The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-08-07

THE EvIDEFoETo DrsnHovE THE CHARGES
AGAINST IfrM-lfow THE ST. MARTIN
1DnIEsATEs VOTED IN CONVERSATION
ROTH OF THEM AGAINST THE NOMINEE.
TnrBoDAux, July 20, Is

THIBuDAUx, july 20, 1880.
To the Editor Of the N. o. Democrat
4 Dear Sir respectfully ask yon t.
publish my answer to the last repor1
Of the st. Martin committee, and ]
trust that the evidence covers thewhoit
lease and clears me of the infamous
charges against me.
4 i went to st. Martin parish in order
to arrive at the bottom facts of the in.
vestigation had against me on the l4tt
of July, in my absence, and to sconvoke
the committee, lay new facts before
them. and then to leave them absolutely
free from any persuasion or influence
ON my part to do me Justice or refuse
it, as they pleased.
Arriving at Breaiix Bridge, j sent a
courier for the various members of the
COMMITTEE, and succeeded in getting a
quorum. Iwrote to Judge A. DcBlanc
to send TO the committee the written
statement of Hon. Alfred Voorhies,
who resides at St. Martinsville, j will
state right here that in the presence of
myself, Hon. Felix Noorhies and MIR.
"A. Domingeaux; member of the'oom-
mittee, Mr.. Alfred VOORHEES, publicly,
on the streets of St. Martinsville, ,ex-
oncrated me from any act or fault in
Misrepresentation of st. Martin, stating
to Mr.. Domiugeaux that he meant to
tell thecommittee, which would assem-
Bile at Breaux Bridge, to lay all blame
ION himself and MIR. Fonrnet, andito say
that Mr.. Billiu was entirely blamcless
in the matter.
When the committee met they sum-
moned Mr.. Alfred Voorhies by tele-
graph; his response was that he was
sick, and instead of his presence the
committee had his written statement,
hereinafter annexed.
The committee met Thursday even
ing at Breaux Bridge, aud afterhearing
my statement and after examination of
| the statement of MIR. "A. Noorhies, adj
dressed Ito them flor / had never read
tho statement of Mr.. Woorliies until
permitted to do so by the comnittee).
i being absent when the committee
opened said statement, they sent for
me; and various members of the com
mitteethcn and there told me that they
fully yexonerated me from all blame.
1ithen retired from the committee
expecting thcmto draw mp their report
in accordance with their expressed
views, when some time afterward DIR.
Guilbesn, member of the committee,
told me that a Telegram had been re-
ceiyed from Hon. j. III. Acklen, stating
he was on his way to Breaux Bridge,
and that in consequence the committee
had adjourned till Friday, July 23s at
no a. m.
On assembling the committee for.
mally opened their session with the
letter and my answer in the report
They sent for me and reiterated my
statement of the evening before; after
which the chairman requested me to
retire, which I did, and appeared no
more before the committee. i appeared
as a witness, but never as counsel, as
stated in the report. BY the by, the
certified copy of the report which j
have does not state that ] appeared as
my own counsel. Who interpolated
that expression in the printed report?
In my absence MIR. Fonrnet's testi-
mony wastaken. i was told that Mr..
Acklen appeared before the committee,
whether as counsel or witness, i know
not. His impress seems to be in the
report--and ] am of the opinion, from
the evidence annexed "a certified copy
from the secretary that the report
bears the stamp of some one who was
controlled by some other motive than
a desire to do me even-handed Justice.
After the committee adjourned i was
informed of the finding. 4 demanded a
copy of the evidence and of the find
ing, and after obtaining sameI left for
Lafayette. The committee had voted
unanimously, and yet i know that two
members of that committee willto-lay,
if necessary, declare my innocence. ii
have wondered since whetherthe com
mittee ever read that report.
Here is a certified copy Of the evil
dence:
sTArEMENr OF HON. ALBERT VOORHEES,.
4 hereby certify that Mr.. IL. 4. Four
net and myself appeared as slelagafaa