Year: 1878

the fraud-will be branded with infamy ag


long as time lasts.


[TerreboDne Progress.l


The people of this State are no doubt much
Court in the case OF Thos. Anderson, forger.


1t does seem hard that a poor, unknown fel-
low is to be tried and condemned to feIon's
cell Tor altering a note, draft or check, but the
crime who have put a dishonored President
in the office once filled by Washington and
Jefferson, and have attempted to steal the


liberties OF the people OF this State, which
came near costing revolution, it does look
hard, we say, that such criminals should be
turned loose, in mockery OF all justice, be-
cause they are each an important integral,
and because the moral pressure Of that great
moral q hypocrite, Hayes, Is brought to bear ON
the trial.


Are our laws like the webs of spiders?
Made to entangle and hold the poor and weak.
but to be broken by the strong?


There re- Is no doubt as to the guilt Of Ander-


motives which prompted him to commit the
forgery And yet be is let loose on a quibble
OF law. In the next campaign we will see
that perjured forger on the stump speaking
to the people Of their rights, which he has
already sold, and OF honesty and reform.
which ne needs as badly as any convict within
the walls OF the Penitentiary.


shreveport Times]


Ihe dispatch announcing the release of An
derson by an order OF the Supreme Court OF
the State will take the country by surprise, to-
opinion that on the appeal the court could
only confirm the Judgment Of the lower court
or remand the case for a new trial.


We will briefly give the only grounds we
released: The charge against Anderson was
for forging and swearing to the Vernon parish
returns. The Indictment charged him with
having forged and sworn to public docu-
did not constitute a public document. H
the Supreme Court held, with defendants
counsel, to-wit: that the returns were not a.
public document, they were bound to hold
that the Indictment was defective, and there
fore order the release Of the prisoner. II


Later Information may throw more light
on the subject, and, as we have said above,
we are willing to await further information
before calling in question the motives that
strange proceeding, and one which viii
certainly, whether justly or unjustly, invite
the most severe criticism.


Ii our hypothesis be correct as to the ruling
OF the court, there is one of two things clearly
evldent-either that the statutes of Louisiana.
are sadly defective and should be speedily
amended, or that the court put strained
construction on the law. It surpasses all
credence that there should be no law in EXIST
ment OF such crime as Anderson has been
proved guilty of, but If such be the case, it is
a damning commentary upon the stupidity OF
the law makers. What a trayesty upon law,
and justice and common sense to provide for
the punishment of a man for changing the
figures on an order for money from twenty
tive cents to fifty cents, and none whatever
or the punishment OF one who so changes the
figures on the returns OF an election as to de-
fraud Of his seat duly elected President OF
the United States.


Assumption Pioneer.l


The case of tho State of o,,iciano -. AZ ss
derson has come to a conclusion at last, and
the result, while gratifying to him. has been
q dlsappolntment to the public generally. At
the first blush it would seem as If something
the punishment of the grave offense Of
forgery or in the administration of the exist
ing laws in an efficient manner. To q casual
observer it would appear that Attorney Gem
amendment to his original petition, which
was permitted by the Superior District Court
after the trial commenced, but 1t is to be pre-
sumed that on examination of the charge
originally Q brought he found the alteration Of
the figures had been made in the Consolidated
statement OF votes, parish of Vernon and not
In the commissioners returns" and the
cnange was necessary to make his pleadings
conform to the facts. In our estimation this
was fatal error in the proceedings, as, by
the amendment, the basis Of the charge was
changed, and was calculated to take the de-
tendants counsel by surprise. The error in ]
Cnls WhOle case was in the commencement Of
prosecution without being sure OF a good
ground for conviction in advance


The court gives definition of forgery, and
comes to the conclusion that this was not
forgery as defined by the statute; and Ander-
son viii hereafter say, 'I was tried for for
gerry, but acquitted by the highest court In
me State, though composed Of my political
opponents"


,o,.s ae al lntAnts i and purposes he stands be-
ore the public as one guilty of heinnns
'rlme by which the voters of this State and
me me voters OF the United States were de- de-
e taaaeo h;s OF 1helr rights: His name and that
y ms confreres in villainy will be handed
1oWn 1e TO the latest posterity, and our chill
lren II s children will speak of their crime and
slte a thelr unscrupulous tampering with cleo
m lon returns as stain on our political his
ply, o;y aiia the elimination OF period of utter
LIS u Is true the scamps will go "unwhipped of
lstlce, but In the midst of this gloom and ia
onnectlon with this trial there looms up be-
0re ~ fae graHd and bright vision for our
ourt IN casting aside preiudices and the
noWn bias of public opinion. has had the
1oral courage to lay aside their horror of the
1ime 1n1ns committed ,1aa by Anderson and eonfne
appreciation Of the law Of the case True,
us was their sworn duty, and they have
one nothing more in the performance than
e expected, yet. we cannot forbear to re-
.li lsai n " ~, dS IL Is SO greatly at variance
ith decisions made by the same tribunal
hen occnpied by their Radical predecessors.
,Ihls decision, under the circumstances. is
bright augury Of our future, and is strong
'ddence a y &c that justice will be administered BY
lat high court without fear, favor or affection.
In concluding our hastily written article we
ust call attention to the little paragraph
hich follows after the recital of the conduct
Z! the member OF the English Parliament, in
1tlclslng the court which convicted Tich-
'rne, and in which the Chief Justice makes.
e application to John Sherman & Co. He
US:
Public opinion in this instance and in this
untry can alone exercise that nunitive
'Wer, the employment of which is Equally
ell merited on both occasions.


Adv1ces from Havana state that business OF
cry description is .stagnant, with down
.Iu m my Iehdency IN prices for nearly all kinds
merchandise. The Havana Mercantile Re-
40 thinks 25O,0O0 tons is the nrohahle do