Year: 1873




Ihe Iberville Pioneer and Nears annour2es
with undisguised eXultation, superinduced
by the personal spleen OF its editors, that
Hon. George b. Loud, superintendent OF
the third educational division, has been
arrested and imprisoned upon tEirGg- eight t
indictments by the frand jury Of Iberville,
charging him with embezzlement Of school
funds while acting as treasurer Of the
school board of that parish. According to
the Pioneer, justice has been indicated by
an upright jury, a righteous Judge and dis
trict Attorney, and a dangerous Grimm al
secured by the clutches of the law for his
heinous misdeeds; and the virtuouS officials
mentioned are covered with newspaper
glory for the several noble parts
they have played in the accom- plishment of
this great object. To any one having no
knowledge OF the secret workings Of the
affair, this view may appear to be correct
one, and the encomiums so lavishly bestowed
but Just tribute to pre-eminent virtue and
worth Let US raise the curtain and ascer-
tain if a peep behind the scenes will not
alter the aspect of the case somewhat. The
Chief enjoys peculiar advantages tor giving
the public a clear insight into the matter,
and we shall make the most of our position,
not Onlv because we are predisposed in
favor # Mr.. Loud, but also for the reason
that We deem it a duty of the journalist to
expose official wrong-doing and oppression
wherever they occur.


As regards Mr.. Loud's guilt or innocence
we can only express an opinion; our conf
dence in his ability to disprove the charges
against him is perfect, but that is a mere
matter Of belief to be settled at the trial.
The aggregate amount of the alleged EN-
6ezzlement is about $780, fixed by par
tisan and ignorant grand jury under the
direction OF a district attorney who is
personal enemy of Mr.. Loud The indict-
ments were returned on the last day Of the
session of the court, SO that the trial could
not be held until January next. Bail was
fixed by the judge at S3S00,9 and accused
was arrested and taken to Jail, where he
still remains, despite the fact that ten or
fifteen OF the most substantial property
holders of Iberville parish have volun-
teered to become sureties upon bond for
his appearance at the next term of court.
This is what we call the ''glaring outrage
The official bond of the newly appointed
clerk OF the court was approved the other
day, with certain party as one of the
sureties thereupon in the sum of $4,000. The
partner of this gentleman, an equal sharer
IN property assessed at $llO0, offered to be-
come security for portion Of Mr.. Loud's
required bond, but the judge refused to ac-
cept him for q cent.


it is plainly evident that a conspiracy
has been formed by certain court officials in
lbervll5e, aided and abetted by some party
who possesses considerable @legree of in
huence over them, to persecute and humil-
late Mr.. Loud, with view OF having him
removed from his position in the educa-
tional department of the State government,
and OF keeping him in prison until January
next. The conduct Of these officers and
their abettors shows most outrageous dis
regard of all principles of honor or man
hood, and their damnable action in the case
we have cited should warrant Governor
Kellogg in Immediately displacing them
from the positions they disgrace. All men
who love right and justice will sympathize
with the victim Of their indecent machina-
tiens, for even if he be guilty of the mis-
demeanor charged against him, there is no
possible excuse for the outrageous depriva-
ton of his liberty consummated by his per-
sonal enemies, who have prostituted their
manhood and Off cial power to q base,
shameful end.