The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-12
THE BOURDONNAY MURDER.

THE BOURDONNAY MURDER.
Early in the evening Of the first Of
September, 1874, Mr.. Justin Bourbon
nay, an Industrious and sober watch
case maker, having just finished his
usual days work, was standing on the
corner Of Royal and Canal streets, talk
ing to several gentlemen. The country
was in the midst OF an exciting po-
litical campaign, and meeting OF the
White League in front Of the Varieties
Theatre was just breaking up. At
the same time q notorious ruflian.
named Alexander Newton, who had
been drinking freely. came up Royal
street to where Mr., Bourdonnay and his
companions were quietly conversing.
As Newton approached the party he re-
| marked Il want to kill a id white
| league s--n ola b h" at the same time
he rudely jostled Bourdonnay, and the
latter gently pressed him off with his
hand. Instantly Newton drew knife
and plunged it into the heart OF
Bourdonnay, who reeled and fell
into the gutter dead.
The criminal annals of the United
States record few murders more cold
blooded, causeless and diabolical than
this. The murdered man was notorious
Iy quiet and amiable person; he had
never taken an active part in politics
he had not been attending the White
League meeting, but had just left his
place Of business to go to his home.
The murderer was finally tried. found
guilty and sentenced to be hung. The
Radical politicians of the State set to
work to free him from his doom by
| tricks of the law, but in vain, and the
public rejoiced that the perpetrator OF
a fiendish murder was likely to pay the
penalty Of his crime. But the infiiction
of the penalty was delayed, and now
Mr.. William Pitt Kellogg steps forward
and commutes the sentence of death to
| imprisonment for life. Before the year
expires Alexander Newton, the MUIR
derer Of Bourdonnay, will probably be
at large and in California, where his
brother resides. @a.aIaMst .a5t
The grounds upon which Kellogg has
| COMMITTED the sentence Of this murderer
are utterly untenable. They are a
wretched pretext for a scandalous abuse
of authority. We print the so-called
Governors message and the documents
on which he has the STAINLESS effrOntry
to base it. No civilized executive on
earth would on such grounds have in
terferred to save such criminal from
the gallows. Mr.. Kellogg bases his act
Of clemency upon the fact that there
was intense political excitement at
tho time of the murder; that several
of the Jury in the case and few citizens
signed the application for the commu-
tation, and that q number of Senators
and Representatives interfered in be-
half of the convict. It is a new doctrine
in this State that a high state Of politi-
cal excitement in any measure excuses
the preparation Of murder, and we are
entirely satisfied that this people will
not acquiesce in It,. II every wretch,
with murder in his heart, may leisurely
stroll through our streets in seasons Of
political excitement, butcher any man
that he happens to meet and then plead
in extenuation that he did it in
the heat of campaign, peacable
men % who respect their lives
had better retire and give over the State
to the Alexander Newtons. We opine
that citizens who desire to make an
honest living, and who have wives and
children to provide for, will not agree
with Mr.. Kellogg that political ex-
element palliates cold-blooded and
diabolical murder. The meagre list of
signers to the petition for the commute
ton Of Newton's sentence is not worth
noticing. An honest Executive would
not have done this thing, though every
man in Louisiana had solicited him to
do SO.
We think Mr.. Kellogg has MOI told
the truth as to his motive for commu-
ting Newton's sentence. We think we
can tell his reasons more clearly and
satisfactorily than he has done himself.
Alexander Newton was one of the
ruffians in the employ Of Kellogg. Mr..
Kellogg is said to have had number of
such characters in his pay, ready to
protect his person. or provoke riots, or
do any other evil work for him and his
party. Some of these hirelings are in
the police, while others have no known
occupation. Kellogg's intimacy with
Newton before the murder bears out this
statement. The two were frequently
seen riding in the city together; and
among Kellogg's papers, found at the
State House after the 14th of September,
was check book, many Of the stubs
showing payments-some of them for
Soto Alexander Newton, the MUIR
derer of Bourdonnay. The truth is,
Newton was a hired bully Of Kellogg's !;
he was paid to do ugly work; he got
drunk; his mind was brooding
on his duties; murder was in
his heart; all the devil Of his