The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-01-03

X PHEXIX BALI4-Ihe sixth anniversary
ball Of Phoenix Fire Company, which oc-
cured at the company's new hall We'd
nesday evening, the 31st Of December
was an affair productive Of much enjoy
ment to all who participated, as is usu-
ally the case with entertainments given
under the auspices Of this sterling or
ganization.
| Though the large hall was not crowd
ed, it was comfortably filled, and that the
! attendance was ample for all the pnr-
poses Of the occasion is attested by the
fact that dancing was continued until 4
O'Clock Thursday morning. A number
Of fine toilettes were displayed 10y the
1 ladies, and the brilliant uniforms of the
firemen formed pleasing contrast with
the milder colors worn by the guests.
Much Of the success of the ball must be
attributed to the following committees,
the members Of which were very jealous
in the discharge Of their respective du-
| ties:
Arrangement committee--W. G. Will
| kinson, H. G. CRUDE, I. A. Kingston, C.
Oberkamp.
Invitation committed. q. Bass, T..
| A. Kingston, w. G. Wilkinson.
| Reception committee. NJ. Heating,
! w. D. Park, Il. n. Melancon, L. Landry,
| w. +. Stockmeyer.
Floor managers-Jos. Delgardo, Louis
Wild, A. J. Reynolds.
The restaurant and bar, under the
management Of Mr.. Henry Hether Of the
| Jackson House, afforded an abundance
| of refreshments, prepared in the best
style, IL feature Of the entertainment that
! the guests we're not slow to appreciate.
Those wishing winter goods should re-
member that Cheap Tony still holds
forth at his old stand, and is determined
not to be undersold by any business firm
iii town. He is selling standard dark
prints, light prints, white and brown
cotton at cents yard; and other
goods, Of all kinds and styles, proper
tionately low.
The TREASURY ENBRoGLfo.-On Mon
day last, the Goth inst, the mandamus
suit instituted against Town Treasurer
Martinez to compel him to account for
the balance OF corporation finds which
should be in his possession, came up for
Il hearing before District Judge Datfel,
sitting at chambers, Mr.. =. n. Pugh APP
pearing as counsel for the town and r.
N. Sims, Esq, for the Treasurer De-
PENDANTS attorney filed an exception to
the trial Of the mandamus, on the ground
that no witten order of the Judge fixing
the trial for the 29th was on file in the
Clerks office. After evidence had been
adanced and argument heard OH this
point, the Judge overrnled the exception,
holding that, having transmitted verbal
order to the Clerk reassigning the case
for later day than it had previously
been fixed, it was now within his PROV
incc to direct the Clerk to enter up a
written order to that effect nanc l,r0 tune.
Defendant reserved bill of exceptions
to this ruling, and the trial proceeded.
No evidence or argument was offered ii:
behalf Of defendant on the main issue.
and Judgment was rendered making the
mantiamus pcremptary and ordering Mar
tlnez 10 pay over to the Mayor and Al
dermen Of Donallsonyile S1,54 OH, tie
amount which the special committee Of
the Council reported in the treasury;
and il default Of defendant complying
with the order Of court within one hour
after q certified copy thereof had been
served upon him, the Sheriff was directed
to imprison him until such time as the
order should be obeycd. An appeal to
the Supreme Court was granted condi-
toned upon defendant furnishing bond
i'll an amount exceeding by one-half the
sum claimed, according to law, and two
days time was allowed for procuring and
fling the bond.
Pending these proceedings, Mayor Is
racl had made affidavit against Martinez,
charging him with the embezzlement Of
the municipal funds, and he was arrested
by the Sheriff upon a warrant issued 10y
Judge Dutfel. Bond in the criminal case
was fixed at $1554, the amount Of the al
legged embczzlement, and this was fi,rn-
ished by Martinez after he had remained
under surveillance in the Sheriff office
a few hours. The sureties We're eight or
ten in number, each signing for small
amount.
On Wednesday the appeal bond Of
$s2:332 in the mandamus suit was rendered
to the Clerk Of Court, and by him ac-
cepted and filed AS i'll the case Of the
criminal matter, the obligation was
signed by some ten persons as sureties.
The appeal is returnable to the Supreme
Court on the third Monday of the pres
ent month, and we believe such suits be
long to the class of "preference cases."
hence the prospect for an early decision
is favorable.
Other proceedings will be taken against
the recalcitrant Treasurer, and they will
doubtless be of such a character as to
impress upon him the fact that an official
is the servant and not the master Of the
people who elect him, and that, where
the laws are faithfully enforced, it is no
small matter for the custodian of public
funds to handle them as his own prop
erty and refuse to account to the authori-
ties inxested ly laM with sunerNisinn