The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-11-19
TALK SyRFH THE URHrEHp STATES
ATTORNEY
what he HAS to say AbDut the Coming
Political Prosecutions.

Political Prosecutions.
| The arrival here yesterday Of United States
| District Attorney Albert Leonard, 50 shortly
| after his interview with the President, has
| given rise TO many eonjectures relative to the
future policy Of the government with refer
ence to the alleged infringements of the cleo
ton laws In the late State election. In order
II possible, to learn as much as could be
| learned from the best sources, @ representa-
tive Of the DEMOCRAT last evening called
upon the now District Attorney.
Rep.-Mr Leonard, you are the very man
| AIN In search Of am anxious to hear from
you what is going to be done here about the
alleged violations Of the T. s. Statutes refer
ring to elections.
Mr.. LAS ] have said to others, I must
decline to be interviewed.
Rep.-What we're the Instructions you re-
ceived at Washington about this matter. Was
there anything specific in them OF course
do not expect you to tell me all, but what was
the general import Of them?
Mr.. L,-Well. 50 far as that is concerned, I
can't say exactly what the instructions
were. Yes, [ can, too. They were to "vig-
orously enforce the laws" referring TO the late
election, and to have justice done to all par
ties.
Rep.--Ts it proposed to again bring men
down from the parishes as before?
Mr.. L-Ihat may be done. There are al
ready filed with the q. S. Commissioners o
batch Of 1a1idavits so high fraising his hand
from the table several inches) and
In the premises. II the commissioner
issues the. warrants upon them and they
are placed in the, rnarshal's hands he Is
bound to execute them. have no control
over them except to advise the parties
United States grand jury upon them.
The latter course J would suggest, so
that parties may not be brought from distant
parishes to appear before commissioner and
There IS one thing, however, that | wish to
say: That in my position as District Attorney
have TO see that the laws are carried out
and enforced, and just as you Or anybody else,
If in my position, would do, / have to look at
the matter abstractly and perform my duty,
Rep.-Does this movement come from q
change in President Hayes policy2
Mr.. L-There is nothing Of policy in it.
There Is going to be no bloody shirt, hurrah-
business in it. None Of that display that the
outrages committed in certain parishes are
to be investigated, and those who are guilty
punished.
Rep~-Will all this be done before the first
it meets?
Mr.. L-Yes, 1t will. If the af1idavits are
made and case presented before the grand
inquest will have to act just as your parish
district attorney would act before q local
grand jury, and that is TO draw up the indict~
ments against the parties.
Rep.-ln your interview with President
HAYES did he manifest disposition to change
his policy towards the South ?
Mr. L.-Our conversation did not refer to
any policy at all. / cOnversed with him only
upon the question Of my duties here and how
I should carry out the laws. The matter Of
policy was not preached.
Rep.-Then it is probable there will be a
phnr IF t,rc,
the parishes?
Mr.. Lit is. Those who are charged with
outrages necessarily must come, but it will
not be by hundreds. as the newspapers say.
There have been OutrageS committed, and
they must be inquired into as q matter Of
course.