The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-31
THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE.
THE DRAMATIC SCENES NOW BEING
PRODUCED IN THE SUPERIOR
CRIMINAL COURT.
A building Belonging to Three Eras In
Our History,

n
our History.
The Superior Criminal Court building Of
this city is an imposing structure. In more
pretentious style OF architecture than n ma
tority Of the surrounding edihees 1t rears It's
roof above the old stores and mansions OF
French and Spanish design. somewhat above
affecting an air of architectural grandeur. It
stands upon site which, u hundred years
ago, was in the heart Of the colonial city Of
New Orleans, where, with an aspect OF ancient
dignity, almost harmonlously intermingled
with modern bumptioness, and thlnly dis
guised under cheap American paint, 1t covers
the ruins Of provincial abodes.
In one generation OF man this building has
been employed for purposes almost singularly
typical of tho different eras which. IN that
space Of time, have been witnessed by the
people OF Louisiana.
Some time before the war, when New Or
leans was ono Of the weathiest and most
prosperous cities on the continent, and the
second commercial mart OF the country, this
building was used as o bank. The financial
fortunately, or unfortunately, as the case
may have BEEN some time before the general
ruin Of the South's prosperity aud the revolu-
tion or destruction OF oar national financial
system; when the wealth OF gold and silver
departed and the gorgeous greenback came
after.
During the era OF reconstruction, and after
ward, when the licentiousness and public
prostitution Of the Warmoth and Kellogg re-
aimes blighted the fame and hIackened the
history OF our State, the historic building
became monster beer saloon, where bawdy
women served around bastard wit, with mugs
OF foaming lager TO gatherings which were en-
tertained between drinks by bone minstrels
harridans In cheap tlnsel, and other commend
able popular sights and sounds.
This mammoth den flonrished under the
captivating title Of "The Crystal Palace"
where for years, unchecked by law, midnight
carnvaIs of crime were held, while harlOtry
and robbery reigned hand In hand until the
king thief OF the concern assembled into the
Penitentiary.
After year or two of vacancy the deserted
"Crystal Palace was purchased by the city
and turned into o court OF justice to prepare
curnstances might ordain that It should be
done. The judges bench was placed on the
elevation which was formerly stage for the
bone rattlers and tinsel l-ornamented females.
The green room was turned into the. Judges
private Office In the space where fidtlles and
horns screeehed and footed, attorneys now
argue plead and perorate; and the adjunct
chambers of the palace are occupied as offices
by sheriffs, clerks and their deputies
The fates, after weary delay. have ordained
com nlenced In earnest, and ut last pushed for
ward with enough energy TO prevent, Tor oil
time to come, repetition OF the blaekest
crimes committed against our State by the In
struments Of u thieyingand licientious usurpa-
tion. Hence we take It that 1t Is not TO pun
fish past political oifenses that the Returning
Board. trial, now going on, has been under
taken. but to prevent In future the fraudulent
destruction of the popular franchise
The present trial of Thos. g. Andersen, for
t,t,
Of vital interest to the people of Louisiana;
therefore Its end is awaited with considerable
excitement by thousands who are interested
In every feature and incident Of this, one OF
the greatest cases upon the criminal records
of our courts.
Hour by hour the proceedings increased In
interest. until. on Tuesday night, vast
throng had assembled in the court build
ing to note tho progress OF It's events For
other thousands who are equally interested
brief description of the scene in the court
room on the night of the selection OF the last
juryman.
Before G o'clock the hour for the evening
session, o crowd had collected near the corner
OF Cont and Royal streets, the site of the
court house, and the large courtroom became
rapidly filled with men.
Immediately before the hour designated the
Judge entered the room. The Attorney Cen
eraf his assistant and the District Attorney
defense had already arrived and were seated
near the prisoner.
At o'clock promptly the judge instructed
the sheriff to open tho court
Judge VIM. r. Whitaker was elected Judge
Of the Superior Criminal Court In November,
1876, and was returned rs elected by the Illus
triols board after a sufficient deduction from
his handsome majority. by poll reflections, to
meet their just views in other numerical re-
spects. The Judge is apparently nearly forty
- EIne nyan IN nif " n
North during the war, subsequently identi-
fed himself with tho interests of the people,
and took an active part In the campaign OF
1876 IN the capacity Of attorney for the Demo-
crapc registration and naturalization com
miMee. He did good service in that capacity,
and was rewarded by an election to one OF the
most i'm portant judicial positions In this par
ish, or in the State.
In front OF the judge, slightly to the right,
were seated at q long table the Attorney Cen
eral, Assistant Attorney General and District
Attorney.
Attorney General Ogden, as all men know,
was elected to the same Office he now holds i'll
1879, but was prevented from exercising its
functions by Federal intervention In 1ayor @ q
the defeated candidate the late A. p. Field.
He was unanimously re-nominated on the
first ballot as candidate for reelection by
the Democratic State Convention in 1876 He
was reelected by about the same majority he
had in 1872 was In due time counted out again
time, counted in by the people who had elected
him. He has proven himself to be, as was ex-
pected, one of the most competent, active and
efficient of our State officials. In the present
prosecution he evinces the legal aeumen, the
tireless energy and talent which have been the
characteristics of his family predecessors on
the bench and at the bar.
Assistant Attorney General Egan, one of
the most prominent members OF the bar OF
North Louisiana and of the State, was ap-
pointed to the position he now holds soon, af-
ter the present State government came into
power. He was seated on Tuesday night at
the left of his chief, assisting in the jury selec
tion.
The counsel for the defendants are Mr.. FL.
G, Castellanos, Judge z. North Cullom and
the veteran Radical iuminary, John Ray:
Mr.. Castellanos has for many years enjoyed
the reputation Of being a very shrewd and
able criminal lawyer. In every. sense OF the
term. A casual observer, as he noted the
manner of this gentleman in the selection or
rejection Of jurymen from the list OF talesmen,
would Immediately consider him to be the
ablest Of the three attorneys who were con-
ductinQ the defense This conllY nerYonS and