The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-17
A TERRIBLE CRIME.
TRIAL OF GUSTAV LABATUT FOR THE
MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
A Chapter of sickening Details.


A Chapter of Sickening Details.
Yesterday the case of the State VS.. Gustav La
batut was called before the Superior Criminal
Court. the charge being murder. The circum-
stances Of the crime are doubtless still fresh in
the minds of our readers. On the twenty eighth
of February last. on st. Claude street. near st.
Philip CASTOR Labatut. following the example
of George Morris. who expatlated for his deed
on the gallows slaughtered In cold blood his
wife with knife. After the cause was called
yesterday the empaneling OF the jurors COM
menced, and the following twelve were selected:
H. Groebel, M. Heidenheim, Paul Mold. p For
stall. O. N. Welshans. Robert 8. Day. w. A.
Peale. Louis Kottwitz. d. R. Perret. @. r. Ben
ton. J. r. Kent and Morris Keiffer.
The first witness called to the stand was the
mother OF the murdered woman. Corale who
testified that the accused came to her house and
knocked ut tho door on the morning of the
twenty eighth of February. and asked to be ad-
mitted. Fearing the man, as he had already
beaten his wife. the mother was afraid
to admit him. but he told her he was
about to leave the city on ship for
Europe. She opened the door and he went in.
Coralie. at this time was absent. and at Laba-
tut's request she was sent for and soon ap-
peared. The accused had some conversation
with her as they stood near the mantelpiece.
and as she started toward the bureau he fol-
lowed her. Stretching forth his arms as II to
caress her. he forced her against the wall, and
with Bowie knife stabbed her In the abdomen.
Horrined at his action. the unfortunate woman
called to him. Don't do that" when he again
attempted to stab her. The wife caught the
knife and broke 1t from the handle. cutting her
do huI Ttoha t1t RI ha fr1rct tnI In
his designs to have her life. took the blade and
cody stabbed her several times again. when
she fell. He then, to make sure of his purpose,
cut her throat. The agonized mother was pres
ent during all Of this. but could not prevent the
man from completing his deed. After Cora;
with both feet upon her In the stomach and
then knelt down beside her. and placing his
lips to the open wound in her neck drunk her
a hungry tiger. A Mr.. Picou then came In and
saw the e accused in that position; He got up
e II be- Of Pcoa
Labatut arose from. the dying woman, the blood
drooling from his mouth and guyrgling from
and she soon died. The witness had the de-
ceased woman's clothes in court showing the
cuts. but they were not put in evidence, ,
testified that he heard the Cries Of Help
Help" and ran to the house No. 259 st. Claude
street The doors closed but the curtains
He saw the accused. on his knees
SUCKING AND DRINKING THE BLOOD
Of the stabbed woman from the wound in her
throat He did not go In because Labatut brand
entering Labatut had only the blade of the
knife IA his hand. He. witness. then called for
the police officer then testified and stated
that seeing some persons reckoning to him,
he went towards st. Claude street. There he
found some two hundred people In front OF q
hnn9a and t9ArnQn
went II and found Labatut standing In the cor
him prisoner. Labatut said: " have done
it." and asked for glass Of water; which was
given him. The witness then took Labatut to
The State here rested its case. and the defense
produced q witness az to the character Of the
accused. The witness knew nothing OF 1t. and
The defense offered
NO FURTHER TESTIMONY.
and Attorney General Ogden. in q very short
speech. told the jury that the case was most
and so simple in all its details, had ever been
before the court. 1t seemed as though this had
been an example to show how debased and cruel
human nature could be. and like some Of those
high tidal waves that leave behind them exposed
to view the lowest depths of the sea. SO this had
shown to what level The depra,Xty 9f human
suy 'os e n 0ny
arose and said that the prisoner wished to make
q statement to the jury. and the court gave him
that privilege; ,,,,..
then stepped forward. and addressin ing the court
and jury said that he desired to show that the
crime for which he was on trial was not pre-
Coralie a woman came to the ship on which he
was employed and told him that his wife was
not true to him. He had learned that a China,
man was on very intimate terms with her and
had been for a very long time. He had taken
her from her mothers house, for there she was
In bad company; He had e epd
Kept but she had led him most unhapps
existence. For months land here the accused
had left him to wander about the streets from
pillar to post without place to lay his head,
Notwithstanding the fact that he had provided
company with prostitutes. The facts Of the kill
ing. he said. were these: He called at her
nsF wh Hs his e es@e n s0Rf wSy s sna
turned down the picture q man
II essfs w sns eoaa san
no more; I pushed her back against the wall
gave her thrust l did the deed as has been
told, but, gentlemen, leave 1t to yourselves II
you had been treated had been would you not
ing her blood did not do it. I only kissed her !
for loved her. Idon't say all this to make you
imagine want you TO diminish what justice
has In store for me. What / want is simply
that
JUSTICE SHOULD BE DONE,
and If 1 have. to hang. why then am satisfied.
believe that justice ought to be done always.
but l think ought not to be sacrificed in a
case like this. and leave 1t to you gentlemen of
the jury, II you would not have acted as did,
The prisoner showed GOODNESS that was re-
markable. OF light mulatto color. with a
above the ordinary of his class. In delivery he
was deliberate Intelligent and sometimes
almost eloquent, and made an impression on
Judge Whitaker gave concise charge to the
jury, defining the crimes Of murder and man
slaughter, and then gave the case to them:,
They retired and alter quite loud delibera-
tion brought in. to the utter establishment of
al Tho heard the testimony the verdict OF
Such heinous crime, in all its sickening de-
tails. has never been committed within the
State and tha nracadant hx this xardict will