The Opelousas courier., 1893-08-26

OpELoUsAs, LA, Aug. 2


lished Il statement that is incorrect and does
me an injustice.
When the Police jury met on August 9TH,
| asked for an investigation, stating that par
ties had entered the Police Jury room after
the ad ournment of that Body on the 9th
and had taken theretrom document. The
investigation was ordered to be had at 4 p. M.
At the appointed time the assessment list
were counted and found to be there, | then
asked for the schedules and q list of copies
were produced, l asked if any one could pro
dnce the original, as up to that time it could
not be found. | then asked Mr.. Leonce Lit
tell if he and Mr. Boagui did enter the Police
Jury room after adjournment on the evening
of the 9th, and take therefrom a document
and when they came out did not Mr.. B0agni
say: "Leonce take this schedule, put it
away and keep it sale," Mr.. Littell in reply
stated that if in the morning he had known
that it was this that | wished to prove he
could have saved all the trouble. He said it
was true that Mr.. BOagni had went iu the PO-
lice Jury room and that Mr.. Boagni had given
him a schedule and had asked him to keep it
safe, but it was Mr.. Boagni's private property
and in his own hand writing l asked him to
produce it and when he did so | was told
by members of the Police Jury that it was in
Judge McGee's hand writing. AS to Mr.. La
feur going to the desk and getting the origi-
nal schedule, that ls not so, | found it my
self lying on tue desk of the president and
held it before the members saying: that
had found it aud was satisfied that nothing
important was now missing, aud impressed
upon them that the point was making was
that no one but those duly authorized should
be allowed to enter the Police Jury room and
take anything connected with the office there
from. How the schedule got on the desk is
still a mystery to me, for it was. not there,
nor could it be found before adjournment or
at the time all the other schedules were pro
duced.
Now you see Mr.. Editor that the charge
| made was admitted and that my object
was for the purpose of making the Police Ju-
rors cautious and also finding the original
schedule which up to that time could not be
found, both objects being accomplished to
my satisfaction.
staid in the Police Jury room for more
than one and a half hours after that, and after
I had left the honorable gentleman from the
sixth ward offered the following resolution:
By Mr.. Courtney-"Be it resolved, that,
whereas the Assessor of st. Landry having
appeared before this body and asked to be
allowed to investigate the matter of some
person or persons having extracted certain
documents from the rooms of this Jury and
whereas, said investigation having been
granted, and full and complete review of
the matter has developed the fact that the
complaint lies in a member of this body hav
ing taken with him from these rooms sched
ule, one of five for the use of this body
therefore
Be it resolved, that the Assessors action Is
hereby dismissed"
1t can be seen that | Vindieated, for
the intelligent legislators resolution fell still
born and DR.. Clopton's substitute adopted
as follows: after a full investigation by the
Assessor nothing of Importance was found
out of place whatever" With the immortal
two, Courtney and Guidry voting no, know
that you will do me the justice to give this
the same publicity that you did to the high
ly imaginative reporters version.
Yours truly,
M L. SWORDS.
The following is the article which
Mr.. Swords takes exception to. While
giving Mr. SIS communication a place
in our columns, we wish to say that We
have good reason to believe our version
to be entirely eerroct; our informant
is quite reliable, and his statement is
corroborated by others who were pres
ent and who have no personal interest
whatever in the matter.
Last Monday when the Police Jury met.
Mr.. Swords appeared before that body and
stated that while in their possession q part of
his record had been taken and carried away
and that he could prove it was taken, and
also who took it and asked to be allowed to
do so.
His request was granted, and the hour ap-
pointed for the hearing. When the time
came, Mr.. Swords had his books counted, and
all were there he then called for the sched-
ule as a number of copies had been made
for the use of the Police Jury each member
began to look around for his copy, when Mr..
Swords stated it was no use to look for it
as he could swear that MIR. E. M. Boagni had
taken the schedule from the office after the
Police Jury had adjourned, and given it to
Mr. L. E. Littell telling him to keep it. Mr..
Litteil who was present then arose and said
to the Jury that Mr.. Boagni had taken a copy
of the schedule from the Office and gave it to
him. and that he then had it in his pocket
that he was sure Mr.. Boagni had no objection
to every one knowing this. That he was ask-
| ed by Mr.. Boagni to represent him and others
before the Board of Reviewers as he tBoagni)
| would be absent when the Jury met again
and said, ''eome with me, and | will give you
! u copy of the schedule that you may see what
| changes have been made" which he went tG
the Police Jury room and got giving it to me
| and taking it out of his pocket Mr.. Littel
said here it is. Mr.. Littell then turned tC
!, Mr. Swords and said, is this document ot
your ofice9 Have you any right to this pa
| per whateverl Mr.. Swords answered no
| Mr. Laf1eur then said that the original sched
ule from which they made copies Mr.. Boagn
had said he would file in the drawer of ths
presidents desk for future reference, and go
| ing to the drawer he found the original, TAX
ing it out and saying "here it is yet" Th'
Police Jury then dismissed the investiga
tion at once, Mr.. Swords having nothing mor'
to say. .... ,.