The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-01
MURDER.
GUsTAvE LADATttT STARS HIS WIFE
AND THEN CUTS HER THROAT.
Ne Charges His MOther-in-I.aw with NE
xnE THE Cause af Eer DA II atptcr's Dea n.


About forty-fivo minutes pat Q o'clock
yesterday, at the house No $50 st. Claude
street, between st. Philip and Ursulnes,a most
horrible tragedy was committed, by which
young octoroon woman named Coralie Laba- |
tut was stabbed to death with large dirk
knife in the hands OF her husband, Gustave
Isabatut.
The report 81 the murder spread like Wild
fire, and our reporter being In the neighbor-
hood, he repaired to the scene Immediately
and viewed the body whiel it was warm.
On nearing the house where tho fatal ARRAY
had occurred, could be seen large crowd Of
swarthy individuals, who gathered around
and about the doors of the building, hoping
to catch glimpse OF the murdered woman
as the doors were opened and closed to allow
OF the admission and egress Of those who had
occasion to enter the room. The reporter
mounted the little portico In front Of the
1om, and after administering a rap on the
door 1t was opened by a policeman on the in
side and our reporter was ushered into neat
room about twelve feet square
This was the room in which the tragedy oc-
surred. The first thing that met the report
srs eye was large
sPLAsHES or BLOOD
on the floor. which were silent witnesses of
terrible crime. Casting his eye to another
portion Of the room, he discovered q cot, and
on II lay tho body OF a woman apparently
about eighteen years OF age, composed In the
embrace OF death. Not d single feature was
disturbed to show the terrible struggle she
had gone through with few minutes before
her murderer
In her cheeks flush remained, and with her
teeth OF pearl and black hair she was beautiful
In death. But when q sheet was removed
from off her neck her throat was encrcied
with u horrible cut from ear to ear: when
portion Of her clothing was removed q wound,
All inch In length, could be seen In the epigas-
rjnhf hunI Laid
over her breast, showed that the thumb had
been nearly severed ut the llgament while
as her lett hand lay by her side it ould be seen
that large piece OF flesh had been dug out.
Around the corpse was gathered number
LOT negroes, male and female, who appeared to
be friends and relations Of the deceased, but
who quietly eyed the
BUToHERED WOMAN UNMovED.
To get nj the cause that instigated the ac-
e,lsed to kill thia woman the mother Florence
Kaufman, was interviewed, and she stated
that the couple had been married for two
years and half. That for the first two
months they lived very happy together but
during the last six months they had quar-
relied and made up, and made up and quar-
relied, until about a month ago, when the hus-
band was arrested for assauting her with a
cotton hook aud placed under six months
peace bonds.
Later both were arrested for disturbing the
peace, and Coralie, thinking that it was the
fault OF her husband, they separated.
About week ago he called ut the house and
asked her was she willing to make up with |
him; she told him that she had not made up
her mind. Yesterday he called Mt the house,
but Goralie was NOT in; she had gone out to
purchase q pair of shoes. He waited for her |
TO return, as she did at about o'clock
When she came Ia he asked her II she had |
made up her mind to live with him again. |
She told him no, and then he seized her. l
returned my daughter was lying on the
door
CORPSE.
Myself and her murderer picked her UP |
and placed her on the cot where she NOW re- |
poses.
The police came in and took Gustave off. !
A brother of the deceased woman. a child |
about years of age. said that he was look
ing through the window and saw Gustave cut |
his sisters throat.
The reporter then repaired to the Fourth |
Precinct Station, and upon being ushered into
cell Is, there stood before him q mulatto, with |
good countenance, about 50 years of age,
Gustave Labatut.
Reporter Labatut, / have come here to
give you the benefit OF statement to the
public; now what have you to say for your
Without trembling aoparticle and with o
firm voice Labatut commenced and said:
am ID here for murder. [ killed my wife !
won't deny it, for that would be lying. | |
won't tell you all about II, because l wish to
save q certain portion Of it to toll in court.
The blood of my wife rests upon the head
Or nv mo,her-in-law. Florence Kaufman.
She did 1T ali. On this side of Heaven ex-
Dactno mercy. I have done we'll what in
tended. 70 Id. and want no mercy. / have
been made unhnppv by nv mother-iu- law.
and hold her responsible. told her, after
aao o,,,,,,, ,,,.,,,
hohDhhhD Mf Wife,
that had plenty OF time to make my escape
out OF the laws clutches ii wished.
When / came to the house to-day, | asked
my wife was there no hope Of us living, to-
gether again said sYou know you told me
o week ago that there was hope ii l. made
amends Tor the wrong had done you by be-
Thought that things were not going on