The Opelousas courier., 1897-10-23
Onr District Court.

This Court terminated its protracted
labors Oh Monday last. The term has
been an interesting one. Business has
been transacted with uncommon celel-
ty, and gratifying results. The cases
brought to its attention have been
largely criminal, some civil matters
We're passed upon hy consent of attor-
ney and disposed of. We do not hesitate
to say hat as much efficient and valuable
work has not been done in St. Landry,
in the same length of time, for years.
1t the Pardoning Board and the Gov
ernor will but permit the results OF the
trials of criminals to stand, and the SEN
tences Of the Court to be executed to
the letter, crime will fease to be so COM
mon in ST. Landry an, "a far better con-
dition of society be inaGgurated. We
deem 1T necessary to commend the petit
jurics Of the term. They have done
falthfn! service and are entitled to The
| lasting gratitude Of the people. They
| have resuscitated the criminal laws,
| which from anteceding maladministra-
ton, had become paralyzed, or had fall
| len into a state OF coma strongly rcsem-
bling death itself. Ali praise TO the
jnries OF the last term, We sincerely
hope that all future jurors will emulate
their worthy example and teach MALE
factors that the penalty for their in
excusable crimes must follow their
ommission, as inevitably us day fol-
lows the shades of night. We bave OBJ
| parties come into court and thinking To
escape through the presumed gullibility
ofjuries impaneiled TO hear and try
them, set up the plea that they shot, or
killed Il human being, by an accident.
| This miserable plea has become too
| often repeated to be longer accepted by
| intelligent juries i,s an exculpatory ex-
cuse. Our District Attorney too, justly
| comes in fer u g0odly share of approba-
tinn. Whilst he is intiexiblc in his de-
! termination to expose crime and to cx-
| plain aud to vindicate the authority of
| the State, he does not fail to practice
| the suaviter in mode viii, distinguish
| ing fortiter in re which make even his
| veiemence agreeable to his brothers of
| the bar. In purpose, he is as sturdy as
| an oak stump aud in him the State is
| worthiiy represented. 1t wiiful crimi-
nails would avoid garland of lightning
! from encircliDg their liberties, they
| must keep out of our Court. High
| among his peers and coiaborers iii good
cause, sits our Judge. He is physically
far from being an athlete. We wonld
not readily lay Il heavy wager ON his
Jeoffrey Hudson, Joseph Borowaski,
Nicholas Ferry and Gen'l Tom Thumb,
but, measured by his judicial acumen,
he esercomes the most gigantic legal
absurdties and makes himself yerit-
able terro: to evi. doefs. He is a
human machine OF industry, with IL two
hundred horse power energetic lOcOmo-
tive. Whenever a case ia brought
before him, he goes straight To the gist
ot it and shakes the snpiiistries Of the
busy attornies from its merits, rs read-
ly as the lion would the dew from his
shaggy name.
materially contributing to the expedi-
ton of the Courts work by timely pro.
visions for it's many processes. 1t is
commonly conceded that large bodies
move slowly, but despite the very re-
spectacle rotundity Of his body and the
perceptible capacity OF his belt, he
moves about with an agility, surpassed
only by that Of Partisan dancing mas
ter.
His adjntant, Henry E. Estorge, Esq,
has by his punctuality and dexterity in
handling records, inscrihing proceed
inga,-his practical acquaintance with
Court forms. etc, greatly assisted in
the work done by the Court. In addi-
he has seasoned the, sometimes exces-
sive gravity Of the Court, by the oc-
casionai interspersion Of the spices of
mirth. II he should be missing through
a term of Court, we believe it might
become expedient to prescribe doses Of
laughing gas TO all its officers, includ-
lug the attorneys, before closing its la
bors.
Last but not least comes the efficient
grier of the Court, the affable Major
Mouton. What could be done, without
the occasional resonance of his manly
voice, calling to order commanding ST.
lence in Court and standing at the
Court House windows calling recall
citran. Witnesses jurors and litigants
and ofttimes Attorneys who, absenting
themselves from the bar of the Conrt,
retire for a..smiie at the bar of Baechus?
We know OF no one who could approach
his official axcelience III these and other
respects, unless it might be our wafer
like and grave looking friend, Cochran,
who for a period of years held the po-
sition, the Maj Or SO worthiiy holds.
Summing all up we have a well Or
ganized Court, aided by a Sheriff and
his staff OF active deputies. Our Sheriff
casts "a broad shadow which appears to
be gradually enlarging and which Wa
legs prove unequal to the easy support
OF his corpofeaf superstructure. As
soon as quarantine regulations will
permit, he will 60 to Baton Rouge with
q large delegation from here, some Of
whom we are told, are laying the flat
tering JUNCTION to their souls" (if they
have any y that the Pardoning Board
and the Governor will interpose the
ngis Of. their authority and power to
protect them from the punishment the
Court has justly inflicted. Nous rerrons
The Yellow Fever Situation.