District Court (13 Apr 1885); Rapides, Louisiana Submitter: Betty White Date: 29 Jun 2004 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** 28 Feb 1885 District Court, Judge Overton presiding, commenced on Monday, February 1i6th. The Babineaux survey case, well known to the people of this parish, is now opccupying the court. One of the prominent cases before the present court is that of the estate of Evariste Couvillion: his will being contested. 21 Mar 1885 The Supreme Court of Louisiana, at its late session in New Orleans, rendered the following decission in the cases named below, which were tried in the District Court of Rapides parish. In the case of Jno. W. Prescott vs. Benj. Cooper and the Citizens' Bank of New Orleans, judgment of lower court was reversed in favor of defendants. Some $18,000 or $20,000 was envolved in this suit. In the case of Sally C. Day and husband vs. the New Orleans Pacific Railway Company, the judgment of the ower ocurt, in favor of the Railroad Company, was afirmed. This suit was brought by plaintiffs to recover $5,000 from above named Company, for damages caused by interferance with the drainage system of the Experiment Plantation, situated above Alexandria. On January 20th, 1881, the Nw Orleans Pacific R.R. consolidated with the Texas & Pacific R.R. Co., and the court held that the former named Company "cannot be held in damages alleged to have resulted from works made by the consolidated company after the 20th of January, 1881, at which time it was merged into the Texas & Pacific Railway Co." 11 Apr 1885 The first case tried this term of court is the suit of Mrs. Williams against Dennis McMannus for libel. It was in progress all day yesterday. The damages claimed are quite large ($5,000) and the case excites some interest. Judge and Mr. J.C. Ryan for the prosecution and Judge Bowman for McMannus. 18 Apr 1885 District Court. - The case of Mrs. Williams et als vs. Dennis McMannis, was given to the jury last Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. This was an action brought by plaintiffs to recover damages from defendant for slanderous epithets used against plaintiffs in the public thoroughfares of Alexandria about a year ago. The plaintiffs sued for $5000 damages. The jury awarded plaintiffs $2,500. This case took up the time of the Court on Wednesday and nearly all of Thursday. Judge M. Ryan and son, Jno. C. Ryan, represented plaintiffs and Judge R.J. Bowman was counsel for defendant. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court. The following cases were disposed of in the District Court Friday, the 10th inst., His Honor, Judge Balckman presiding: State vs. E.J. Sullivan, charged with carrying concealed weapons. Not guilty. State vs. Mose Murphy, (col.) charged with hog stealing. Found guilty. The case of the State vs. A. A. Goodwin, charged with sending a threatening letter, came up for trial, and was reassigned until the 17th inst. On Saturday the following cases were disposed of: State vs. Pascal Robinson sharged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill - not guilty. State vs. Jerry Bush, charged with larceny - convicted. State vs. Anderson Jackson, alias Lee, charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to murder - not guilty. Abram Madison, charged with carrying concealed weapons - convicted and sentenced to 35 days in jail. District Court. - On last Monday the case of the State vs. Louis Hughes and Isah Bradley was given to the jury. They were charged with larceny of stock and were acquitted. In the case State vs. A. E. Watson, accused of carrying concealed weapons - continued. State vs. Geo. Sewell, charged with larceny - not guilty. Tuesday morning the case of the State vs. Clarence Slaughter was called, charged with horse stealing - not guilty. In the case of the State vs. Wm. Brittain, charged with carrying concealed weapons, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty. Wednesday morning the case of the state vs. B. A. Vaughn was called, accused of mule stealing; the defense not being ready for trial the case was re-assigned. The next called was the State vs. P.C. Peters charged with attempt to slander Mr. Eli Matthews. Peters tried to get a continuance because his counsel, Mr. Cullom, was absent, but the same excuse having gained a continuance at last court, Judge Balckman gave defendant half an hour in which to get counsel. He employed R.P. Hunter, and