The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-06-28
Charged Of Bribery.

Joseph st. Amant. representative from
Ascension, was arrested Friday evening
OF last week on information filed by the
district attorney of East Baton Rouge.
The following is a copy Of the charges:
District Court, Parish OF East Baton
Rouge An information was fled TODAY
by II. n. Sherburne, district attorney. A.
galnst Joseph ST. AmaGt, a member of
The HcJse OF Representatives from the
parish OF Ascension, reciting on the first
day Of July, 1888, the said st. Amant
feloniousiy, fraudulently and corruptly
t!ld agree to receive and lid receive a
brlbe, tO-wit: The sum of one thousand
dollars lawful money OF the United
States from the hands OF the Louisiana
State Lottery Company and from the
hand of John a. Morris and from the
hands or some person to said district at
t0rney unknown, upon the understand
ing mat The vote, opinion, Judgment and
action OF said Joseph st. Amant i'm his
Official capacity and in said GeneralAs-
se,nbly should he thereby influenced up-
on and fayOsably to any and all matters
affecting the Interests Of the Louisiana
Lottery Company. and affecting the in
terests OF said John A. Morris, and esDe-
clally Ur0n and favOrably to the grant |
ing by the General assembly of lottery |
privileges to said John 4. Morris, and t0 |
such persons aS he might associate with |
himself, which thereafter should be |
brought before said General Assembly OF |
the state OF Louisiana, during the official
term Tor which said Joseph Sc. Amant
'-as oten elected as aforesaid to said GEN.
aral assembly, aud said H. n. Sherblrne.
lstrlct attorney aforesaid, gives said
'ourt here to understand and lie inform
'd the court that said Otlpnse as charged
Is aforesaid was not made known to him
u any public officer having the power to
lirect the investigation or prosecution OF
sld oifense until the 10Th day of June,
$50.
The second count OF the the infOrma-
ION charges that on the 10th of June,
$50. the said Joseph st. Amant did re- (;
eleye brief of $l0,G00. The third count
harges that on the 9Th January, 1890
aid st. Amant did receive a bribe of
1000 from the hands Of the Louisiana !
tate Lottery Company. s
The next morning Mr.. ST. Amant rose J
question Of privilege and person ex- I
lanation, and read the following paper: i
Mr.. Speaker-lt is matter of public c
ot0rlety that on yesterday just as it was q
xpected that | would be called on to !,
Dte Oh the lottery proposition warrant Il
as sworn out for my arrest on q charge u
bribery. The. charge is double bar
lied. To affect public opinion and to
ster Inc from the 2nactiOn of exIlicit
from my people, at the same
ne that 1t harasSes me with criminal
'0Secutlon withdrawing my attention
ON the performances of my political
rites. 10
From The time thase instruction from n
people were received aud expressed
y Intention to Coz slider them have re- >
lyed information that | would be at
cked in this way, and had been weak
Ough to yield 30 such moral intimida-
'n and threats OF criminal prosecution
luld have escaped the invidiOus attack
my honor which, under the circum- 4
!nces, must subject me TO great mis- Il
Instruction OF my motives. But with
md conscious of no moral wrong feel b
paOie OF Vindicating myself fully at
Oar OF public opinion and public JUS
e, and defy my accusers in the face
the whole world.
" hen the proper time comes; which l
~ select with due deIiberatiOn, | will -,
Ike an exposure Of the motives and ~
lchinatiOns in which this charged has 'e' %
ginated. pa
The arrow aimed by private malice vO
II fall short, and will vote according 40,
my conscientious cfnvictiOns, and to ,
own people will render an account, >.
my Cnly crime lies in obeying their -
PRESSED instructions. ue