The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-02-22

P<'SA1A "a "a 4SoHAO4A 1(Okk0 III y 8b3U
but was formerly in Burke emplo,
at New Orleans when the alleged
fraud was claimed to be perpetratei
| in the State Office. He said: "Whai
was done was from purely patriotic
purposes, and Burke's hands are
morally, If not legally, clean. Il
was done to tide the Worlds Fai,
over . critical period in its financial
affairs under peculiar circum-
stances and with supposed ample
guarantees, and when the story is
laid bare in court, a jury cannot be
found in New Orleans which will
convict my friend Of any great
crime, especially as several high
State and city officials, his col
leagues at the time, were equally
implicated and fully endorsed the
scheme whereby [ under assurance
made by one or two leading bank
ers and several of the wealthiest
promoters of the exposition that
everything should be made good }
Burke, to save the fair crash and
NewO rleans from the disgrace Of its
failure, reluctantly permitted the
placing as collateral Of certain pa
pers as mere matter of form} in
other than the State Treasurer's
Safe"
"And if Burke must 90 to jail in
the end" concluded the speaker,
he will not occupy a prison cell
alone. These ungrateful wretches
who, after they had got him into
their power and made q scapegoat
of him for political purposes, may
also, few of them at least haye an
opportunity to wear striped suits at
the States expense"
Just here the most noticeable part
of the matter is the statement Of
the ''old Louisianian," formerly in
Burke's employ, but now on the
staff of President Bogran OF Hon
duras. The parsonage is doubtless
the gifted and versatile Cockerton,
in the State Treasury of
Louisiana, and ex-business man
ager Of the Times Democrat news
paper under the Burke REGIME.
This Supplemented and highly
virtuous person, who is himself I'M
der criminal Indictment for being
loo free-haDded with the fraudulent
State securities, has been greatly
after and his presence was
much desired in this city by the
Grand Jury that investigated
Burke's bond robberies. It was
he could let in some light |
IN the subject.
Cockerton. il this be he, has |
Zept silent until now, and although !
What he has youchsafed to the pub
ic is not as full and complete as
'ould Be desired, it is still interest
ng. It appears, then, by this state
nent, that the State bonds were
lnlawfully removed from the State
reasury, but with the highly pa
ri0tic purpose ofssying the Worlds
Exposition from crash, and this
Unlawful act was done with the con-
emit and connivance of high State
nd city officials and leading bank
rs and the principal promoters of 1
he Exposition. They assisted
burke to pledge the stolen secur-
lies in order to sustain the Exposi-
ION and the honor OF the State,
nd now, with the basest ingrati-
lde. these accomplices, having
capped all the benefits Of Burke's
rime, have left him to suffer in
heir stead.
This is truly startling story,
nd since it appears to come from
person very near to Burke, il is .
III to suppose it was inspired by
10 arch thief himself, and intended
supplement the boast he, Burke, I
coming back to New Orleans to / j
Indicate bis own case and punish
10 enemies.
If the fleeing ex-Treasurer ever /,
ldulged any hope that he had /
rough influence and backing in ,
ouisiana to buy or juggle him ,
IL free and safe out Of the hands
an outraged justice, he must /,