LCV Spring 2013 - (Page 28)

LOUISIANA RESEARCH COLLECTION, TULANE UNIVERSITY In 1892, The Mascot suggested that the “necessary evil” of prostitution should be relegated to a regulated district in New Orleans. The legalized redlight district of Storyville was established in 1897. the injunction. On May 4, 1882, spectators packed the courthouse not only to see how the trial played out, but to witness their former governor, Francis Nicholls, defend the controversial journalists. Nicholls argued that the injunction was in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. The Van Benthuysens’ attorney, J. M. Bonner, contended that the only way to preserve the liberty of the press was to destroy its depravity. During the trial, Nicholls repeatedly asked to have the case moved, dismissed or tried by jury, but all of his motions were rejected. Sensing the unfavorable outcome, when it came time for The Mascot to offer testimony, Nicholls announced that since he did not recognize the court’s jurisdiction in the matter, he had none to offer. Judge Frank Monroe found The Mascot’s editors guilty of contempt and sentenced them to ten days in jail. As men of means, Bossier, Osmond and Livesey enjoyed everything except freedom in jail. They entertained visitors, ordered meals and received a bouquet of flowers from a ladies’ group for their bravery in upholding the freedom of the press. Nicholls appealed to the state Supreme Court, which overturned the lower court decision. The justices complimented the lower court judges on their zealousness but chastised them for neglecting to inform themselves of the law. Released early from jail, the editors celebrated in expected fashion in the next issue of The Mascot by lambasting the lower court judges, the opposing attorney, rival newspapers and, of course, Van Benthuysen. Their readership shot up. The Mascot grew in popularity and incited more assaults. Commissioner of Public Works John Fitzpatrick and two of his friends attacked Osmond in a bar. Competing newsman Richard Weightman repeatedly struck Osmond with a stick. A City Hall employee beat a 28 LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES • Spring 2013 Mascot reporter. Livesey fought another duel with the son of Supreme Court Justice Robert Todd before he ultimately succumbed to consumption in March 1884. A “tottering” freelance writer, suffering from the late stages of syphilis, was punched and kicked on Canal Street for his suspected connection to the newspaper. But it would be another two years until guns were again brandished in The Mascot’s office, and this time by public officials. SMOKING GUNS State Tax Collector James Houston and Registrar of Voters Robert Brewster had many things in common. Aside from being friends, they both had served as criminal sheriff of Orleans Parish. During Houston’s tenure in 1871, he shot unarmed “desperado” Arthur Guerin in the back for refusing to remove his hat in the courtroom. Claiming self-defense, Houston was acquitted of murder. In December 1883, during the race for governor, Brewster, Houston and other public officials stormed New Orleans’ Sixth Ward voting station, where a man from the Seventh Ward repeatedly tried to vote. Houston and Brewster were campaigning for incumbent governor Samuel D. McEnery and argued that the Seventh Ward man (also a McEnery man) should be allowed to vote despite his ineligibility. A fight broke out, as did guns, and in less than a minute an estimated 50 to 60 bullets were fired. When the smoke cleared, more than a dozen men were injured and four were dead, including Michal J. Fortier, who many eyewitnesses stated died by the hand of Houston. Acknowledging he shot Fortier, Houston claimed selfdefense a second time, even though it was discovered that Fortier had never fired a shot. Houston, Brewster and others were arrested. Brewster continued his duties as criminal sheriff from his jail cell. When the indictments were handed out, it was Brewster’s brother John who was charged with Fortier’s murder. With a lack of evidence (and many still maintaining that it was Houston who killed Fortier), John Brewster was acquitted of murder. Houston was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and fined $25. The Mascot nicknamed Houston “Revolver Jimmy” for his tendency to solve feuds with a gun and “The Bandit King” for his unscrupulous methods in securing votes. The Mascot featured a weekly gossip column under the title of “Bridget Magee’s Society Notes,” the scandalous news supposedly written by an “Irish woman” in a heavy brogue dialect. On January 10, 1885, “Bridget” wrote that Houston’s brother, Judge William Houston of the Civil 

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LCV Spring 2013

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