The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-03-08

Orleans I'icaYune. we CLEAN the
following itomsr.
LAFAYETTE, La. Feb. 28.-The cfl-
mfna1 prosecution, began last Monday
in the district court, has 50 far resulted
In three convictions for fhe state-tWO
negroes faH stealing, and white man
for assault and battery.
The court has now under considers
ton the st. Martinsvilie regulator case,
wherein a dozen men are implicated
fOr-interfeFence ate NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
in MAY last. 1t will be remembered
that the accused were indicted by the
grand jury last fall, but with consent
Of THE state the indictments were
quashed by Judge Edwards. Subse-
fquently attorney Smedes filed bills OF
information against all the parties
concerned, making foua separate
charges against each Of the accused.
Wednesday the matter came up for
trial. Defendants were represented
Ply Judge Conrad Debailon, Felix
/ Vourhies and Hon. II. 4P.aO'Brysn. g.
IlH. Mouton, ESQ.,, made q motioasto
quash acknowledgements, anI1aafter hear
ing arguments pro and con the judge
took the matter under advisement
until yesterday moraing, when he
f~oEeTrufed the melton sIhe state then
demanded a severance, WEIGH was
Opposed by the defence with great
Evigor, but. the court decided to all0Wea
severance in the case of Ghas. Voor-
HES. s.Alcide VOORHEES, ana Pierre
Olivier, who are to be tried together.
These cases, which promise q long
and bitter struggle, xcame near being
settled in an saInicabfe manner this
evening. An agreement was reached
whereby the accused -shnlld appear
before ourtsphadguiltyaard be sen
fenced to a nominal fine. Hts learned
that amajority OF counsel for defence
were in favor OF such aec0nsummatiOn,
but owing to the strenuous opposition
Of one.or two the plan miscarried.
AL the regulator captains OF the.
parishywere in consultation to-day in
regard to the compromise intended.
Observation-Disclosures is assisted in
the prosecution of these regulateHcasesI
bytJ. C..Gibbs. Esq, Of Lake Charles,
Who has already distinguished himself
for his signal ability.
The trial Of pierre Olivier, Ghas.
VOORHEES, and Alcide VOORHEES,, for
interference at the. municipal election
last May, began this morning, but up
to a late hour this evening not a single
Juror has been obtained, the whole
time having been occupied by counsel
In objections, challenges and legal
spaEring generally. Large crowds
continue In attendance.
.Mareh 3.-The proceedings in the
case Of the state vs. sGhas. VOORHEES,,
Alcide olivier and Pierre Olivier have
been stayed by writ of prohibition from
the supreme court served upon Judge
Edwards to-day. The rpr0hibitory
order was obtained by the defense onR
writ. of certiorari. takengIast Saturday,
tits supposed upon the grounds that
the Judge erred in refusing counsel
attendance. of witnesses outside the
parish limitsy and that the municipal
election interrupted was not legal by
reason of there being no legally incor-
porated municipality. It ia alleged
that the town of Lafayette, BY reason
ofcertain amendments to its charter,
has forfeited its legal existence and
consequently the election in question
was void and Of no effect.
FThe matter will beIheld in a abey-
ance until next Monday, when the
supreme court will decide finally upon
the writ of certiourari.
The police jury sto8ay adopted IA
resolution eensurDg District Attorney
smedes for his. Tee-K4essnessin susnmo-
ming witnesses before aeourt, thus sen-
talking great expense to the parish.
THE resolution further states that if
this practice is not discontinued the
attorBeyWillsbe called upon TO resign.
This seems rather a harsh measure,
but the expense incurred in criminal
prosecution of late has been very great.
One instance is called where oyer 100
witnesses were summoned from q
neighboring parish for the purpose Of
testifying sin q case of misdemeanor,
costing the parish $130 or more for
citations alone.
The State Board4of Pardans are
grinding ont pardens almost as fast
and as Feeklessly as they did under
thn MANnarv ~nwsnn %.&rr@nns Aho