The New Orleans Bulletin

A PEEP IN HIS COURT.

This reporter learning that the case of the Belle of Shreveport was to come up before that lovely gent who calls himself Frisbie, and prefixes H. N. on all occasions before his name, and professes to fill the position of U. S. Commissioner, yesterday called at his COURT to see the fun.

A look through the door showed a crowd of colored faithful in various positions, in different portions of the room, the majority being gathered around a table in the far end; at one corner of which was seated, a dapper-looking gent, with a consumptive mustache, and bilious side-whiskers, whom an investigation disclosed was Frisbie.

This reporter entered, and was courteously, aye enthusiastically, received by the Commissioner, who was very happy to meet him and expressed appreciation for newspaper men in general and for this reporter in particular, at the same time volunteering any information on any point that lay in his province, all of which was very gratefully received. While Frisbie was in the midst of his harangue, and endeavoring to demonstrate that he meant what he said by laying before this reporter papers in a case in which he had no earthly interest, Capt. Rea, of the steamboat Belle of Shreveport, accompanied by several of the other officers of the boat, and his counsel, Valle J. Rozier, Esq., entered and advanced to the judicial table and were received with a sickly smile by Frisbie, who, at the same time, seemed overjoyed to see them.

In time, and not a very long time either, both sides announced themselves ready, and THE CASE WAS OPENED by Frisbie reading an affidavit, in which was set forth that one Wm. Wade, a gentleman of color (which fact was, however, not specified in the document), alleged that he had been employed at the rate of $35 per month; that he had been kicked off the boat and beaten by the mate, after fourteen days' labor, and that for this labor $15 was due him; and another affidavit, in which it was declared that the feelings and person of Wm. Wade had been damaged by the mate to the extent of $1000.

After this William Wade stepped forward and told a pitiful tale. He related that while at some wood landing on Red River, the name of which he did not know, while he, in the faithful discharge of his duty, was carrying wood aboard, the mate took a stick and knocked him on the head and followed up the assault by a blow with his revolver, and that on this he very naturally went ashore, and threw a piece of bark at the mate and 'never did nuffen else,' but accept three dollars. Some half dozen witnesses came forward and testified to about the same thing, all, however, being particularly explicit as regards the bark which Wade confessed to have thrown at the mate.

THE CROSS-EXAMINATION by Mr. Rozier elicited the fact that Wade had stated the case to Frisbie, on a previous occasion, as he had stated it as related above, and that Frisbie had put the damages at $1000, and fixed up the affidavit.

The witnesses for the defense established the fact that, after the man Wade left the boat, he was requested to come aboard again, and that on his refusing to do so, the Captain ordered that he be paid, and that the clerk took ashore $15.20, which was placed in the hands of Wade; and that the barkeeper took it from him, and took from it the amount Wade was indebted to him, and returned the balance; that the mate did not have a revolver at the time of the difficulty, and that there was no difficulty until Wade put himself in a position to go for the mate.

Frisbie took the matter under consideration, weighed the evidence in his own peculiar scale, and looking wise after a spirited discussion as to the law with Mr. Rozier, the record of which want of space forbids, decided that the boat must be held in the sum of twenty dollars and DAMAGES, to be hereafter determined.

He was anxious for a compromise; he thought he could fix it up; but Capt. Rea volunteered the information that he would not pay a d--n cent. On this Mr. Rozier, Capt. Rea and the other gentlemen of the boat started out, when Frisbie requested the mate, G. W. Martin, to remain, as there was a little indictment pending against him for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill.

Mr. Martin said he was not ready to go to trial. Frisbie was sorry, but would be compelled to hold him in the sum of ten thousand dollars, to appear for trial.

Martin, it must be stated, had given bail to that amount the day previous to appear yesterday and stand trial.

Mr. Rozier voluntarily took a hand in the matter, as Martin had no counsel, and urged that time should be granted to enable the defendant to obtain counsel and summon his witnesses, and after talking to Frisbie as he alone knows how to talk, that erratic gent volunteered the information that he was 'mad' when he had put the bond so high, and then reduced it to two thousand dollars, and finally to four hundred and fifty, but, notwithstanding all the eloquence of Mr. Rozier, refused to release Mr. Martin on his own recognizance.
Mr. Rozier, considering that he had performed his duty, left, accompanied by Capt. Rea.

After they were well out of the way, Mr. Martin and several of his friends had an interview with 'de cullud gemman' that fills the position of clerk to Frisbie, in a back room, which undoubtedly was satisfactory to the Commissioner, as he smiled in a benign way, and then this reporter was requested TO LEAVE by a gentleman, who stated that Frisbie would do nothing until he was off.

Before leaving, this reporter learned that R. King Cutler, the chimney sweep, was counsel in the pending, or some other case before Frisbie, which he (Frisbie) had decided in the way Cutler would have him, although that august personage was not present, and that Martin, by PAYING Frisbie twenty dollars, was to be released, the way, as a professional bondsman, to sign his bond, 'cullud gemman' aforesaid, who, by the end, but, as Martin was not in the Parish Prison last night, there can be no doubt that the arrangement was carried out.

One thing that struck the reporter as peculiar, was that Frisbie never did anything in the case on 'his own hook,' but acted throughout, as he said, he believed Beckwith, United States District Attorney, would have him do.