Show An Election Muddle 1 New Orleans 24 Today the adjutant general ordered a battalion of Louisiana field artillery to hold themselves in readiness to move at a moments notice to the scene of trouble at New Iberia The mil tary however has not yet been ordered or-dered to move It is understood there is considerable excitement in New Iberia growing out of the contest con-test for the judgeship of the Twentyfirst judicial district between be-tween Gates claiming to have been elected ovar Fontinelleau the present pres-ent incumbent This is one of the cases referred to in the resolutions adopted by the Republican State central committee com-mittee Last week the Senate committee considered the petition and memorial which Gates reported impeaching Fontinelleau who is a Republican Gates after much de Jav aud manipulation of votes was declared elected at the recent election elec-tion As showing how this result was brought about Fontinelleaus friends claim that one precinct known as Bayou Rigeon which at the date of the recent election was overflowed and the election officers made no provision for an election there a3 no voting had ever been done at that poin 9 the fifteen or twenty voters residing in that section sec-tion having heretofore voted elsewhere else-where At the last election however how-ever they decided themselves to hold an election and turned nearly 900 votes from that crecinct for Gates thus electing him Fontinel leans friends declare they will not allow Gates to preside in the district dis-trict and the State authorities have determined to seat Gates by force if necessary LaterIt seems that reports concerning con-cerning the political situation in th > sand s-and adjoining parishes are very mu < jh exaggerated So far there has been no disturbance except a few days ago a crowd of hoodlums composed of Fontinelleaue backer I paraded the street firing cannon arid pistols and making threats that ttte would spill the last drop of their blood in seating Fontinelleau The past two weeks have been quiet but all sorts of rumors are ailoat one to the effect that Fontinelleau is otganizing negroes to defend him and help to resist the sealing of Gates Exciting rumors run high the past few days the cause st which is the supposed forming of a J military company In St Martins parish Things are about as they are here The attempt yesterday to burn the court house of St Martins parish caused some commotion there is a great deal of talk in both parishes about the incendiary object which induced the firing of the court house parties unknown Little damage done The rumors greatly damage the business of New Iberia the country people are afraid to come to town They think a war is going on |