The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-02-01
THE RETURNING BOARD PUT o.
TRIAL.

Three members of the famous Re-
turning Board, to-wit, Anderson, Ken
ner and Casanave, have at length come
to grief and the parish prison of Or
leans. Wells has escaped a similar
fate by a sudden disappearance. A
prosecution has been pending for some
time against these individuals for
forgery and perjury in the matter OIL
the election returns from Vernon par
ish. Some ten days ago their attor-
neys, Col. Ray and Mr.. Castellanos,
filed motion before Judge Whitaker
(the. Judge trying the cause) to have
the several cases transferred to the
United States courts. Judge w hittaker,
after a patient hearing of arguments
pro aud con, and after mature refiec-
ton, overruled the motion, rendering
q lengthy opinion giving his reasons
for the refusal.
The case, therefore, had to come up
for trial; but when Attorney General
Ogden looked around for Tom Ander-
son he was not there-and so with old
Wells, Kenner and Casanave. They
had forfeited their recognizances, as
they previously had their honor and
integrity as public officials, and had, in
slang phrase, ssgone into their holes,"
where they supposed concealment was
u fixed fact. But hiding in New Or
leans is not a very easy undertaking.
There are men in that city who know
everything, or nearly SO, and can tell
you where to find anybody, except
Charley Ross or a member of the
Legislature who is not in favor of re-
form. Sheriff Huston was dispatched
by the Court in search of Wells, An
derson & Co. He failed to find either
of the accused at their places of BUSH
ness OR stopping places. They had
apparently gone into voluntary exile,
leaving the State they had loved SO
long and fondly. But some irrepres-
sible fellow who stands all day on the
banquetts and does nothing but stare
other people in the face, was ON duty at
a most inopportune moment for Tom
Anderson, and saw him enter the
Customhouse, the sanctuary for all the
Radical blessed. Intelligence like this
is worth deputyship, and the Sher-
if was not long in hearing it. With
commendable speed the Sheriff pro-
ceeded to the Customhouse, and stormed
that formidable fortress with his war
rants. At tho door OF the room in
which he believed his game was con-
cealed, he was met by II United States
deputy marshal whose widespread
ing arms barred the door from side
to side. The Sheriff, persisting in
his search, was arrested by the deputy
marshal, and afterwards promenaded
around in search of a Judge of the Uni
ted States court who would authorize
his incarceration. None could be
found. The telegraph was put to work
by Mr.. Ogden, and U. S. Attorney
General Devins was asked if the sheriff
could not enter the Customhouse to
serve warrants issued by State court.
The reply came back that he could.
Sheriff Huston thereupon entered the
Customhouse, found Anderson, Casa
nave and Kenner, and took them into
custody. Wells was not there. The
procession proceeded thence to the par
ish prison. We dare say it drew as
many spectators, in its passage, AS Rex
will on the 5th of March.
The remainder of this brief recital Of
stirring events, up to this writing, is,
that, on Tuesday, Anderson, was put
upon his trial, the State claiming II
severance. A jury of ten whites and
two colored was finally selected and is
to try the case. Casanave and Kenner
are permitted to give bond in the sum
of $1,000, each, for their appearances and
were remanded to prison to await the
appearance of bondsmen.
Whether the State will be able to
convict the members of the Returning
Board OF the crimes charged, or not,
we, who have so often accused them of
these crimes, ARE satisfied of their guilt.
They are bad men. They attempted
to steal State, and in defiance OF law,
morals, facts and the Interchangeable laws
of figures. This crime. unfortunatel,,