The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-02-09
PARISH COURT.
Business Transacted During the First
Week of the February Term.


Parish Court, convened for the trans
action of general civil and crimina
business, was opened Monday morn
ing, with Judge II. O. Maher on TIN
bench, and daily sessions have sine
been held Following is condensed
synopsis of the matters considered:
! CRIMINAL CASES.
State as. Eve Adams, information
for larceny of pecans belonging tt
Widow A. Gingry trial took plact
this morning, right of jury having
been waived. The Court adjudged
accused guilty as charged aud sen.
fenced her to imprisonment in the
parish Jail two hours, the light penal
ty being in consideration of the ac-
cused having sucking babe. A futile
attempt to prove an alibi was made
by defendants witnesses which Judge
Maher characterized as the weakest
effort in that direction which had ever
came under his official observation.
Counsel for accused waived discus
sion of the testimony and confined
his argument to the technical point
that the information alleged that the
property stolen belonged to Mrs"
Augustine Gingry, raising the legal
presumption that the lady is married,
in which case question of ownership
fatal to the dictment ensues. The
District Attorney took the ground
that the term Mrs.n-an abbTevia-
ton or vulgarism of /" Mistress us
applied, according to the usage pre-
vailing in English language, either to
a woman who is married or to wild
ow; and that where two deductions
may be drawn from the same fact,
there can be no legal presumption.
He further contended that if the de-
Tense purposed using the advanced
point, that they should have adduced
proof to show that the prosecuting
witness is a married woman. The
Court held that the objection of the
accused's council did not apply, and
overruled motion for new trial.
State as. Isaiah Woods and John
Riley, assault with dangerous weapon.
Notices were issued commanding ac-
cused to appear for arraignment, but
they have both left the parish aud
could not be found.
State Us. James Thomas, larceny of
an ak belonging to Mr.. Eloi Dicharry.
Accused has left for parts unknown
and a bench warrant for bis apprehen-
sion is in the hands of the Sheriff.
State Us. Hetty White, assault and |
battery upon Clarice Jefferson. Trial
was held to-day, and the Court ad-
judged accused not guilty, owing to
the aggravated proyocation given for |
the assault.
State U.s. H. F. johnson et ais, in
citing riot and causing disturbance
1T public meeting during the poli:i-
,al campaign of 1876. This is the
iamous Smoke Bend case, which crea-
ed some excitement and much
at the time of its occur
'enee. Considering the lapse of time
ince the offense was committed the
District Attorney entered a aolle
,ros.
State rs. Eugene and Philomene
landry, assault and battery upon
Hrs. Adele Carmouche. This was
title fight growing out of recent
lopement, the circumstances of
which are quite notorious here. The
Prosecuting witness, who is some
What daft, went into a religious
cstacy when placed upon the stand,
nd it was impossible to obtain any
ucid testimony s.from her; wherefore
he District Attorney entered a noIle
'r0S.
State Us. Madison Bolls, larceny of
weet potatoes from Lemann's Rod
igue place; sentence: thirty days in
he parish Jail.
State as. WIN. Bradford. assault
nd battery upon Spencer Bush.
liked for trial to-day, but continued
on account of absence of
n important witness for defense.
State Us. Victorine Alexander, as
ault and battery upon Eliza Taylor.
accused arraigned, plead not guilty.
Dill ~ |