the case was in course of trial all day Wednesday. Distirct Court. - On last Wednesday evening, Judge Blackman presiding, the case of the State vs. P.C. Peters, charged with slander, was given to the jury, who remained locked up all night, but could not agree. They were discharged Thursday morning shortly after court opened, and a mis-trial entered on the minutes. Thursday the case of the State vs. Chas. B. Stewart Charged with murder was called. Judge Overton presidig. The case was continued to the next term of court at the request of the State Attorney. After the Stewart case was disposed of, the next called was the case of the State vs. P. C. Peters charged with attempt to blackmail. Judge Blackman presided on this case. The regular list of jurors was exhausted by challenges, and the Sheriff summoned quite a number of tales-jurors and finally the full quota of twelve was secured just before dark. Judge Cullom arrived Thursday, and Peters had the services of both Judge Cullom and R.P. Hunter. Notes - It is rumored that in the Peters' case eight of the jury were for acquittal and four for conviction, in the slander case. Motions in the case of Huie Orsborn vs. Mrs. Belle Orsborn are to be tried to-day before Judge Overton. 25 Apr 1885 The case of Huie Orsborn vs. Mrs. Belle Orsborn has been compromised. 25 Apr 1885 Jury List; State of Louisiana, Parish of Rapides. Be it known and remembered that on this the 22nd day of April, A.D., 1885, that we, the undersigned Jury Commissioners, in and for the Parish and State aforesaid, duly appointed and sworn, together with Geo. O. Watts, clerk of the 12th District Court, said parish and State, who was also sworn as the law directs, met in the Clerk's office in the court-house, in the Town of Alexandria, and in obedience to an order of the honorable, the Judge of the 12th Judicial District Court, of date April 14th A.D., 1885, proceed to draw from the general venire box, the names of thirty qualified electors, to serve as jorors during the second week of the June term of the District Court, said service beginning on Monday, the 22nd day of June, A.D., 1885. 1. H. F. Smith, New Poland 2. F. D. Coleman, Cheneyville 3. Henry Hawkins, Boyce 4. J.D. Broadnax, Gum Postoffice 5. J. T. Hargroves, Calhoon's 6. T. W. Coleman, Moreland 7. C. C. Marler, Union Church. 8. J. K. McWilliams, New Poland 9. Felix Austin, Randolph 10. George Allen, Tramway 11. J. E. Johnson, Weems 12. Gideon Johnson, Westport 13. J.B. Holloway, Randolph 14. C. C. Nugent, Bells's 15. S. Bassano, Pineville 16, Oliver Coleman, Cotile 17. H. C. Lyles, Calhoun's 18. Edward Jackson, Cotile 19. A. W. Henderson, Randolph 20. J.W. Goldman, Hammock Ch'. 21. Henry H. Smith, New Poland 22. Levi Roberts, Borland's 23. W. H. Randolph, Randolph 24. J.E. Toney, New Poland 25. William Bell, Pineville 26. L. Benton, Hineston 27. Isaiah Gordon, Calhoon's 28. E. C. Moore, Randolph 29. Andrew Harden, Calhoon's 30. R. H. Smith, Lamourie. Jno. A. Williams, G. W. Bolton, Geo. O. Watts, Clerk and Exofficio member Jury Commissioner. A true copy: Go O. Watts, Clerk 25 Apr 1885 District Court - On the evening of 15th inst., Judge Blackman presiding, the case of the State vs. P. C. Peter, charged with slander, was given to the jury, who remained locked up all night, but could not agree. They were discharged next morning shortly after court opened, and a mis-trial entered on the minutes. On 16th the case of the State vs. Chas. B. Stewart charged with murder was called. Judge Overton presiding. The case was continued to the next term of court at the request of the State Attorney. After the Stewart case was disposed of, the next called was the case of the State vs. P.C. Peters charged with attempt to blackmail. Judge Blackman presided on this case. The regular list of jurors was exhausted by challenges, and the Sheriff summoned quite a number of tales-jurors and finally the full quota of twelve was secured just before dark. Judge Cullom arrived Thursday, and Peters had the services of both Judge Cullom and R.P. Hunter. This case was given to the jury after 12 M. on the night of 16th inst. The case of the State vs. Jas. Durham, charged with murder, was called afternoon of 17th. When court took a recess at 1 p.m. same day the jury had been drawn, an one of the witnesses examined. Mr. E.G. Hunter, was counsel for accused. District Court - In the case of the State vs. P.C. Peters, charged