The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-13
ACKLEN INVESTIGATION
INVITED RY COMMITTEE OF DEMO-
Gratis TO WITHDRAW FROM
THE CANVASS.
Tes the Public.

On the ninth Of October the statement here
with published was handed to Mr.. Acklen. AS he
has declined to withdraw from the canvass
We deem it due to the public, who have been
made aware. through the press, that an nvesti-
CATION was being made, as we'll as due to our
selves, that the results OF our investigation
should be made known. We. therefore, submit
the whole matter without further comment:
Statement.
a ,telegraphic dispatch from New Orleans,
published Ia the NeW 77o fora a au''es, e OF tWfnty
J. FL. Acklen had been gnilty Of the great and
heinous crime Of seduction. and the subse-
cation of this dispatch In one Of the New Or
leans dailies, Mr.. Acklen Immediately request
cd the undersigned to Investigate the truth or
At the first meeting Of the undersigned, in
answer to our inquiry as to what would be his
Rooa in tie anuTs
CATION. Mr.. Acklen voluntarily stated that Il the
undersi gned, after fpll Investigation Of all the
duced did not ezcnl pate him from ali blame Of
q criminal character, he tMr. Aoklen) would
withdraw from the canvass as candidate for
Congress. With this understanding the under
signed consented to discharge this very un-
'1''t We held several meetings, read all the affl.
the testimony Of all the witnesses who had any
Information, that we are aware OF, on the sub
ject, and then handed Mr. Acklen our opinion,
without any dissent from any Of us, expressed
After careful consideration 0: the evidence.
documentary and oral. which has been sub
mited to US, we are Of tho opinion that Mr.. J.
II. Acklen should withdraw from the canvass
as candidate for Congress In the Third Con-
gressional District aud that no further action
should be taken by us in the matter now under
After the rendition of this opinion. Mr.: Ack-
| inasmuch as he tMr. Acklen) insisted that we
| had misunderstood his request and had OK,
ceeded the authority ,conided to US by, him. and
he further declared that he could produce addt-
tlonal testimony, exculDa:tiing him from !, tn, the
a bs esGn eaa N & ho s be 2r 10 g. v9 Ma4y
! obtain the aff1davits. This request was readily
acauiesced in by u.s.,
On Mr.. Acklen's return he presented rs with
| handed US a letter from himself. In this letter
and in his conversation he requested US to
matter of seduction. regardless Of all collateral
| and concurrent actions connected with the Sc.
duction, and that # any one of us had misun'
derstood him in this matter and refused to CON
| fine the investigation to that one point. viz
seduction. that we were at liberty to decline
serving further In the Investigation. On learn
| ing the contents of this last letter we unani
| mously declined to serve further in the matter
AS the request to investigate the truth or fal
sty Of the allegations had emanated f19m Mr
! at liberty to withdraw that request whenever he
| thought proper to do so We make the above
| statement in iustifcatt on Of the causes and me
tives OF our action in the premises, and tht
reason ofour subsequent declination to proceed
! further,
Signed in duplicate. New Orleans, October Q
1878. -
| DUNCAN +. KENNER.
ALBERT VOORHEES,.
PAUL E. THEARD.
J. r ALCEE EGAUTHREAUX.
Fl. J. HEARSEY.
New ORLEANS, October 10, 1878.
Hon. J. Fl. Acklen:
| Sir-We have at your request carefully exam
ined the additional testimony and affidavis Oh
tanned by you in your visit to your plantation
and presented to rs this morning. We have
listened attentively to your additional state
ments. and have reached the conclusion that 81
far from strengthening. you have weakened
your case.
We desire further to state. that we adhere t.
our former decision, and to advise you. that W
deem it due to the public and ourselves tha
this decision be made known.
| Very respectfully, yours.
DUNCAN T. KENNER,
| D. B PENN,
| ALBERT VOORHEES,.
PAUL E, THEARD
J. r. ALCEE GAUTHREAUX.
FL. J. HEARSEY.
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