The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-07-15

densely packed, not half OF the people
present being able to obtain seaes'
Judge Knoblock promptly opened court
1T s A. NJ, and soon thereafter the I'M
maculate Sisters, eight i'll number, hled
down the aisle aud were assigned seats
in the jury box. Fathers Bouchet, J. 3.
and NJ. Laichaire, Welte, Menard and
Chappens of New Orleans occupied chairs
withia the bar alongside OF Attorneys
Cant. Lewis Gnion, L. Y. Folse, Capt.
j. B. Wilmington, Edward Gaudet Ct
New Orleans, Judge Carver and =. N.
Pugh of your parish, w. r. Howell OF
Assumption, District Attorney Il. osui-
Ivan, Messrs. ella, Knoblock, brother OF
the Judge presiding, and Walter Guloi'
counsel for accused and Thomas u.
Badeaux, Father V6nissat accompa-
MED by his counsel appeared am'd the
most profound silence. There appearing
on the original affidavit made before
Prosper Davigne, Justice Of the Peace,
hv yerrier the uncle of the Misses Devil
lat some defects, one us to the date OF
the commission of the alleged otfense
and the other as to a misnomer Of one OF
the girls, District Attorney moved for
new affidavit, which after some argu-
mcnt was consented to by counsel and
evidenced by the court. The error in the
date would have enabled the defense to
establish an abb, hence the action OF
Mr.. O'Sullivan. Clay Knoblock then
asked for II separation of the witnesses,
and that Verrier the affiant he prohibited
from holding any communication with
his nieccs. He was therefore entirely
excluded from the other witnesses and
placed in u separate room. Attorney
Kadeaux also II witness was at his
request excepted from the rule OF eNclu-
sion.
Judge Arthur T. Knoblock ofLafonrche,
the presiding Judge, was elected without
opposition to his present position rs a
Democrat. He is q quiet, dignified,
scholarly gentleman and has discharged
his iudical duties so far with ability, fair
ness and energy.
Mr.. f. A. O'sulliyan, District Attorney
Of the District, is an Irishman by birth,
and like Judge knoblocI was elevated
to his present position without opposi-
ton. He is q tall, straight, handsome
young man, with large blue eyes, regular,
expressive features, sports a full sandy
beard and long hair kept carefully
parted. His prosecution in this case was
characterized with consummate skill as
we'll us legal and oratorical ability.
Hon. Clay kuoblocll of Lafuurche,
counsel for defense, is u native Of La
fourche parish, and although he has only
entered actively upon the practice Of his
profession since the war, has attained
great eminence at the bar; in short, he
| may be put down as one of the most
ana. He was Il member of the State
Convention of 1879, in which lie took a
high stand as a dcbater, and evinced rare
| qualities of sound sta craftsmanship.
Walter Guion; Esq, of Assumption,
also for the defense, is n young lawyer,
who to all appearances is physically
rather delicate. The war materially
interfercd with his academic education
and like many courageous young men Of
wealthy parents when found at the close
Of the war cast upon their own excrtions,
lie obtained al honorable situation with
that model clerk, Judge Alfred Tete,
now the competent Sheriff of Assumption
While thus employed he devoted his
leisure hours to the study Of law under
| the direction of his brother-in-law, Gen.
T. L. Nichols. He is not an orator in
the common acceptation of that term,
lacking many Of the requisite to con-
stitute one. His command Of language
is excellent, never Wanting for the right
word to express his thoughts; but his
voice, while distinct at close quarters,
has Il plaintive, mournful sound. His
manner, however, is soIemnly earnest
aud his methodically prepared arguments
are direct, logical and marked with deep
research.
Mr.. Verricr, the affiant, is small
we'll preserved Frencima,, aged about
60 years, has grey hair, black and fero-
cious monstache. He is a gunsmith by
trade and has enjoyed a good reputation
in Thibodaux, W here lie has resided fol
the past fifteen years. He is reported tc
he in good pecuniary circumstances.
Octavie Devilliat is u young school
girl of medium size, passably good look,
ing, and appeared in court neatly attired
in light colored summer garments and
jaunty straw hat gaily trimmed witt
brightribbons. was not very favorably
impressed with the expression of he!
countenance. 1t Indicated certain
degree of effrontery not exactly in con
| sonance with what my old school-mas
ter was wont to set down for my copy
Modesty is quality that highly adorn:
a woman" She eyinced "A fair share O.
intelligence in her examination, and tt
the delicate questions propounded by
: Mr.. O'sullivan in the purest Frencl, by
5 this accomplished linguist, answered
) readily and without the least timitlity
) To me, she appeared rs perfectly verse;
i'll the matter under Investigation as thu
| District Attorney.
Olivia Devilliat the younger sister
9 aged about ten years, attracted my
tendereSt sYmnathY and esteem at frs