The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-22
Andersen Released.
THE SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA ORDERS
HIS RELEASE FROM IMPRIsoNMENT.
THE RETURNING BoARDERs ALL SET FREE.

Washington, March Ex-senator Mat
thews received the following dispatch this
afternoon from New Orleans
"The Supreme Court decides that the Ver-
non parish returns were not susceptible Of
forgery, and General Anderson is discharged.
members of the returning board"
New Orleans, March lS.-In the case Of
the State VS.. Thomas g. Anderson, an appeal
for new trial, the Supreme court has re-
versed the verdict of the jury and ordered
the prisoner to be released
New Orleans, March lS.-The Supreme
Court this morning was crowded with men,
bers of the bar, politicians and other per-
sons anxious to hear the decision in the case
Of the State vs.. Thomas G. Anderson con-
victed in the superior criminal court ofpub-
fishing as true forged and counterfeit election
returns from the parish vf Vernon. Chief
Justice Manning read very lengthy opin-
ion in the case After reviewing the charge
verdict and sentence the Court took up two
of the exceptions as being the only ones
"
ment. There had been no preliminary ex-
animation and that it is not Il practice to
prosecute by information. Both exceptions
were dismissed-the first upon the ground,
that preliminary examination is not essen
tial, and second, that prosecution by infor-
nation has been common rule, criminal in
prosecutions for many years. The exception
to the drawing of the jury was also dismissed
= on the ground that a violation of the spirit
Q of the law is not pretended relative to the
offence itself.
t The Court gave an abstract of the election
= law, detailing its requirement. The exact
q method presented in law was fully described
e The record offered in evidence did not con.
{ form with that mentioned in the informa
tion. The document offered was "consoli.
dated statement" certified by the register O
voters and not the original returning board
and this statute of our State does not attach
much value to the consolidated statement
y The original returns not being altered woult
: not change the result of an election and in
terfere with the interest of the people. TIL,
| paper OHefeu In eVlueuce Is NOT tne pape
. charged as being forged. In order to be
forgery an instrument which it is alleged i
" falsifed must, if true, be legally capable O
- committing fraud.
y, Now here in law is consolidated return
" required as a declaration of result, and il
" alteration or modification can in no way al
;" , feet the election. If every consolidation re
turn we're forged, and the returning boar
q complied with the law and made their state
~ ments from the commissioner returns n
40 injury could result 1t does not appear tha
any paper has been forged that is calculate
NJ with a compliance with the law, to chang
~ the result. 1t is the essence of this Grim
that it should be committed by publ
y officer and on document which woul
change the result of the election. This Wa
" not done. The letter of John Sherman
az az Stanley Matthews and Others, which appea
~ ed in the record, was alluded to by the chit
nc Justice, who stated that it should be treate
by the public in like manner as that of
n member of the house OF Commons who a
er tempted to influence the decision of Il
es, Court in the Tichborne case. 1t was orde
ne ed that the verdict of the jury be set asd
g. and reversed and the prisoner discharge
p from custody.