The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-05-02
Omciaf Investigation of the
Caicasieu Log Seizures.

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AIessrs Adams and Hale-Gov-
eminent Agent Carter, and his
counsel, A. @. Lewis-entered the
room in the Court House, wherein
the investigation was to take place.
MIR. Adams and Mr.. Hale took
their seats, after which Gen. sewell
entered.
Mr.. Adams then said to Gen.
Sewell that he was ready to COM
mence proceedings.
Gen. Sewell then addressed Mr..
Adams, and said:
Inow, in addition to the specific
charges made by me at Washing
ton, expressly charge that III. A.
Carter. special agent of the Gov
eminent; James j. Carney, former
Ily, if not now, Chief Deputy Mar
shall, in charge of the Calcasieu log
seizures; w. ID. Postlewaite, form
erly, if mot now, Deputy Marshal !;
John Broussette, Deputy Marshal
OF log keeper, and other officials III
Calcasieu, connected with the log
seizures, whose names cannot now
recall, some. or all of them have
been guilty in the matter OF said
log seizures. of willful violations of
the Constitution of the United
States, of the laws of Congress and
of Louisiana, of the settled .iurls-
prudence of the Federal and State
courts, and of their sworn duty as
officers of the Government: BY ia
king private property, for public
use, without previous cOmpensa
ton; BY bl0ckading navigable
streams; BY making seizures of
property without process of court,
OF notice of seizure; BY contempt
uously ignoring and disregarding
rights vested by State and United
States patents; BY Selling, note
riously, private property on the
false and fraudulent pretence that
it belonged to the Government;
BY falsely and fraudulently pre-
tending an intention not to inter
fere with private property, and at
the same time knowingly Selling it;
By wilfully and corruptly Obstruct
ing the course of justice in the Fed
eral Court, in the suit i'll which the
Calcasieu log seizures were made
BY corrnptly releasing logs from
seizure, in favor of their friends,
without intervention or bond Of re-
lease; BY arresting and thrusting
into a military guard house Capt.
Vim. Horne, without warrant OF
affidavit against him; By making
constructive, instead of actual, seiz-
ures of logs and lumber; BY farm
ing out, to private individuals, the
exclusive use of large sections of
navigable streams; By fOrbidding
citizens to pursue their ordinary,
lawful and necessary avOcati0ns
By causing incorrect and unauthOr-
lied survey of land, to the serious
annoyance and injury of citizens;
And, by these and other unlawful
and corrupt practices, inaugurating
and maintaining, fornearly a whole
year, a system of harsh and tyran-
meal oppression of hundreds of citi-
Gems of Calcasieu parish, in the
name and under the pretended au
thority of the general government.
i stand prepared to prove the
above charges in the investigation
ordered by the Honorable Secretary
of the Interior.
1takesincere pleasurein acknowl-
edging that j am assured, on high
authority, it is your intention to
make, the investigation ordered, a
full and impartial investigation,
and j trust that your reply hereto
will heighten the respect with which
i have the honor to be
Your Obedient servant,
L.. SEwELL.
CITY OF WASHINGTON, j
tCoUsry -oF WasHInayoN SO