The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-03-12
Police Jury Proceedings.


LAFAYETTE, La, March 3, l8oS-The
Police Jury met this day in regular session
with the following members present: c. c.
Brown, Ben Avant, Alfred Hebert, J. E.
Primeaux, Alonzo Lacy and NJ. Billeaud,
Jr. Absent: II. c. Landry and Jno. Whit
tington, Jr.
called the meeting to order and by motion
pro tenn.
The minutes of the previous meeting we're
read and approved.
The attention of the Jury being called to
the indictment of Hon. Ben Avant for en-
bezzlenient of a certain amount of drainage
fund in the second ward and also to the
complaint made relative to the use of par
ish oxen for private purposes, by motion of
Mr.. Avant it was resolved to appoint two
committees to examine into the respective
charges affecting the integrity of a member.
The chair appointed Messrs. NJ. Billeaud,
Jr. and Alfred Hebert to report that
charge respecting the disbursements of the
drainage fund and Messrs. Louis Whiting
ton, Alex Nj. Broussard and c. Avant to re-
port concerning the misuse of the parish
oxen. Mr.. Avant in making the motion for
complete investigation of the charges pre-
ferred, expressed the assurance of his entire
exoneration of any culpability in the premi-
ses, and took occasion to explain the per-
sonal relationship existing between himself
and his accuser, Thompson Hofpauir, as
cribing personal enn,ity the sole motive
actuating the affidavit. Mr.. Avant ex-
hibited private account book showing re-
ceiPts and disbursements of drainage fund
for 1897 and indignantly repelled the at
tempt to besmirch his character.
The committee appointed to investigate
the charge of embezzlement against Mr..
Avant in due time reported as follows: We
the undersigned committee, appointed to
look over the books of Mr.. Ben Avant
for parish money used as drainage fund and
other purposes, beg to report that we have
found as per account book handed us for
1897, Mr. Avant has CO llected $40 and has
paid out to different persons $I9I.o5, leav-
ing balance due to the parish of $7S.o5.
M. BlLLEAUD, JR.,
ALFRED HEBERr.
Lafayette, La, March ;, 1898.
On motion the report was approved and
recorded.
Constable HirSch was authorized to buy
chairs for the assessors Office.
On motion of Mr.. Billeaud the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved that the road donated by v.
Broussard and others public road, as
per act made and passed before Geo. Mala-
garlic, notary public, on the 9TH day of Jam
uary 1898, and being duly recorded act
23oIz, is hereby accepted and declared to
be public road. Said road running be-
tyxoep he cornerstone of Razile Landry
Jean Bic. .Brouss ard and which is actually
known as the t.Old Lane.''
BY motion of Mr.. Billeaud, Messrs. Ar
thur Boulet and a. Prmeaux were APP
pointed to accept the donations of certain
roads in the 4th and 9Th wards.
The treasurer submitted his monthly re-
port follows:
To the President and Members of the
Police Jury Lafayette parish, La. Follow
ing is statement Of receipts and disburse-
ments of parish funds since my last report:
To bal. on hand last report -.-....-$ 49, ~
Feb. amt. reed. G. Romero land
anti anti reed: tax coli'r:, taxes
colrd. in Jan. ...-.~...... 1000 90
I" amt. reed. tax coll'r., taxes
colPd. in Jan ....... .....-....-.....- 252o 81
g amt. reed. tax coll'r., licenses
colld. in Jan ....... .....-. ........... 2o2 50
" amt. reed. tax coll'r., delinq.
licenses coll'd. in Jan,.-...--..---.- 1904 SO
Total receipts ......-........$ 1917 81
Five per cent com. tax coll'r. on
taxes....... . .....$ 251.o4
Five per cent com. tax collr. on
license ... ... 81 81
App'd. orders Observation-Disclosures. 1899 SO
Jurors certificates .....-....-.-......... 23S 80
Witness 50 .......... ..-.-.----.-..-- IS go
Total disbursements 1887 81
BY bal. on hand $3.50 II
Respectfully submitted,
J. E. MARTIN, Treasurer.
Lafayette, La, March 3, 1898.
The following accounts was rejected:
J. E. Key, two days work on bridge SO.
The following accounts we're approved:
I. A. Broussard, feeding prisoners 1888 IS
E. G.. VOORHEES,, elk and notary fees "a 90