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

of the cell the same having been
vomited up BIZ him.
By night he had entirely recovered
from his emetic, and was much quieter
than he had been since his return from
| New Orleans.
We have since learned that it was
not poison, but some harmless powder
that his wife gave him to fulfill prom-
ise made to him to bring him poison IN
case all hope was taken from him. 1t
was to satisfy him, and make him pre-
pare for death.
His. bearing up to Tuesday evening
was unchanged, but after conversation
with the priest late that evening he be-
came much ealmer, and showed dis
position to converse upon religious
subjects. During that night he con
versed freely with the deputies guard :
ing him. He requested one of the
deputies to write down confession bel
| wished to make of the most importan
acts of his life. He Gould not talk con-
nectedly upon any subject long, but
would go from one thing to another.
On Wednesday, his wife was again
allowed to visit him, Sheriff Duson
Judge Hudspeth and District Attorney
Perrodin accompanying her. The in
terview lasted about an hour. He was
calm and collected during most OF the
time. His parting with his wife was
very affecting He requested her not
to visit him again. During that night
he slept well.
On Thursday he continued in the same
frame of ,oind. If anything he was
more composed and more reconciled to
die. He conversed freely with any one
who choose to speak with. him. He did
not let his mind dwell upon any thing
in reference to his wife and children.
/ 1t was subject that he requested no
one to speak to him upon, he Civ
ing as a reason that it was the only thing
on earth that unnerved him to meet his
death. At about o'clock that night he
lay down upon his bed, and during the
,caoEe night uptil day dawn he slept as
quietly aud peacefully as a child.
On Friday, the day of bis execution,
he woke about daylight and arose from
| his bed as unconcerued as il the day
was to be no extraordinary one to him.
A cup of strong coffee was brought to
| han, which he drank, at the same time
remarIfng that his nights sleep had re-
freshed him more than any nights sleep
he had enjoyed for many night. He
/ conyersed with one of the officers re-
1 marking, that the last thing on earth
! he had to do had been done, to-wit:
| the writing of a farewell letter to his
wife. He seemed to be anxious for the
moment to arrive for his execution. He
requested the Sheriff 40 soon as Il
]5o'clock arrived to hang fiuI. He said
he wished to die sober, and therefore
asked for no lhuofs. On being asked it
he wished breakfast he said no that he
did not feel hungry, but in about half
an hour q cup of coffee and a piece of
cake being brought to him he drank the
coffee and ate the cake with an appetite.
He requested that he should be hung in
the clothes be then wore, remarklng
at the time that his family would attend
to seeing him dressed when his body
reached Vile Plate.
His brother came to see him for a few
MINUTES. Rousseau spoke but a few
words. but those words were such as
will be engraven on that brothers heart
/ as long as he lives. He told him to
have no animosity against any of those
who had been instrumental in his cap
ture, or bis conviction and death. He
pointed to himself as an example of
the effects Of intemperance, an un-
governable temper, and bad company.
| He made his brother promise never to
/ drink or seek to revenge him, as the
death he was about to meet, was one
/ that he deserved under the laws of the
country. He spoke cody ard calmly
without any agitationo
AT about half past nine Father PEN
! sier catholic priest confessed him and
1 administered the sacrament. Father
Fernand a catholic priest from his
1 native place having been sent for by
Rousseau the night before arrived.
To him he delivered his last messages
to his family aud sealed letter direc-
/ ted to his Whse. In tlep1meantime the
/ last nail bad been driven in the gallows,
] and all the preparations had been made
/ At zen o'clock body of mounte guards
/ headed by Deputy Sheriff Williams
rode iato tsie space between the ropes
which had been stretched around the
gallaws, and the crowd which had COLI
Ilected, to keep. them back. Over three
thousand people of all sexes, ages, and
eolors had collected. Every one was
I,quiet and orderly. At half past ten
j Sheriff Duson mounted the Platform of
/ the GalloWs, and adjusted the rope to
the beam. He made few well timed
and appropriate remarks to the. crowd
1 in which he spoke of the duty which he
as an officer would be compelled in q
/ few minutes to perform and begged
that those around, when the time ar
rived would behave themselves in a
/ quiet and orderly manner, giving neith-
Ell remarks of approval or disapproba-
ton.
AT five minutes past eleven the Sheriff
appeared at the jail door, accompanied
BY two or three deputies, leading Rons-