The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-07
NEW ORLEANS FRIDAY MARCH 7, 1879

jury which were contradictory, and he asked
the court to reconcile, II 1t could, the counts
In both. which were not to be made reconcil-
able by any process OF reasoning
Mr.. Beckwth then spoke of the effect OF
such trials on the people, and the results to
accrue from n conviction. The case WAS one
In which the liberties of the people were in
volved and their most sacred rights were
placed In jeopardy. IT was no ordinary ease,
and upon their verdict might rest the per-
sonal liberty of the suffragans Of this grand
commonwealth. He was satisfied that but
one verdict could be rendered, and lett 10 the
jury what that should be.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY LEONARD
followed. He opened temperately and stated
that he would take up the testimony as
given by the witnesses one by one. He then
reviewed carefully the evidence given by each
of the witnesses, and vociferOusly commented
on it, He spoke for nearly two hours ana
made all that could possibly be made out of
his case. He urged that the Democratic con-
vention met with n purpose, which subsequent
event showed was In order TO take the aggre5-
sve. 1t was a conspiracy from the ilrst ana
everything of tho acts following indicated
that the purpose was intended to be what was
afterward carried out He dwelt consider
ably upon the editorials Of the Natchitoches
Viiaci.cator, and said that the defendents be-
ing readers OF that journal, must have known
of j Madison Wells candidacy and that their
opposition to Blunt was based on this fact.
He was very bitter in his invective and
dealt In strong adjectves frequently. When
he closed the Judge delivered the following
| charge.
United States Circuit Court, District Of
| IIonisiana-The United States VS.. Milton j.
| Cunningham ct ais
| Gentlemen Of The ,j,uy The indictment con-
| tainB four counts, the first three OF which are
based on section $500, and the last on section
55O8 of the Revised Statutes OF the United
| States.
Section $500 declares: "If two or more per-
SONS in any State or Territory conspire to
prevent by force, intimidation or threat, any
citizen who Is lawfully entitled to vote from
giving his support or advocacy In legal
manner toward or In favor Of the election OF
any lawfully qualified person as an elector
| for President or Vice President, or as mem
ber OF the Congress OF the United States or
/ to injure any citizen In person or property on
| account Of such support or advocacy, each oi
| such persons shall De punished by fine Of not
| less than five hundred dollars nor more than
| five Thousand dollars, or by Imprisonment
with or without hard labor not less than six
months nor more than six years. or by both
such fine and Imprisonment"
| Section 5509 declares: "If two or moro per-
SONS conspire to injure, oppress, threaten Oh
| intimidate any citizen in the free exercise or
enjoyment of any right or privilege secured
to him by the constitution or laws OF the
United States or because OF his having 50 ex,
ercised the same, they shall be fined
not more than five thousand dollars and i'm
prisOned not more than ten years.
| The indictment is brought against fifty-nint
persons, forty-eght OF whom are on trial
| Innmplv.