St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-07-03

ulGely. MOI only Is This 1acE true,
but it is also true that every accused
person is constantly requesting the
court for continuance OF his case,
and frequently resorts TO all mannel
OF questionable measures to secure
a continuance. Not only this, but
under the law, when the motion for
a continuance is based upon legal
grounds, ! am compelled to grant d
continuance.
AS Mr.. Ellis whole statement in
regard to this matter is based upon
a supposition, then let us do some
supposing Of our own. Suppose
those who are n. Jail awaiting trial
file a motion for continuance of
their cases at the October term Of
court, and the motion is based upon
legal grounds, would be compelled
to grant it. What then. Suppose
Mr.. Ellis was elected the delegate to
this Convention, and he was employ
ed as an attorney for one or two or
all three of these accused parties,
what condition do we find? Under
the law these. parties would be le-
gally entitled to continuance OF
their cases, because OF the unavoid-
able absence Of their attorney upon
the business Of the State. What
then? In both these instances would
not the continuance OF these cases
entail upon the taxpayers Of this
parish a much greater expense than
postponing the October term for 27
days, because continuance OF these
cases would have to be to the next
jury term, which is held in March,
fifty days, and at cost OF $4,000.
Further, what about the dreadful in
justice done these unfortunate pris-
oners in continuing their cases for
one hundred and fifty days instead
of tWenty-seVen? This condition can
actually happen. Now to avoid this
condition Mr.. Ellis would have to
absent himself from the Convention,
in order to conduct the trial Of his
clients, in which event would not
the parish Of St. Tammany be with
out delegate to represent her in
terests?" Mr.. Ellis may say that he
would refuse to represent these par
ties. I have never known Mr.. Ellis
to refuse fee, nor has any one else,
and he will not refuse in this in
stance, if one is rendered him. 1t is
apparent that there is absolutely
nothing in the issue raised and the
argument advanced by my opponent
in this matter. If there is anything
of fact from which conclusion can
be drawn, am unable to locate it.
AS a matter of fact there may be
no necessity for me to postpone the
October term OF court. The record
Of the court will show that | have
rarely held a jury longer than three
days. At the last jury term of this
parish held in March last, there were
six or seven cases tried and disposed
Of by the jury. The jury was dis
charged the second day of court. In
the March jury term in Washington
parish, twelve cases were tried and
disposed of by the jury. / began the
first jury case at two O'Clock Monday
afternoon at eleven o'clock Thurs
day 1 gave the twelfth and last case
to the jury. Ten convictions out Of
the, twelve cases were secured. It
required just exactly two days and
two hours to try these twelve jury
cases. / frankly submit that I do
not believe that any court of this
State has any better record than this.
The dockets Of the courts Of both
Washington and st. Tammany par
ishes are right up to date.
II there is any criminal business
to be disposed Of at the october
term Of court, / am satisfied can
dispose of all of it within two and
certainly within three days. I can
obtain leave Of absence from the
Convention for a few days to dis
pose Of the business of the court.
1t is childish and nonsensical to say
that any interest of this parish or
State could possibly suffer by my abb
sence OF two or three days from this
Convention.
Mr.. Ellis in his announcement
makes the further statement: Fur.
Their, the revision of the courts Of
this State will be one Of the most
important matters taken up by this
Convention, and among the questions
will be the fixing the salaries Of the
judges Of this State, and as Judge
Lancaster told me he intended to be
q candidate for reelection of judge
next year, it will place him in very
delicate and perhaps embarrassing
position, which / have no doubt he
did not consider at the time he de-
termined to become candidate for
this Convention
This statement is despicabie and
and contemplate. Mr. Ellis does
not say in clear and exact language
that l will do anything improper or
dishonorable in revising the courts
OF this State and fixing the salaries
Of the judges thereof, but by con-
teTnptible insinuation suggests that
because of my present position as
judge l might be guided by my own
interests in revising the courts and
fixing the salaries of the judges, and,
he lodges the responsibility Of his
contemplate suggestion by hypocrit-
ically saying that he has no doubt