The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-05-02

inventory the logs or property selzed IN
the above named controversy w1InOut
DELAY in the premises and the inventory
TINS made by the said Sewell, Haskell
and Coutourie, to be the liked vaiua-
ton and inventory.
IT was further ordered on the 18th
dav of June that the said umpire and
appraisers shall have full and entire
control over the subject matter OF the
inventory and appraisement OF the logs
seized and sequestered In the suit NO.
82O7, and claimed by the 1ntervenors.
While on my way to Calcasieu Parish,
and while holding the official position
of umpire as heretofore explained, l
was Improperly approached by special
Agent M. A. Carter, who made criminal
proposs,ls to me, viz: That if would
unite and cooperate with him IN Ger
tain appraisements of the logs sel2ed
bv the Guverenment through HIM ms
agent, that he would make it largely to
our advantage and personal profit, and
likewise combined his propositions
with the threat that if I did not
cooperate with him III the way pro-
posed he would rise his influence (which
was great at Washington against me.
These proposals were made to me on
several occasions, somewhat different
in form, but in substance the same as
I have stated. As I did not aceede to
his propositions he proceeded to carry
out as far as he could the threats which
had followed his proposals.
He, Carter, III conjunction with
deputy marshal Gainey, commenced a
system of opposition and grievousiy
INSTRUCTED me- and the appraisers in
the performance of the d1ltieS imposed
upon us by the DEGREES of the United
States Circuit Court. / WAS threatened
with violence by an armed deputy
marshal under orders from Special
Agent III. A. Carter, and ALSO under
the pretence of written order from the
United States Marshal, and the District
Attorney MIR. Lacey.
In consequence of these violent OBJ
structions and open defiance of law and
order, and also nf the DEGREES of the
Court of United States under which ]
was acting, the appraisers had con-
siderable difficulty in performing the
duties expected of them.
He gave instructions to Deputy Mar
shall Gfiiney, for the purpose of OBJ
structiDg me, and the appraisers. in
the performance of our duties, and he
also personally defied the orders of the
Court, under the pretense that he WIS
authorized to do so by the Department
at Washington under which he acted.
i and others were made to understand
that by the Department at Washington.
he meant Attorney General DeveDs.
Secretary Schurz and General William
son, Commissioner of Land Office.
/ communicated all the foregoing
facts in writing to District Attorney
Lacey at New Orleans, and Judge
Billings, then at New Haven, Conn.
By false representation of the value
of these logs he Carter induced Judge
Billings and District Attorney Lacey to
set aside the true anu honorable APP
praisement made in official form and
nnder cath, and to substitute an APP
praisement of their own far beyond fhe
value of the logs, which WIS done solely
to prevent the Intervenors from bond
ing their property in accordance with Il
rule absolute of the United States
Court. This action WIS detrimental to
public interests denial of Justice to
the intervenors and could only end III
pecuniary loss to the Government
And further. that Carter did con-
spire with certain parties in Calcasieu
parish during the auction sale of said
logs in Lake Charles and indnced
them not to bid, SO that he or
some friend could buy them in and
again sci them at small margin to
their personal gain and to the loss of
the Government.
These facts will he fully established
by the testimony of .. p Geary, VIM.
n. Haskell, A. L. l'erkins, Eli Per
kins, Mr.. Ryan, Hampton and Others.
Deputy Marshal Gainey. instructed
by Carter, seized the steam tug -AIert
the property of Norris a. Co., by board
ing her with United States troops and
presenting pistol at the head of the
Captain, Mr.. Horne.
This selznre WAS made without any
writ whatever, and the boat is still de-
tanned
Commissioner Chamberlain who was
appointed by Judge Billings to take the
testimony of the bonding of property
in the Calcasien log case was privately
approached by Carter, and urged to
convict Horne, and send him in irons
to New Orleans. Chamberlain refused
to so violate the law. and was shortly
thereafter dismissed by Judge Billings.
These latter facts. aside from my
personal knowledge, are likewise mat
tiers of record before the United States
Commissioners.
lSigned) L. SEWEIL.
Snbscribed and sworn to before me
this 18th day of March, A. ID. 1878.