The New York herald., 1877-07-26
A sCAFFOLD TRAGEDY.
EXECUTION OF A MAN WHO LAUGHED on THE
cEEDING.

DEATH TRAP-A MOST hEMAhhADAS ~
| cEEDING.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
NEW ORLEANS, July 25, 1877
| To-day there met his fate the gallows, Jules
| Guidry, convicted OF the murder oil Jonn Beai, IN
| Calcasien parish on the Goth oil August 1919.
| Gudry was "a handsome young man. about thirty
years Of age. About SIX years ngo no
married a very pretty and attractive woman named
Della Levise, by whom ne had two children-a girl,
now Ave years OF age, and son two years younger.
From the parish OF st. Landry, few years later, he
moved TO Lake Charles. CaIlasien parish, where no
went to work in a saw MILL Here the couple dwelt
together In harmony until early in 1879,
when the wife charged Guidry with being unfaithiul,
and shortly after by the advice Of somc OF her
friends, among whom was John Beali commenced
suit for divorce. Gadry, IL Is alleged, ie much out
ragged at this stating the whole affair was put up by
BeaIl for the purpose OF separating him and
his WIFE, in order that he might step in.
Beall had it true, been living some
time with the Guidrys, boarding at their
house. and certain led tho husband to
believe that wife unlathtu to him. in TACT, it
said he occasion surprised them. This, how
ever Bcae Denied but II substantially proved at
the trial, when letters were produced which estab-
I.shed beyond doubt that there existed between tho
two somewht more tnan friendly relations.
These letters having been discovered by Guidry no
became furious with passion, and on August 20, hear
ing that Beae, who was away, had returned to town,
procured pistol and went TO the Post Office where he
found Boalc reading paper which he had just picked
up He apparently in n friendly manner, asked Beale
what he reading, and, the other replied without
warning drew his weapon and shot him through tho
heart and then, without attempting to escape, cooy
gave himself up to officer aud was locked up
RLAARKABLE STATEMENT.
1t appears Guidry fand Rousseau (thc murderer
Gently hanged in st. James parish, after committing
twenty murders, confined together IN the samc
CELL and that Tor some reason the latter conceived the
inteusest hatred for the former, Threatening
hc wound have him hanged. This G1idry
who, at that time, believed he would DO
pardoncd, laughed hardly believing any mans
unprovokcd malice could SO exist Rousseau, how
ever, when he was on the scailod, made statement
he said that while in the cell with Gudiy tho
latter hal confessed that the letters which
were produced at the trial we're forged, or rather
the galows These letters according TO Rousseau, had
been by Gu,dry's wife his so! citation, he
averrng they would save hum This. thougn It en-
life ne having killed Beale on an old grudge TINS
statement was OF course denied by Gudry, and was
OF the letters were duly established, bat II was
bruited around that it was on this
statement OF Rousseau's that the Governor refused
executive cenency; hence the excitement that the
dead murderer's statement should be received when
the petition OF Ex-Governor McEnery and many other
prominent ciliZeus refused. spite of this, how
ever, Governor Nichols remained firm, and the morn
OF the execution arrived. Such was pubic scnti
Re I'd would NOT dare execute him. but ha.ng been
ascertaned beyond doubt that Gudry had attempted
10 huvc the sheriff assassinated while bringing MIN
New Orleans, he naturally lost his sympathy ana
paid due at,ent to The details OF the execution.
A GOssIPs
The morning was murky, with light rain but
early as SIX o'clock large crowds began to gather In
front OF the gaows which situated near the jill.
Among the assembagc large number of Guldry's
friends and relations from Sc Landry were
able, but the-e was no appearance OF an attempt At
rescue
Gudry, who along had borne himself bravcly, as the
hour approached began 10 assume an air OF bravado
ana surveyed the crowr from hts prison window jeer.
ingly His broiners and friends who visited him ad-
vlsed some sort Of coniesson, but he was evidently
the ua"'"S unfor.ua.o " man we're I s 'vas snneuins
reprievc the execution was delay cd until fifteen
word wing come the doomed man was led OUT OF the
jail He came forth handcuiled. accompanied by
sheriff keld deputy sheriff and Father Charles,
tnrous usnouL Ho banded his slouChed hat
TO tine sncria, remarknp, ''rhe fall will
not be enough. | want real breakneck fall, about
feet" The rope was accordingly heightened, when
he again cooy took II up and said scorniu.iy, "his
Is pretty arrangement to choke man with, amt
it?" Father Charles oegan TO say prayer or the
dying when the condemned man stepped on the trap.
HORRIBLE BRAvADo.
While keeping his seii-possesson he appeared 10 be
full OF wiid cxcitem nj, anu the Sheriff pinioLed
his arms saic IN loud jeerlng voice 81 cont
q crime do regret. l would do 1t again don't
care; am a man. What Sheriff Dueson, Of 81. Ian
DRIP, said Is not SO"
The rope was .djusted about his neck and he bado
adcu TO the priest and his friends, thanking them Tor
their Kindness. He then turned 10 tue Sheriff and
claimed rhat is too tight; put the knot the side
OF my nccK' By this time the bravado OF the man
and his desperate determination to die scorning
the whole proceedings became really horrible.
He laughed loudly, saying TO the sheriff, IL
see through the cap; MS too thin. Good by" the
descended. the rope fell. and as the drop
n
struggle. Alter hanging lor about haf hour the
body cut down and given to his friends, and the
crowd slowly DISPERSED thus chdiug what IRON the
beginning the cnd extraordinary tragedy.