with attempt to blackmail, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty. Peters is now in jail. The case of the State vs. Jas. Durham charged with murder was taken up on the 17th inst., and was given to the jury on the evening of the 18th inst., who after being out about five minutes brought in a verdict of "not guilty." Mr. E.G. Hunter ably defended Durham. The case of the State vs. Dyer Mason, charged with larceny, was called Monday morning. He was found guilty. State vs. W.W. Wilbanks charged with carrying concealed weapons. Not guilty. State vs. Michael Hooter et al., assault with dangerous weapon with intent to kill - continued. State vs. S.D. Wilbanks, concealed weapons - found guilty. New trial granted. District Court - The following cases were disposed of last Tuesday: State vs. Moore, (col.) charged with murder - continued. State vs. Jno. P. Clements, concealed weapons - not guilty. State vs. Henry Boyce, unlawful killing of stock - guilty. Fined $25 and costs. Up to Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clcok the following cases had been disposed of: State vs. John Ware, larceny - not guilty. State vs. Stephen Barrett, concealed weapons - continued. State vs. Jacob Irving, Sr. and Jr. larceny - continued at request of District Attorney. District Court met pursuant to adjournment Thursday morning, His Honor, Judge Blackman, presiding. R.P. Hunter, counsel for P.C. Peters, convicted of slander and blackmail, on motion for new trial offered a petition signed by the 12 jurors who convicted Peters, asking that he be given a new trial. New trial not granted. The first case called Thursday was the State vs. J.N. Swann, charged with selling liquor without a license. This was the fourth case of same charged - there being altogether seven true bills found against Swann by the Grand Jury. The jury in the first case brought in a verdict of not guilty. In the second the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and the third was a min-trial. The fourth case, which was tried on Thursday, after a great deal of trouble in getting a jury, resulted in a verdict of not guilty being rendered. Messrs E. G. Hunter and W. W Whittington, Jr., are counsel for accused. The following cases were also disposed of last Thursday: State vs. Sam. S. Cappell and Ed. Roone, accused of arson - continued. State vs. Frank Reeves, accused of larceny. Not guilty. State vs. J.R. Helveston, accused of robbery. Found guilty of larceny. 2 May 1885 District Court - In the case of the State vs. B. A. Vaughn, charged with mule stealing, given to the jury last week a verdict of guilty was rendered. Last Saturday morning the case of the State vs. Tom Jones, (col.), accused of wounding less than mayhem, was tried and the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty. The accused was ably defended by Mr. Jno. C. Ryan. All other criminal cases were continued until the October term of the District Court. Last Saturday evening Judge Blackman tried the case of the State vs. Michael Cleary, charged with forgery. He was found guilty. Sentenced - The following named parties convicted at this term of the District Court were sentenced last Saturday afternoon by His Honor, Judge Blackman: B. A. Vaughnn, mule stealing, Penitentiary for two years. Jerry Bush (col.) larceny. Parish jail for seven months, subject to work on the public roads. Dyer Mason (col.) larceny. Parish jail for eight months, subject to work on the public roads. P. C. Peters. Malicious threats. Parish jail for six months and costs of court. Moses Murphy, (col.) larceny. Penitentiary for fifteen months. J. V. Swann. Selling liquor without a license. Fined $100 or thirty days in parish jail. Jack Johnson, (col.) larceny. Parish jail for three months. J. R. Helveston, larceny. Two years in the penitentiary. Shelby Mayo, (col.) larceny. Parish jail for forty days, subject to work on the public roads. Abraham Madison (col.) concealed weapons. Parish prison for thrity-five days. ***************************** 23 May 1885 Deputy Sheriff James left last Sunday night, via Texas & Pacific route, to carry the following named prisoners to the State Penitentiary at Baton Rouge. J. R. Helvesten, white, two years. Convicted for robbery. Dennis Cleary, white, two years. Convicted for perjury. B. A. Vaughn, white, two years. Convicted for mule stealing. Mose Murphy, colored, fifteen months. Convicted for larceny.