The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-05-05
ARE I'VE ATTHE COMPLETE MERCY OF
THE LAWlESS2
Has Judge TayIor Gone Mad?

llOTdl ptOpic VI Jul WY ~
TO the lawless sentiment which doml-
mated our community, and called on
them to suppress it in It's lnclplency,
or before it again secured that foot
hold here which once made this town !
aCCursed.
While we dld this yainly, we
never expect to see the day when we
dare not condemn lawlessness, are
afraid to declare certain officials
incompetent, and we will quit journ-
ism before the time arrives when the
unholy, facilitating to government
autonomy class, can have the power
or influence to throttle the voice of
The PROGRESs.
To-day, our public veal is trembl-
ing on the verge of a volcano. An
eruption is eminent, the people, the
moral people of Caddo parish, are
trembling with that grave tremor Of
unrest which denotes the fact that
the fires of honest Indignation are
are smouldering and it will require
but little more tanning to make it
spring into blaze that will consume
all the rottenness that stands in its
path.
The citizens have been patient, for
bearing, enduring much and we say
right here to Judge Taylor, District
Attorney Land, Mayor Vinson, Chief
Nelson and force, be we'll on thy
guard; mind how you trlfle with
those affairs which belong to the peo-
pie. Guard yourselves we'll and see
to it that no idle trihing with the law
nor unholy favoritism shown in the
one instance, undue prosecution IL
the other, or Indifferent way of treat,
ing cases which come within YOU
jurisdiction.
!. Following the outrageous and dis
graceful acts of Messrs Benjamin
and others, was the session Of thu
, grand jury which did its work Sc
we'll that, contrary to all expectations
o surprise to many and no doub
deep regret to some officials, mum
Der of true bills were found agains
several parties for violating the Sun
! day law, and playing at faro anc
other banking games.
: On Wednesday last Mr.. Thoma
] Bond was put on trial for selling
e liquor on Sunday in the Gem salool
i owned by Councilman Toombs. TIL
: State proved that Bond did sci
: whiskey and received pay for 1t
I That witness and two others, VIII
9 found it convenient to be absent jus
. at this time, went into that saloon 70
e that sole purpose; that ne and an
d other took whiskey straight, Will
d the third took a cocktail. But dc
I. spite this direct, positive conclusiv
Q testiony, the jury failed to agree an
thus mistriAl was the result.
y This force had not grown cold, tn
q public indignation had not qulete
e down before still deeper wrong wa
rs inflicted on the community, this tim
q by Judge Taylor, followed by Distri'
Vi Attorney Land-in a moment of PEI
r. ulancy at the Judge, no doubt.
m The case was this: Mr.. G. '
y Leopard was on trial for running
ID banking game, faro. The State prove
le that Mr.. Leopard was dealing far
W that chips representing money we
We used. At this point it seems tn
re Mr.. NJ. G. Elstner raised the poll
'n' Catching at a weak point no dout
he that the value of each chip must
proven. And like bomb upon t
ears of the astonished district ATTIC
We ney, council for defense and COT
on officials and auditors, came the RI
wv ing of Judge Taylor, sustaining n
Elstner.
int In vain did the district attorn
quote this law to the Judge: S
ton 81, Revised Statutes: 'Wl
at ever shall keep a banking game
&C. banking house, at which money,
Der anything representing money, or a
,nd article OF value shall he bet or hi
~" ardel, OF shall aid or assist in lie
by ing one, shall on conviction, for
ia first offense, etc.
The presiding officer was OBJ
Isl rate, held to his opinion, and
nal district attorney then enter;3d Nc
IoI -.,,,,,; or.o;,ct ETr Joo',or1 ,