Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1879-11-15

between the sheriff and his chief
deputy, and that the sheriff was to
assist his chicfdeputy IN serving
papers emanating from the Courts.
But past experience having dc.
monstratPd in the opinion Of these
parties that NJ. Miles would soon
violate his contract, the securities
aud their adviser required. Of NJ.
Miles as pledge to his sincerity
his resignation without date, to the
office Of sheriff, which resignation
was left in the custody of the legal
adviser, who was authorized to date
it and forward it to the Governor,
whenever Miles should violate his
contract with Plaisance, in any es
sential particular. All of which
conditions reduced in writing were
formally accepted by the sheriff.
I'll" bond was furnished on Janua.
~ 9th. 1879, aud Miles was install.
led.
Things went on smoothly between
the sheriff and his deputy, until
the opening of the present cam.
paign.
From that time NJ. Miles could
find no time to serve papers, and
threw the whole burden of the of.
flee on his deputy. Sometime in
July. while the deputy was making
n succession sale in Grand Point
Settlement, IL miles from the Cou,t
House, Il writ of provisional seizure
was handed by the Clerk to NJ.
Miles who refused to execute it,
thus compelling the Clerk to go af.
ter the business hours to the hepu-
tvs house and give Inn the writ for
Immediate service. This is cited as
one OF many instances of NJ. Miles
violations OF his contract, culmina.
ting in his absence from the Dis.
tract Court, at its last session. for
several days at time, during
which, in the rush of business, the
deputy was compelled to swear in
several deputies, almost all inexpe.
ricnced, and who impe.lcd the bu.
siness of the Court 10y their many
plumbers.
About this time NJ. Plaisance al.
so discovered that sundry fines in.
hicted at different times ON divers
persons convicted before the Parish
conrt. and a%ggregating the sun
5000 had been collected by the
sheriff, not accounted for to his
chief deputy, who under the CON
tract, had the exclusive power to
collect and to dispose of sucl, fines,
aud that the sheriff had not accoun.
ted for such fines, to amy proper au.
thories.
These facts and many other
breaches of NJ. Miles contract were
reported to the custodian OF the re
signation spoken OF above, an.l NJ.
Miles was duly put in default touch
ing his short .conings.
At this junction it was also dis.
covered that about three month.
before the last Court, a prisoner in
the parish jail, named William
Payne. had handed to sheriff Miles
the sum ofSl9.OO, with the request
to pay the amount over to his ut.
tOrncyS.
After his release. on October IA,
Payne called Oh his attorneys for
Il receipt for the money sent to
them. Great was their surprise, for
not Il dollar had ever been given
them.
Whereupon Miles was sent for.
and he confessed to have spent the
money, promising to refund as soon
as he could, IL tormallty which he
has not yet complied with.
This alarming state of affairs CO.
ming to the knowledge of Miles
securities. they conferred with the
legal gentlemen placed in charge Of
the resignation, and it was decided
to $ it ut once. Whcrcupnn the
following communication was al.
dressed by them to the Governor:
"To His Exccllcncy +. T. Nichols,
Governor OF Louisiana.
The undersigned, securities on the
official bond of Victor Miles, sheriff
of the parish OF st. james. beg
leave to submit to yonr consilera,
ton the following facts:
The >a.d.ii|'S having proven to be
unable, mnfaithfnl to his duties, and
dishonest in his transactions, WE
have obtained and now tender his
resi- gnation AS sheriff aforesaid and
Respectfully recommend the appoint.
ment of a: livain Bourgeois, as his
SUCCESSOR
Respectfully,
l.. GRANDEURY,
PIERRE ScHEpp