The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-09
THE UNITED STATES GRAND JURY.


The probabilities are that no one. be he
either Democrat or Republican, will seriously
deny that the present United States grand
Jury was organized with the prosecution OF
prominent citizens OF this State in view, and
that majority of the members were selected
with especial reference to their ability and
willingness to do the peculiar and decidedly
questionable work which the United States
officials had cut out for them. The sublime
faith they have reposed In the ignorant and
sdebased negroes who haze appeared before
them as witnesses, and the rapidity with
which they have found indictments against
some OF the best people Of this State.
on the memorized testimony OF these same
corrupt witnesses would indicate. and, indeed.
prove to the air-minded observer, that such
was the case, even were the character OF
many OF the jurors and their past or present
connection with the Granite Building as en-
ployees unknown.
But for days past 1t has been known that
certain members OF the jury were. when
placed on 1t, employed in the Custom-House
and that they still retained their positions.
and 1t was believed that others had been
given places since becoming members Of the
body.
A representative OF the DEMOCRAT has for
several days past been investigating the
matter, and although 1t Is possible that he
has not succeeded In placing all the men who
hold positions In the various departments Of
the building, still, enough has been CLEANED
to pretty well establish the character Of the
body.
There are but two known Democrats on the
jury, with one whose politics are open TO
question; the rest are all Republicans. true
and tried. and OF the number (sixteen) eleven
have held or still hold positions In the Gus
tom-House, in some capacity or other. or
this eleven there is p. E. Bechtel, who. Is
clerk In the United States Auditors Office.
and was when placed on the jury; l.. l..
whose father Is in the employ. in a response
BILE capacity, of United States Marshal Whar-
ton; J. +. Bourges, brother Of the above.
who was on the roll but who was removed
some time ago, but who, 1t Is said, has been
promised new position; j. b. GlaudiD, In
spector at the New basin; w. G. Flanders,
formerly local Inspector OF steam boilers
and last, but not least, III. w. Green. the oele-
brated informer, on whose testimony the
State grand jury found an indictment against
the State Printer. Green is one Of the few
men In the favor of the several departments
to whom the auditor will pay the salaries Of
employees on presentation Of due bill. and
who has been making nice, snug little sum
lately by buying time Of the employees.
There are others who there Is good reason
for believing IRE on the rolls, and the inyesti-
cation of the DEMOCRAT reporter will be con-
unued until the truth or falsity OF this opin-
ion Is established.
In addition to the above, if there was any
thing further necessary to prove the animus
OF the prosecution, 1t would be found In the
fact that a large number of witnesses who have
testified before this jury have been rewarded
by having their names placed on the labor
ers' roll at salary of S12 a week, and are
drawing the pay without performing work.