davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-23
Notloe Of sohool Election.

Notice is hereby given to the
voters and taxpayers of Stafford
school district No. One, Graham
county, Arizona, that an election
will be held IN the school house in
said school district on the 9TH day
of August, A. d, 1897, for the pur-
pose of submitting to the taxpay-
ers of said district whether the
bonds of said school district shall
be issued and sold to the amount
of Five Thousand Five Hundred
Dollars, $500, for the purpose OF
building a school house in said
school district, supplying the same
with furniture, necessary apparatus
and improving the grounds, and to
liquid ate any Indebtedness already
incurred for such purpose.
That the denomination Of said
bonds shall be Five Hundred
Dollars. that the rate of interest
said bonds shall bear is seven per
cent, payable annually. That the
number OF years said bonds shall
run shall be Twenty years from
date Of issue, that the hours during
said 7th day of August 1897, when
the polls of said election will be
open are from 8 o'clock a. m. until
5 o'clock p. m. and that the names
of the judges are as follows, to-wit
W. d. French, Lambert Frye, W
F. Ijams.
Dated this 18th day of July A. d
1897.
Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-23

THE Florence Tribune says Flor
ence is the only town in the Second
Judicial District fit for the U. s.
court to be located in. Tho Bulletin
clalmes the same qualifications for
Solomonville, while the Belt be-
lieves that Globe has superior
qualifications to either and there
fore the court should go there.
The GUARDIAN has not entered the
controversy, for while we know
Graham county is the most central
ly located and the court being To-
Gated here gives more general
satisfaction, we have great faith in
the good sense Of Judge Doan in
this matter andhe will act as his best
judgement teaches him he should.
The fact that this county has apoor
Jail need worry no one, for a good
Jail will be built in Stafford ere
long, also a good court house,
Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-23

No photographs, Catarrb, Cancer,
Lupus and Old Sores. Treated
Free, DR.. Lindley Rear of Post
Office. 7-16-tf.
Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-23

Oneman can pull Roller Deer
ing mower when full gear, 5-l4-tf
Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-23

IT is amusing to see the Bulletin
dodge IN school superintendent
propestios. No one has question
ed the honesty of Mr.. Damron'
unless perhaps it was the editor OF
the Bulletin. If he prevented a
dishonest superintendent last year
and compelled Judge Cluff to give
each district $500 we insist that he
do the samc thing this year. The
small districts have only received
S475, and according to the Bulletin
have been robbed of S25 each. BE
honest Bro. Kelly and admit you
wrong or else compel the superin-
tendent to give each district 5000.
We believe in fair play and shall
spend a little time in teaching the
Bulletin its meaning. If it is rob-
berry for one man TO do q certain
thing il is robbery for another man
to do the same thing.
Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-23
Che Guardian.
FRIDAY JULY 30, 1897
LATE EDITORIAL.
For President
1900,
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

WE presume that Gov. McCord
has more friends to-day than any
man in Arisona. 1t will be hard
to find a man who has fought him
or said a word against his con-
firmation. What a yell will go up
when McCord puts his little ak TO
work, which no doubt has very
keen edge by this time.
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03
NO. ).

this life Of dissipation we again de-
sired to travel. After visiting
Belgium and England we boarded
a steamer for New YORK City ar
irving there on the reth of July.
We had already spent the greater
portion Of the So, 900. Then we
commenced our journey across the
United States, visiting Chicago, St.
Paul, Helena, Portland, Sacre-
mento, San Francisco, Los Angeles;
Ell Paso, Salt Lake City, Ogden.
Omaha, Council Bluffs and St.
Louis. In the latt r city we
spent the remainder Of our money.
Each one. having ten dollars, we
took the Frisco line on foot, pass
ing through Missouri, \ Arkansas,
Indian Territory and Texas, and
Followed the Texas Pacific as far
as Mexico, where we rested a few
days. All along the route we tried
to get work, but failed. There was
nothing for strangers to do. 1t is
in this manner that we reached
Lafayette on January 2, 1897.
Knowing SO many people there we
thought it would be easy to find
employment. We knew that we
were risking our necks, but being
SO miserable, did not care very
much.
The day after our arrival at Col.
BOucreauX's we received a visit
from the sheriff who arrested us and
conducted US to prison, and being
Intercepted by Sheriff Broussard
and others, we confessed our crime,
and the same day we were conveyed
to New Orleans for fear of mob
law.
We remained in the city month
and half and on the 10th of Feb
ruary, 1897, we were brought to
Lafayette for trial. The trial was
fixed for the 18TH Of February but
postponed to the 25th. The trial
lasted two days and half night
and we were condemned to hang
after eloquent pleadings of our
attorneys. -.
We are now awaiting the day Of
our execution, thinking that it is
hard to die SO young, but Gods
will be done.
To Mr.. Thomas Mouton, March
3, 1897.
ERNEST BLANC,
A. BLANC
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

French city, we received not
much more hospitality than in
the American cities, and we
crossed the river and continued
our journey having nothing in view
but the procurement Of employment.
1t is in this way we arrived at tia
home of old Col. Boudreaux and
for two years we worked on his
plantation following the pursuits of
farming. 1t was life of Tranquil
ity, sweet and honest, which we re-
greet having discarded to follow the
evil promptings Of AMBITION; the
love of fortune, and the desire for
gold with the devil suggested +,
US through the leaves Of book en-
titled the 'James Boys" 1t was
by reading this book we were lead
to steal. Why work in the field :?
Why walk behind a pillow And at
the end of the year receive not
enough to buy clothes to put on our
backs?
To rob one of his gold in a single
night appeared to us much easier.
The birds had eaten the crops and
we were discouraged. Then to put
our new plan into execution we
bought two revolvers and made two
polgnards of files. After being we'll
armed we decided to rob Martin
Begnaud and eight days afterwards
we were on our way determined to
execute our project. For two days
we hesitateds but the third, (the day
following the election) April 81,
1896, we fully succeeded. That
night we arrived at Scott at 9
o'clock. All was calm and quiet.
Nearly everybody in the town were
asleep, with the exception Of those
in Simeon Begnaud's saloon. 1t
was yet too early to begin our work
and we sought refuge in the tall
grass along the railroad, watching
the movements of all those who
were in the saloon. Shortly after
the doors of the saloon were shut
and everyone went home. We saw
Martin Begnaud going toward his
store. The time to act had come.
| 1t was then or never. We walked
hurriedly to the store, but we ar
rived too late, the door having al
| ready been closed. We knocked
! at the door. Martin Begnaud came
and asked, "who is there ?" cit is
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

of God. cd, Sheriff Broussard with Alexis.
sd, Ernest with Deputies Israel Prejean and
Alex Biilaud.
The two brothers walked up the stairs
with firm tread. When they reached the
summit of the scaffold they knelt when they
blessed by Father Knapp who rccitcd
the act of contrition with them.
Ernest then in clear, we'll modulatcd
voice, addressed the crowd in chaste French
the substance of which was the caution to
young to avoid evil books which might
have tendency to start them on the down
grade of criminal career, asi it had done for
them. He counscled them to follow strictly
the tcnets of religion and the advice of their
parents.
AS soon as Ernest concluded his remarks,
Sheriff Broussard adjusted the fatal moose
around Ernest's neck and then he placed it
around Alexis; he quickly covered the
brothers. faces with the black caps, tied
their legs. and before many were of
it, the engine of death was set in motion
and two lifeless bodies were launched in
space.
The drop fsll at z:Io and at 2:14 all
muscular tremor had ceased, both necks
being dislocated by the fall. They un-
questionably lost all sensation the moment
the drop was sprung. The slight bodily
movement of the bodies for four minutes
after being mechanical. The last mech
anical spasnodic movement of Alexis was a
stiffening of the right arm.
At s:25, IS minutes after the
drop fell Coroner y. r. Trahan,
Drs. Webb and Mouton, pro-
nounced Ernest and Alexis Blanc
dead and the bodies were lowered,
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

