The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-17
THE LOU DUDLEY ARSON CASE
FIRST DAY-sATURDAY, APRIL

This case was continued last evening at Staes
Court notwithstanding the ineemency of the
weather.
There was quite an attendance present, who
seemed to be deeply interested i'll the proceed
ings they always are in cases Of this kind.
Lou Dudley was promptly in attendance ac-
compauied by her la wyers, Messrs. Schmidt and
Gastinel. Mr.. B. R. Forman was counsel for the
prosecution.
Lou Dudley is a woman Of very powerful phys
ique, and is at least six feet in stature. Her
features are coarse and vulgar, and deep burrows
Of care and dissipation plainly perceptible in
the forehead and cheeks. About her eyes there
is that deep cunning 80 inherent to women of her
stamp.
The case was formally opened at o'clock pre-
scisely by the prosecuting witness, Henry d.
Ogden, being put on the stand.
Mr.. Ogden is secretary Of the Crescent Mutual
Insurance Company, and he stated in brief that
on the 21st Of August last past, accused took out
a pol cy for $1,000 on her furniture, which was
contained in . house on Customhouse street,
corner Of Burgundy. She paid the insurance
promptly when due.
Mr.. G. w. Mott, Secretary of the Merchants
issued policy to accused on the 21st of August
EAST. to the amount of two thousand four hun
dred dollars. The property as appraised the
next day, was as follows, to-wit:
Household furniture. Observation-Disclosures $500
Piano.. Observation-Disclosures. 400
Sewing machine. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. so
Looking glass IS
PICTURES IS
Total. Observation-Disclosures. s24Oo
Maggie Barrett the washerwoman of Lon
Dudley, was next called to the stand, and testi-
lied as follows:
II -
three or four times week. As far as her own
observation went. the house was furnished very
poorly. Witness then stated the various articles
OF furniture, etc, contacted in each and every
room, 80 far as she could remember them
Stated that most OF the furniture was old and d.
,apidated, and that it needed repairing sadly.
Mrs. Cooke testified to facts the very opposite
to those Of the previous witness. She says the
house was well and extensively furnished in her
judgment.
MIR. John Brisby stated that Lou Dudley came
to him on New Years day (that same night the
house was burned) and requested him to take
two baskets OF champagne in charge f,r her,
pleading "a an excuse that she feared the SER
wants would steal them.
Mrs Kelly was then called to the stand She
stated that she i, the por.ress Of the Boys Gen.
trail High School, at No: 80 Burgundy street.
Was never in the house Of the prisoner. On the
night Of January l. at II Q; clock, was awakened
by cry fire very near the school. Heard some
one calling watch.
she further alleges that on Friday night last
she was in Judge Staes witness-roOm, along with
other witnesses in this case. While there she
overheard 8 conversation between q man called
Bow-legged Donovan and q colored woman,
witness in the case. Donovan said if it were in
his power to send Lou Dudley to the Peniten-
tlary for life, he would do so.
Frances Tisdale. who is also employed at the
Boys Central High School, but in what capacity
did not transpre testified as follows:
That during the Burning Of the house on Bur
Sundy street, corner Customhouse, Lou Dudley's
washerwoman, Maggie Barrett, came up and
told her that Miss Dudley owed her eight dollars
for a long time for washing done, but she was
mean in payment Of money due. Wouldn't give
her the money even when che Maggie Barrett)
was sick. But now it is all right, che said.
Maggie Barrett furthermore said, witness al
eyed, " Oh He'll, all the ballot boxes are burn
them"
This is q synopsis Of the testimony as adduced
at the trial pro and con.
Judge Staes after hearing the arguments of
counsel ON both sides, disposed OF the case by
sending it to the Superior Criminal Court under
esonds Of five Thousand dollars.