The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-04-13
GOVERNOR NICHOLAS
On the Witness Stanl.--He Won't be Bull.
sl0Zed by Lawyer.
Quite II isreezc in Court.

iass Friday. 1t occurred in the trial q
the snit OF Hope and company of Ans
'e"iam vs. Board Of Liquidation. Tn
plaintiffs are holders of certain bonds
sn'"untinx TO some 1000, 900, issue,
hy this State in 1886 in favor Of In
Ct'zan's Bank, and ale seeking to hav
them funded into State consolidate,
-b"n'!s The governor is, by law, ex
"tiic.n president of the board Of l'qui
ta''on. ile was placed on the witues
stant, and the following spirited colo
uuy en-ts'ti between him and Mr.. Il
II. l'arrar, attorney for the bonhhoil
ers:
GOV VEHNOI: NICHOLS THEN TOOK TIL
STAND.
He said he was governor uf The Stat.
m Louisiana aud therefore ex-Otiicit
president of the h,Ard oi liquidation
Nocotninunjc.'iou had passed bet weeu
dhe auditor ami himself in regard to
the Hope II ca. claim. He had never
anil the present moment, had any
knowledge ni letters having been sent
by Mr.. Denis to members of the board
He had received Mr.. Denis litter, but
Instituted no inquiry to find cut
whether Il final demand had been
male for the funding of the bonds. He
did moi call II meeting of the board to
take action on the matter.
Ca heing pressed f,r reasons for this
Glow. Nichols stated. ,hn1 his reasons
could only he reached by msu,iamus.
He said tina, he had not asserted that
he did not propose to call a ms citing,
hat that he had not called one.
MIR. Farrar -- Governor, what are
your 'rensons for not calling II meeting
1T the board to consider this matter ui
retun,ling tue bonds?
Gov. N:cho'ls--As governor of the
STATE Of Louisiana and ex-cffico presi>
dent "f the board, / exercise my dis
erection in refusing 10 answer that ques-
ton. l refuse TO inform either the
counsel or the court as TO what were
my reasons for not calling meeting
uf the board.
MIR. Farrar-l want a direc. reply.
Gov. NjcholIs (warm'y)- Perhaps,
sir, you would insinuaie that my r.
piie. to yunr questions are evasive.
Mr.. FArrar-NOw that you mention
the fact, sir,
DO INSINEATE II.
| SAY that both your manner and Ian.
SuaEt are eVASiVe.
Gov. Nichols rose aud said holly:
'l dare you, Me-. Farrar, to repeat this
assertion on the outside ;" Or, rs some
understood his words TO b", "If you
repeat that assertion on The outside, !
will sac you.':
Mr.. i'arrar WAS on the point of re-
plying when Judge Ellis interviewed
and said that he wished to sec no dis
tu,hancn in court and wished to hear
nn personalities exchanged.
Attorney General Rogers objected 10
the question a. put by Mr.. Farrar, and
the court sustained the objection.
NJ. Farrnr called for \ reading of the
question he had put 10 the witness,
Mr. Rogers objected to y repetition,
and was sustained by the court.
Mr.. Narrar filed a bill of exceptions
sllegIng, first, that the question had
never been put before in the same
form; and, second, that the governor
had no right nor prerogative TO refuse
tn answer question in court of JUS
lice.
TO questions by Mr.. Denis the gov.
eruor said, had he answered Mr.. Denis
missive the reply would have read: /:
"I will give the matter due considera~
tior.'
MIR. Denis-Are you aware that the
act of 1875 demands quick action in
the matter OF funding bonds:
Gov. Methodist am.
Mr.. Denis--Are you aware that n
violation ui this law is
CRIMINAL OFFENSE:
Gov. Nicholls--I Am prepared to be
tried for any criminal rfftnse that
navu committed.
Mr.. Denis expressed himself as salts.
fed with This answer, and .he exami-
nation was resumed.
Witness stated that the last meeting
"f the board of liquidation took place
in the middle of the winter. lie does
not know whether the board has an
office of its own. He had II passing
conversation with the iieutenani-gov
erunr upon the subject OF the funding
Of the boudS.
Witness considered tina, the right 10
act was vested in him. lie had not
acted tor reasons which he considered
cnncerueu himself alone.
This closed Ihe testimony, AMI At
inruey General Rogers opened the ar.
gument for the State.
After adjournment Mr.. Farrar was
interviewed by n reporter AS To whal
action lie intended to take as regarded
the calICToy between Gov. Nichols
and himself. He said: