The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-17
A CONFLICT.
THE GRAND JURY AND THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY-A
NICE STATE OF AFFAIRS.

The diminishing which has for some days
past been going on between the United States
grand jury and the United States district at
torney promises to culminate In grand battle.
In which not only the present belligerents. but
also the two United States judges. Billings and
Woods, will be engaged
After faithfully Performing the political busi-
ness mapped out for them by the United States
district attorney. and finding indictments
against largo number OF prominent and re-
spectacle citizens OF the State, the grand jury
undertook to do little investigation on their
own account and Notwithstanding the efforts
OF the district attorney and other united states
officials to convince them that the purpose for
which they had been organized was accom-
plIshed. and they should not go outside OF the
circle drawn for them. they, under the skillful
manipulation Of ring In the interest OF John
Sherman, proceeded to Investigate the Official
career OF a number OF the shining lights OF the
Custom House and particularly were INQUIRIES
made into the conduct and record OF those ofli-
GERS who we're expected to control the Republi-
can party. but whose inability to do 80 was
demonstrated during the last campaign.
| The ring was In possession OF and submitted
| To the Jury facts regarding the administration
| OF the several departments Of O very damaging
| character and sufficient to warrant the tndlct-
ment OF the heads Of these offices.
| The Jury was willing and anxious to bring
the back sliding officials before the bar OF the
court. but 1t was
NOT IN THE PROGRAMME.
as arranged by the parties who we're responsible
for the peculiar formation OF the jury Smaking
| II one of Custom-House employees) and tie
United States district attorney cameto the front,
and by careful manBuvering kept the jury In q
| ~ ant nj " b9InR
continually adjourned just at the time when
they were going to open up onlthe Custom
| House people The jury stood this for some
time but finally firing of 1t called by committee
| on Judge Woods In chambers. for the purpose
| of getting him to instruct the United States
district attorney to do his duty and prepare In
dictments. The matter was regarded by Judge
Woods as being too important to be considered
alone, and Judge Billings was summoned to the
conference, and after a consultation between
the two they announced that they could not take
cognizance Of the complaint unless 1t was for
maly made In open court.
!, The Jury met the day following this confer
renee and submitted their grievances Ia writ
ing. presenting 1t to Judge Woods while he was
on the bench. and retired. Judge Woods. the
same or certainly the day following left the city
and left the Jury still
ON THE hASSED bDSh.
Saturday. the skirmishers on both sides
made move, which promises to bring on thu
great battle above predicted. and which vii
probably open to. day.
, After the jury on Saturday had presented
number OF indictments. supposed to complet
the list for political offenses. District Attorne
Leonard moved that the body be discharge
= until the first OF March. The moment tn
5 motion was made, the foreman Of the jury pre-
. sented to Judge Billings, who was acting
9 Cilcuit Judge In the absence of Judge Woods.
document. which has been carefully suppressed
but which 1t has been as certained was defens
of the right of the body to examine into an
subject brought before It, no matter by whom,
recital In brief OF the inquiries regarding tn
Custom House and a complaint OF the distrit
2 attorney.
Judge Billings. after reading the paper an
n celebrating a few moments. announced thu
:. he would take the matter under advisemer
n and discharged the jury until Il o'clock th1
y morning.
. To-day he is bound to decide the question on
/ way or the other, and. whatever may be n
action. a sensation Of no small magnitude ma
|, be expected.