker stated the jury had been drawn
in most impartial manner, and was COM
posed of conscientious honest men, of I'M
Improbable character; what could accused
demand more2 The Court he'd said Friday,
it would not be tTifled with, and considering
the motion for change of venue an attempt
at delay, denies the same. The defense
took a bill of exceptions. The Attorney
General renewed his motion for severance
in the trial of the accused, aud said the State
had wished to try the case of the State vs..
Wells first, but as he had not come forth, he
would move TO call up the case of Thomas
G.. Anderson. Judge Cullom, of counsel for
the defense, opposed the motion for sever
ance, as it would only be detrimental to the
accused, deprivieg them of their combined
peremptory challenges. The Court grant
ed the motion for severance and the case of
the State VS.. Thomas G. Anderson was then
considered fixed for trial, witnesses were
called, and empanneling of jury proceeded
with.
GEN. ANDERSON INTERVIEWED.
New ORLEANS, Jan. 2S--The Ptcamlne
publishes the following interview Gen. An
derson being asked if he was willing TO give
his reasons for his course during the last
two days, especially with reference to his
resistance to the execution of the State writs
in the Custom House, said / have no Obiec-
ton. My information In regard to the
character of the panel was such as to con-
vince me that it was organized to convict
without reference to testimony in my be-
half, or the absence Of testimony against me.
/ believe that IL had appeared on Friday
last, would have been tried and convicted
before saturday night; NOT because am
guilty Of the act charged in the fraud, or
any evidence duplicating me in IL could
have been found, but because il was so de-
termined, and l believe, arranged In adj
vance. Look, for instance, at this list OF
names OF persons composing the panel;
Here Gen. Anderson produced printed
list containing forty~six names.l have
searched that list diligently, and
can find on ft the name of only one
person, MIR Becker, with whom have any
personal acquaintance, but am told, and /
believe it to be true, that not only does this
list not embrace single cOlored man,
but there Is not one Republican on IL from
beginning to end. Does any fair minded
and impartial man believe that therefore, a
jury Just made up could have any assurance
Of an impartial trial? 1t is said that Re-
publicans would be sure to acquit me. On
the same principle Democrats would be sure
to convict. In South Carolina, where polit-
ical feeling Is as strong as In this State, both
Republicans aud Democrats were placed on
iuries in the trials of Cardozo and Smalls,
and yet no difficulty was found In obtain
| ing convictions. am willing TO submit-tO
the impartial Judgment of any fair-mIrded
man that has studied the decision Of repre-
sentatives Of panel, Is an outrage OF every
principle of justice and that it gives me q
right to say that jury is organized ex-
presslV to convict. Under these circum-
stances my right Of challenge would be Of
no avail 1 have twelve challenges and
when these are exhausted the character Of
| the panel would remain lust what IL was
before. wish to say here that am en-
tirely ignorant Of the Vernon parish mat
ter. The record will show that i was
not present when the Vernon returns
statesmen. The certified report Of both par
i ties show this. Returns appear to have
been passed over to clerks for tabulati0n
without remark, and when they were pre-
sented TO me for signature signed them
as 4 did those Of every other parish, as a
matter Of course. had no idea and had no
reason % suspect any alteration had been
made in them. 4 was surprised when the
matter was called 10 my attention before
i the Congressional COMMITTEES and testified
then tbat knew nothing about e. II
had no interest IN Vernon parish or Of any
local candidates In that part Of The State.
| The vote for electors Tor Governor was NOT
/ az I'll Effected bE the alleged alteration. For
mined mnK "a be tried before packed furry
II could help Il. NY counsel win use
every legal effort 20 avert ~ suppose
4 they Wil ask for ~ change Of VQnue.
MmrMEEAMKouM.
4. l.. .M4.