The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-12-05
DEFENCE OF JUDGE BLACKMAN.
.ALExANDR1A,LA !
Nov. "a. (

s My attention has just been called t.
an editorial notice in tie issue of you
S paper of the 18th inst, in which 20,
quote or refer to an article published
in the 7o,cn Talk Of this place, ant
, which appeared in that paper some
r days since, and in which Judge W. F
Blacknan was, as believe, unjustly
? criticised for two sentences he haC
made in criminal cases tried before
him at the last term Of our District
) Court-one a white man calling him.
self johnson, the other a negro boy
named Kin Ray. No reply was pub.
lished to this criticism of tho 1o,c7l
Tux because Judge Blackman's friends
were satisfied he WIS too we'll known
here to be harmed by it, and because
they, as well as himself, accord to the
public press the fullest right to freely
write and criticise the public acts and
conduct of every official from the high
est to the lowest in the State. He and
his friends would be the last to abridge
any Of these rights, and he and they
fully comprehend that the liberties of
the people are insecure whenever and
wherever the public press is not at lib
erty to foarlessly call things by their
right names, and to freely comment
upon and criticise official conduct. For
these reasons there has been no reply
to the article in Torn Talk, but since
you have noticed it l deem it my duty,
in justice to a Judge who is faithfully,
fearlessly and conscientiously endeav-
oring to discharge his duty, to correct
false impression which the publica-
ton may possibly produce away from
his homo where Judge Blackman is
not as we'll known as he is here. The
unvarnished facts Of the two cases are
these: A white man calling himself J.
". johnson, apparently about thirty
years OF age, stranger on the tramp
order, with a very bad countenance,
was arrested in this place, and charged
with stealing a coat worth about SIS.
Tie was caught in the act and was lodg-
ed in the Parish jail. This was on the
llth day of May last, and he was not
tried until the 31st day of October last.
During this period of almost six months
in the Parish Jail, he never wrote him
self, OR requested our Sheriff, Mr.. Paul,
who is proverbially kind and obliging
to prisoners, to write line for him, nor
did he tell any one who he was or
where he was from. After his convic-
ton he did tell Mr.. Paul he was from
Arkansas. Mr.. Paul at once wrote to
know something of johnson, but up to
this time had received no reply, and
absolutely nothing is yet known of this
mans previous character, antecedents
or former residence.
In his trial he was defended by coun- |
sci assigned by the Court, was found
guilty as charged and was recommend
ed to mercy by the jury, and on that
hndlng and recommendation he was
sentenced to fifteen months, instead of |
two years in the penitentiary. Surely, |
if this mans past conduct was Good, or
even fair; if he had any past character
to support him, or friends to aid or
speak kind word for him, he had am
pie time and opportunity to bring it
forward. Strange conduct this for a.
good but unfortunate man, and wholly
inconsistent with the life or character
OF any other than the bad and danger
Gus! These reasons and considera-
tons induced Judge Blaclzman to pro-
nounee the sentence he did, and he
was right. I submit, and I am conf
dent should Judge Blackman become
he has been too severe, that
this is Johnson's first crime or misde
neanor, and that he is good but I'M Z.
fortunate man, | know he would be
he first to ask for the exercise of the
oardoniug power.
AS to the negro boy Kin Ray, who
vas convicted of stealing a watch
worth $50, and was sentenced to eight (
months in the Parish jail and ordered
o work on the public roads during the
erln OF his imprisonment, Judge Black
nan was in ignorance Of the past char
'cter of the boy at the time he SEN
enced him, for he stated when pro-
'ouncing the sentence that he took in
{, consideration the extreme youth of
he accused and the fact that it was the
,rst time he had been charged with
ne commission Of any crime, and he
harged him that it was for those rea- 9
ems he was light in his punishment
nd hoped, therefore, that it would be
athcient to produce reformation and
eter him FROM future wrong-doing. II
m satisfied had Judge Blackman
nown at the time he sentenced Rayl
lat this was not his first otfense hel
ould have given him the full punish
ent authorized by law.
Ii the publication referred to has in B
~ manner led the public to infer that
1ese sentences were made by Judge
lackman for political effect it is, in
INT OF fact, without the slightest
I do know politics or pol
'lcal effect was never thought of by
ldge Blackman in the sentences
Very respectfully,
JAMES G. WHITE. r,
Observation-Disclosures
MANLY UTTERANCE.-There must
no boiling in the Convention which