The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-03-13
THE TRUE INWARD bSs

! Called to Try Thos. q.
Anderson. ~
AS Revealed by Mr.. w. P. Converse,
the Foreman Of that
y" Body.
HOW THE CASE WAS LENGTHILY CON-
sIDERED AND EVIDENCE
DISCUSSED.
To my Fellow Citizens of Louisiana, Who
Have felt an Interest in the Trial late
ly Held in the Superior Criminal Court
of New Orleans. Hon. VIM. r. Whitta-
ker, Judge, of tue Case of the State of
Louisiana against Thos. c. Anderson
AS one of the twelve jurors i'm
paneled to serve 10 the above named
case, deem it my duty, in view of
the many incorrect assertions pub
Iished throughout the country rela
tive to the matter, to state such facts
and furnish such information as will
enable our people to readily compre-
bend all that occurred, as witnessed
from my standpoint, that of a juror.
What | write is voluntary, without
solicitation from any source, on my
own responsibility, and is placed be-
fore the public because I think it
should possess close acquaintance
with all points that bear upon mat
ter which, to me, appears one of pub
lie concern.
FORMING OF THE JURY.
Latter part of Dece mber last, Twas
summoned to serve as juror for
the January term, in the Superior
Criminal Court Appearing on the
9Th of the month, l was accepted
aud formed one of a panel of forty
six jurors. Up to the 2Sth January,
took part in the usual court services
ON this date the court began i'm
paneling jury for the purpose of
trying the case Of the State of Lou
isiana VS.. Thomas G. Anderson, on a
charge of having falsely uttered and
published as true an altered public
record, knowing the same to be false.
The record referred to being the con-
solidated statement of the votes Of
the parish Of Vernon, La, the votes
being those cast for presidential elec
tors at the general election Of No
vember, 1878. Ga Tuesday the sec
ond day for obtaining jurors, my
name was reached on the list, and
knowing nothing Of the particular
case to be tried, thy replies to the at
torney's question were such as
caused me to be accepted as a juror.
About s o'clock, Tuesday night, the
Jury was completely formed, com
posed of eight members Of the regu
lar January panel and four talismen,
two of the latter colored; the tails
men were summoned during the day
in connection with large additional
number. Every name on the regu
lar panel was, l believe, called; but
owing to excuses, absence and chal.
ienges, only the eigat jurors were OBJ
tanned. | will state here, and it was
subsequently shown, that the asser.
ton made in public prints that the
jury was packed is false. am sure
the position to every man selected
was wholly unexpected.
| AS evidence of the precaution and
Extremely rigid regulations for the
guarding of the jurors from outside
interference, from eight o'clock Tues
day night, Goth January, till about
10 o'clock Thursday night, 9TH Feb.
ruary, the twelve were never separa-
tea-two and sometimes three sher
IFS officers always accompanied oul
movements we were not permitted
to speak to any one except the off
GERS, then only to supply necessary
wants, and they alone being allowed
to approach US.
:, All written communications to ane
from the jurors were submitted tt
the Judge and by him to the severa
attorneys for approval, and all pack
ages of clothing and other articles
for the use of the jurors were opened
and inspected before delivery No
newspaper could we see of late
; date than that brought by us int
the building. Those placed upol
, packages were removed and old date.
substituted. At night one room
contained US, in which we wer'
securely locked. Our seclusion fron
the outside world was, Indeed, mos
complete.
JUDGE WHITAKER.
, I have no acquaintance With Judg