The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-09

the mufQ6f OF cyrus DflguaCs aHu NHO
had been confined in the Parish Prison
of New Orleans for more than year,
waiting for the Governor to sign his
death warrant. Governor Nichols
signed the ewarrantand appointed Friday
9Th June as the day for the execution of
the murderer. During the Wholeof his
passage from New Orleans his manner
was bold and defiant. He expressed no
fear of death, but ON the contrary ex-
pressed desire to die rather than again
go through what he had endured III one
way or another since the day he com
mitted the crime. He conVersed freely
with all who entered into conversation
with him. He refused for several days
to speak upotl the subject of religion
but on the contrary, said he would die
as he had lived fearing neither God nor
man.
He was guarded well during his pas1
sage from New Orleans, and on his ar
rival in this place was put in cell by
himself, both feet and hands manacled,
and guard during the night who stood
by his door watching him closely. His
meals were cooked in the Jail except in
one or two instances where Others by
permission of the Sheriff were allowed
to send him a meal. He seemed to be
certain in one way or another he would
be able to obtain poison, the officers
were therefore compelled to be very
vigilant. VeryfeE were allowed to see
him except the officers and guards.
Those of his relationaTho called to see
him were told that on. Friday morning
they should be allowed to go up in the
Jail and bid him farewell.
On Monday the 4th inst, at the re-
quest OF the wife Sheriff Duson in
structed his chief deputy Mr.. A. P.
Williams to accompany her to the door
of the cell in which her husband was
confined, that she might converse with
him. Mr.. Williams was allowed to use
his own discretion as to whether she
should be allowed to approach and
touch her husband or not. The lady
was thoroughly searched and all her
clothing changed before being allowed
to go up stairs. She Vas accompanied
by her four little children, the oldest
not more than eight, and the youngest
baby in arms. The sight of the poor
woman as she approached the grating
of the cell door, one child in her arms
and the others clinging 10 her skirts
must have been a sight to move the
heart and enlist the sympathy of the
coldest of human creatures. As the
little ones caught a glimpse OF their
, father lying chained to the floor, bis
hands manacled and his face pressed to
the iron grating Of the cell door, they
seemed to be inspired with such terror
that it was almost impossible to get
them near the door. The poor woman
whose agony seemed almost to craze
her, took the seat tifat was placed about
two or three feet from the cell door and
for several moments was unable to
look at her husband she being complete
ay unnerved. They began cenversing
as soon as SHE regained her presence OF
mind, their Conversations relating al
most entirely to the futura!of wife and
children. The prisoner when he learned
that his wife and children were to visit
him, had begged for liquor and at the
time was hardly in 4 perfectly sober
condition, the jailer having received in
structions To let him have what he
wished, and had therefore allowed him
TO drink an extra quantity of liquor.
He seemed to be laboring under con-
siderable excitement. After an inter-
view Of about an hour, and after get
ting promise from Mr.. Williams that
he would accompany her to see her hus-
band again that evening, she rose to
leave. Permission was given to her to
take her husbands hand, and kiss him
through the grating. She extended her
hand open with thepalnl down, through
the grating, close watch being keR5 by
Mr.. Williams upon the movement OF
the two hands As she withdrew her
hand, after haviDg been clasped for two
or three minutes, he noticed that tHo OF
R0usseau's fingers wele closed as It
hiding something. A look at the face
of the wife, and be knew something had
been handed TO him by her. Mr.. VIII
liams did not have the key of the cell
door, and to get it would have to 60
down stairs or send for it by one OF the
prisoners. To leaRe Rousseau for a
minute would give him an opportunity
of taking the poison for he knew iteould
be nothing else but that, and to send
for the key might excite Mrs. Rousseau's
suspicious, he therefore determined
upon pretending to consent to allow the
wife to enter the cell with her husband
and in that way get the jailer to his
assistance A prisoner was instructed
to call for the jailer who soon appeared
with the key. Mr.. Williams opened
the iron door; and as he got in spfaDg
upon the prisoner and attempted to
pinion his arms until the jailer could
assist him in getting the poison from
him. Tho prisoner who vias q powerful
man threw Mr.. Williams from him, and
as he yTiIliams1 made d second attempt
the prisoner turned upon his face,
caught something wrapped in paper
between his teeth, and III a second ls was
swallowed. Physicians were inl@ie-
diateIy called in, but on attempting to