The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-02-15
THE RETURNING BOARD.
AndersOn's Counsel PrOnounces
His Conviction Unjust.
The Legislature Asked to Inquire
Into the Prosecution,

NEW YORK, Feb. 14.-Hon John Raw. conn.
sci for Wells and Anderson. writes from New
Orleans to Messrs. Shellabsrger and Wilson as
Gentlemen,-I received your telegram SUP.
costing the Importance of making available
every federal question in our proceedings in
the case of Gen. Anderson. This we will do,
and will note the particular point you sug-
eest Lnere Is no doubt but what the writ of
error Will be on the question of removal from
the supreme Court of the state to that of the
United States. We will throw in all the other
federal questions that we can. The difficulty
with us is that under our state constitution and
statutory law, after conviction, the arrested
person cannot be bailed and remains in iail.
Inc decree cannot be executed until the final
decision of the higher courts, but the prisoner
remains in custody without the right to give
bail. e-'0
This, then, makes more deJay of less ;mnor.
tance, although it will be some relief as the
party IN the meantime cannot be sent to the
penitentiary.
The conviction of Anderson and the entire
board is foregone conclusion, and nothing can
save them if they are tried in the state court IL
makes no difference what the law and what
the evidence may be, public prejudice, aided BY
manipulation OF our state law IN procuring a
jury, makes conviction certain. They have no
cnance Under the statutes and civil rights
oin,tnis question can be solved by the Supreme
court OF the United States, on writ of error
from our Supreme Court
But, In the meantime, you see the oonse-
quences We are in bad condition and thauo
Is no help or hope. Anderson is as innocont 80
crime as 1t he had never been on the hoard. 70.
he has been convicted. God help ms. '''
JOHN RAY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-There are variors
surmises with reference to the reply of Attor-
ney General Devens to the letter of the Presi.
dent on the Louisiana Returning Board cases
but an Official statement concerning either of
the letters cannot now be obtained The At
torney General does not think it proper at
present to give any portions of the contents of
the residents letter for publication or to state
anything concerning his reply.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 14.-The resolution in
troduced by ex-Gov. Yarmouth in the Louis
lana legislature was discussed in the Housa TO-
DAY. 1t directs the committee on judiciary to
report whether or not the prosecution of the
omcers OF the late Returning Board is not in
Vioistlyn OF a pledge of the Nichols eovarn-
ment made on the 10th of April last to diseonn-
tensnce any attempted prosecution from onr
duct pN'' poii''cal con-
Mr.. Jones defended the action of tho 1o
officer of the state and denied that anv nlsdna
had been made that implied immunity for
members of the Returning Board or authorize
TO condone their offences. He said the charoa
upon which Anderson was convicted was not
political offence, but crime of forgery, which
was violation of the criminal law.
line resolution was laid over
NO indications of Gov. Nichols intentions
concerning Anderson can be ascertained.