The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-25
Eyraud'S Career.

Eyraud's career was deplorable one. At
the age Of thirteen years his conduct was
such that his father was obliged to send him
to a reformatory. When nineteen years old
he enlisted in a Chasseur regiment from
which he was transferred to the Foreign
France and Mexico. He deserted from his
regiment and Joined the guerrillas under
General Juarez, to whom he betrayed the
position Of the French forces. For this crime
he was tried BY French court martial and
condemned to death. The amnesty Of 1863
enabled him to return to France. After his
return he led an adventurous life, commit
ting robberies and other crimes.
Gabrielle's acquaintance he made on the
street. She is not really beautiful, but grace
full figure, piquant face and pretty eyes have
gained for her the sbubriquet of La Belle
Gabrielle.
Early in July, 1889, the funds Of the firm
were running low and the thought came of
inveigling some rich man to Gabrielles
house and robbing him. Remi Launly, a
lawyer of good practice and fifty years OF
AGE. was at first selected, but was afterward
discarded for Gouffe, who was reputed to be
wealthy. The murder was carefully planned.
A block and tackle was inserted in the cell
ing of the room and concealed by curtain.
Gabrielle was to playfully place her girdle
Eyraud. who was to be stationed behind the
curtain. He was to attach the ends to a
rope which he was to pu l, lifting Gouffe in
the air and strangling him. A large sized
trunk to hold the corpse was procured and
Gabrielle made bag in which to put the
dismembered remains.
The evening of the tragedy Gabrielle and
Eyraud dined at a restaurant near the
Madelaine. They drank champagne freely
and at half-past seven O'Clock arose from the
table. Gabrielle went Immediately home
and Eyraud soon followed and concealed
himself. 1t was not long before Gouffe ap-
pesred, according to agreement. He at once
sat down to talk to Gabrielle. The crime
was committed as it had been planned.
When they lowered Gouffe he was dead.
They searched his pockets, but found only
S30the-e.
After the murder Eyraud took off oil of
Gouffe's Clothes and th III cut up the body,
putting the pieces in the trunk, AMI left the
house, leaving Gabrielle there alone with it.
Gabrielle took his money aud keys. Eyraud
went to his Office and without light he
hunted about in the dark. but found nothing
He then went back to the Rue Trousan du
Coudray and thence home, where he slept
heavily.
The next day they set out for Lyons with
the corpse in the trunk. It was deposited
in ditch and subsequently, found. An in.
quest was held, but the man was not identi-
fed. He was quietly buried in common
grave, in which other remains were deposited
at the same time. The official who was re-
spoasib.e luckily tied bit Of string around
Gouffes feet and. when an examination was
ordered the body was identified by this
mears.
Meanwhile Gabrielle and Eyraud came to
America. They lived awhile in New York
City and then made their way to the Pacific
coast While there they met Frenchman
named Garanger. He was returning from
Japan when he met Eyraud and Gabrielle
Eyraud and GaranSer agreed to start In
business together and Garanger advanced
$1,000. Eyraud asked the latter to take his
daughter, as he called Gabrielle, back to
France.
Shortly after their arrival in Paris Ga5ri-
ellie showed Garanger copy Of Le Pettt
Journal containing an account of the Goutfe
crime and confessed that she was the Gabri-
ellie mentioned in it. At his suggestion she
went with him to the Prefect of Police and
told the story of the crime
Then began a thorough search by detec-
tives through Canada, the United States and
Mexico for the chief criminal. Last May he
was discovered in the Hotel Rowe, in Havana,
where he lived under the name Of Miguel
Doski Arrived in Paris he soon yielded to
the close questioning OF the police and con-
fessed all his guilt.
A remarkable feature Of the crime was the
attempt to show that the Bompard woman
was not morally responsible for the part she
bore in the crime; that she acted under
hypnotic influence, obeying the suggestions
of Eyraud. The defence was ingeniously
offered and we'll supported, and may have
had some effect in saving Gabrielle from the
full penalty of her crime. Strong effects
were made to secure a communication of
Eyraud's sentence, but without effect.