The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1883-10-20

shown by my sending COL Fremaux's
nRme to the senate for confirmation in
1881. when / could have sent in Mr.
Richardson's. if I had so desired:
ID. My earnest protest against the
resignation of Col. Fremaux aud my
desire that he should remain in the
Office.
He stated TO me IN rendering his
resignation, which was RESPONSE Ee to
my verbal request no. to resign, that
''he hoped ] would not consider his
resignation an Abandonment of trust
which had SO generously bestowed. y
81. / never consulted Col. Fremaux
about who shonld be his successor, and
never showed him any list of applicants,
and never required his Judgment about
their capacities. There was but one
application pending at the time of this
interview, that of Mr. Grandjean, Col.
| Fremanx' son-in-law.
4th. In the city Of New Orleans. in
the executive office, and not in Baton
Rouge, Col. Fremaux, in February,
1882, told me of his intention to resign,
and said that it was absolutely essential
that practical surveyor should be ap-
pointed to fill the Office At his solicit
same statement to me, and recon-
meuded the appointment of Mr. Crraud-
Jean, who put il n formal application,
the first filed, and the only one filed in
New Orleans, of February 20tb. 1882.
After this, Col. Fremuux called at
the executive Office, and told me that
he had heard that J. &. Richardson
was an applicant, aud that he desired
to show me 10y eviden, in his posses
sion that lie WAS unworthy Of the office.
He then exhibited to me an order,
one only. think, drawn on the Audi
tors office for the return of money for
Il cancellation of entry.
I told Col. Fremauy that would in
quire into the matter, aud if Richard
son had altered the order or caused it
to be altered, would not appoint him.
On investigation the following facts
we've ascertulned : That Mr.. Richard
son had applied to the registers office
for an order for the return of money
for cancelled entry, that NIr Bres,
the clerk Of Col. FremnuX, the register,
had prepared aud written the order
that Richardson bad presented i t. the
Auditors office Maid WIS informed
there waS no fund on which this order
could be drawn; that Richardson re
turned the order to the land Office, and
Nj. Bres, Col. FremauX's CLERK, made
the alteration, SO that the amount
should he paid ont OF the fund for SAILS
made prior to 1865. The cinceled entry
upon which Richardson predicated his
for the return Of money WAS
made subsequent 10 1865. Mr.. Bres
stated to me that he alone was respOn-
sible for the alteration, and did il with
ont any evil intention, MS he thought
the state owed the money. and it was
out OF which fund it was
paid.
The order SO altered was presented to
the Auditor office, and Auditor Jumel
noticed the alteration aud returned the
same 70 the registers Office, Auditor
JumeI sent for MI. Bres. the clerk of
Col FremuuX, who made the alteration.
and inquired of him his reason for so
doing, when he made the same state
ment he afterwards made to me. Mr..
BreS further stated TO me that he alone
was responsible, aud that Richardson
had nothing to do with the alterations,
and Interlipeutions.
I attributed the attack upon Richard
son to zeal in behalf OF Col. Fremaux's
Mr.. Grandiean.
Tins order had been issued in the
early part Of 1880 aud the first mention
Of it to me by Col. Fremauy WAS in Feb
ruury, 1852, thus keeping the matter to
himself for period OF two yeals, and
in the meantime keeping M Bras in
his employ until the date OF his reslg-
nation in March, 1882.
Mr.. Jumel administered severe
reprimand to MI Bres, with the init
nation that such Il Transaction should
not again occur. MI Jumei thought
That Bres did not realize the extent Of
The wrong he was doing, ami attributed
it to gross carelessuess and ignorance,
and it is reasonable to suppose that Col.
tremauX so interpreted his acts, as he
Kept Bres in his Office until the date of
MS resignation, and from the tuCt that
Mr.. Jumel, to have no miscOustruchOn
ibout the matter, called at Col. Ere
office i'll person, taking the wal
ants or orders with hlnl, and called his
attention to the irregnlarity,