The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1900-09-01


signed communication from Mr.
V. HI. Sibille, q responsible citi
zen of Sunset-in fact, one of tht
best cizens of this parish-ir
which grave charges are made
against the personal and official
integrity of one of the members
of the Police Jury, James Darby
Esq. Here they are
SUNSET, LA, Aug. II, 1900.
Mr.. EDIToR:-- -., n .@ - -
win you kindly allow lne space in your paper
to bring to the notice of the Police Jury and
citizens of our parish one of the most audaci0us
frauds which was committed by Mr.. James
Darby, member of the Police Jury, who not
only furnished lumber of a very inferior grade
which Is n violation of Sec. 2 OF ordinance
and charged the parish fifteen dollars a thou
sand which cost retail dealers ten and a hall
dollars, and can be furnished by said dealers to
the parish for twelve dollars, but did actually
charge blH of lumber to the parish which was
delivered to Messrs. Miller IL Castillo for q
warehouse for their own use, and who undonbt-
y paid forit.
Mr.. Editor, am aware of the gravity of the
accusation am making and the consequence
and certainly would not have published the
facts had not proof OF this officials guilt I
hope the gentlemen comprising our Police
their honorable body, but will make an inves-
Tie taxpayers should demand that the mat.
ter be sifted to the very bottom in order that
such jobs be mott put up against our parish
again. Respectfully submitted,
&" V. ii. SIBiLLE.
Road Overseer.
These are indeed very serious
charges, and coming from a
known, responsible source their
gravity is increased tenfeld. Cen
eral accusations of reckless ex-
travagance, of culpable negli-
gence, of running the public bus
mess IN careless, slip-shod and
unbusinesslike way, have been
frequently made against the Po-
lice Jury of late years. but being
general in theirsnature they have
not received the attention due
them by the Police Jury, nor
have they attracted the, general
notice that they deserved. That
these accusations were welifound-
ed, recent developments in the
matter Of the parish printing
abundantly prove. These devel-
opments have established. beyond
the peradventure Of a doubt, the
fact that former Police Juries
have. been in the habit of approy-
ing claims submitted to them
without due examination and in
yestigation, and this fact in large
measure accounts for the parish
being still deeply in debt, not
withstanllng the largely increased
taxes turned into the parish
treasury for the last four years by
every incorporated town q i'm the
parish.
Now that q specific charge has
been brought. by a responsible
party, the PolieessJury can not
afford to ignore it, and itesbe-
heoves them, and every individ-
ual member of their body, to see
to it that equal and exact Justice
be meted out to every party con-
cerned, and particularly TO the
dumb and silent and long-suffer-
ing massesTof whom they are the
trusted agents and representa-
Itfves. ~
Mr.. Sibilie, to crafty IA per-
sonal spite, or in an unworthy
spirit of revenge, has been
prompted to bring unfounded
charges against ansfnnocent man,
he will deserve the execration of
allgeod men.s.B But if his charges
are true, not only should the
guilty one be punished and made
in example sof, but Mr.. Sibille
should receive the hearty thanks
and enthusiastic plaudits of the
community for having given this
striking proof Of his manliness,
his patriotism and bis public
spirit in the courageous discharge
of one Of the highest duties Of
citizenship. nos - i 81