The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-02
LOUISIANA BOND FRAUDS.
Belief that the New Orleans Grand Jury Has
Indicted Ex-Treasurer Burke.

NEW ORLEANS, La, Oct. 1.-The grand
jury of the parish of Orleans met to-day. 1t
had been rumOred that they would investi-
gate the State bond fraud, and the court
room was filled with business men and
lawyers, the former of whom had been sum-
moned as witnesses in the bond case. At
general Rogers and District Attor-
ney Gutenberg were closeted together In
the latters private Office during the fore
noon. and came into court a few moments
before Judge Marr delivered his charge to
the grand jury. Among other things Judge
Marr said: 'Since your last adjournment,
gentlemen, the columns of the daily press
have teemed with the charge that certain
bonds, pecuniary obligations of the State
of Louisiana. which were declared by the
constitution of 1879 to be null and void
after Jan. 1, 1880, and which were required
to be destroyed, have gotten upon the mar
ket. unlawfully and fraudulently. and are
now outstanding in the hands of divers
persons. holding and claiming them as
valid legal obligations of the State. and in
terest coupons detached from such bonds
have been collected and paid out of money
belonging to the State. This startling an
nouncement has bee ome a matter of public
noteriety not only in the city and State.
but also at all the great commercial centers
of the civilized world, greatly to the in
jury of the credit of the State and the mar
ket value of it's securities and to the pre-
judice of the good name of the State. Mat
ters of so grave a character cannot be ig-
nored by judges nor by grand juries, and
charge you. gen tlemen grand jurors, that
it Is your solemn and sworn duty diligently
to inquire and true preSentfnent make
touching the alleged illegal and fraudulent
dealing with money and the obligations of
upon this inquiry without allowing
your minds to be preoccupied by. publica-
tions or newspaper comments, or the talk or
rumor.. You are officially to know nothing
beyond which You shall learn from the lips
OF the sworn witnesses and such competent
testimony as may be adduced in your pres
ence and hearing. If the proof adduced
satisfies your minds that there has been
any illegal or fraudulent dealing with the
money and the obligations of the State it
will be your duty to ascertain who are the
guilty parties and to present their names
to be put on trial for such offeHse crime, or
misdemeanor as the proof may warrant and
require you to lay to their charge"
The session of the grand jury lasted four
hours and four witnesses are known to have
been examined. Nine indictments were
found against some person or persons
charged with fraud and embezzlement. No
names are given, but it seems to be well un-
derstood that ex-Treasurer +. A. Burke Is
the party In each case. The grand jury
will be in session next Friday, and will ex-
anime other witnesses on the same subject
The impression seems to prevail that some
fifteen indictments will be found against
the ex-Treasurer in regard to the agricult-
ural and mechanical college bonds. and
that the other charges will be taken up at
leisure