up a poor chap who was on his knees before
them. This picture they showed to Mr..
Simeon Begnaud, but upon this gentleman
turning away with apparent disgust, they
both assured him there intention of
reproducing anything like picture of their
crime, and Mr.. Begnaud's advice they
tore it up. They answered all questions
quickly and intellisently.
When urged to lie down SO as to get as
much rest possible to prepare for the Or
deal they had to go through the next day,
they insisted on sitting up and chatting until
after I o'clock in the morning. Even after
retiring they spoke and joked with each
other until exhausted, when nature threw
around them the mantle of charitable OBJ
livion.
They told the sheriff t., arouse them at
a. which he did, but they begged to be
allowed sleep little longer and they
dozed off until $3.50. They did not break
bread until they received holy communion
at O'Clock. Then visitors began to arrive
and the scenes of the day before COM
menced. They were perhaps triAe less
full of levity, but they still INDUCED in
humorous salles. Their color became
little heightened towards noon, but they yet
displayed that marvellous composure they
manifested from the time Of their arrest
At one o'clock Father Knapp, Domini
can friar, who is holding a mission here,
came in to render the last sad rites of con-
ISOLATION of mother church. The father,
who is exceedingly handsome, made the
scene the more impressive. His stalwart
figure, clothed in cossack, his classic face
beanipg with kindness and humanity, will
1nvSr he ,1,sara he Sila of
the lips as if impelled by inward prayer,
asking, doubtless, the Great Jehovah to par
don the youthful criminals and temper the
morbid crowd noticeable.
When Father Knapp arrived the prisoners
were about to take bath, which they did
with. scrupulous care, washing their feet and
bodies in a tub. They put on neat garments
which She riff Broussard had provided for
them, and when dressed they very
handsome pair of young men. Being
offered collars they refused to put them on,
Alexis saying that he did not want to place
any obstruction in the way Of the rope. a
short while after Father Knapp entered the
cell and remained with them.
At 1:45 Sheriff Broussard read the death
warrant. They listened to that document
with perfect coml,osure. Under the tu.clage
of Father Knapp their face. lost some of
their lcvity, although Ernest frequently
smiled while talking, and Alexis eyes
maintained tneir glitter and his voice its
usual vivacity, the only evidence of any
unusual strain was an occasional gulI'ing
the part of Alexis as though lump formed
i'll his throat, while Ernest was observed to
uosten his lips with his tongue.
At 2:o4 the march to the galows began,
in the following order. 1st the holy man
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

u.s." we responded; then entering
the store we bought a pack of to-
bacCO, stating that as we worked
all day we could not come eaflier.
We conversed upon different sub
jects before all opportunity pre-
sented itself for an advantageous at
tack, he being behind the counter.
We were about to leave when the
idea came to our mind to ask him
to show us some rat traps, for
which he had to come from behind
the counter, and now the OPP
portunity for which we had
long awaited came. He showed
us the traps, and after explaining
how to use them he leaned against
the counter. His back was turned
to us and when he turned around he
found himself facing the revolver
and dagger Of Alexis. He was SO
surprised that he leaped towards us
in vain effort to disar,n US. "Do
not move. If you do you are
dead" Ernest replied pointing his
pistol closer to his head. Paralized
by the fear of being shot or pierced
with dagger, he remained quiet
1t was then that Alexis shut the
door which was opened. We then
told him: CHOW, Martin, all that
we want is that you open your safe
in order that those crisp bills may
pass from your safe into our
pockets. Without saying a word
he walked to that small piece of
iron furniture, whose contents have
excited more than one human
mind. Five minutes later the safe
was opened and it was with some
difficulty as he trembled very much
before he found the combination.
1t was then, without flu thcr to do
about the money, we began to tie
his hands and to cntwine his body
with cailco TO make him more Sc
cure, and after conducting him to
his room we tied his feet and made
him sit on his bed. 1 remained
near the bed, the pistol in my hand
watching every movement of the I'M
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

placed in collins and carried to the
courthouse where, upon examina
ton by DR.. Trahan and his assis-
tants, it was ascertained that their
necks had been dislocated.
With the exception of the detach
ing of a plank, which the Sheriff
Immediately replaced, there was
nothing to mar the harmony of the
dism al scene.
Thousands we're admitted to view
the bodies as they lay IN front of
the courthouse in their white
covered pine collins. The discolo-
ration of their faces had commenced
to pale and to assume the waxen
hues of death.
During the afternoon the bodies
were taken to the Catholic church
and were given decent burial.
Too much credit cannot be ac-
corded Sheriff Broussard, who, in
the conduct Of this case from the
inception to the end, carried out
every detail SO successfully. His
dealings with the large crowd
were characterized by frmness and
good humor. The law prohibited
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

The following is a literal trans
lation Of a portion Of the manu-
script given by the Blancs to Mr..
Thomas Mouton. 1t was written
by Alexis and signed by both. 1t
is full history Of the crime aud
sketch of the murderers:
SUNDAY, Feb. IS, 1897.
At this NOM MT ! am incarcerated
in the Jail at Lafayette. Through
the bars Of my cell 1 am able to see
only a small spot of the green
earth. The weather is beautiful;
the sun lights the town with its
golden rays, none of which shine
on me, confined in my dismal cell.
But why are we here, without hope
and with the scaffold as the only
alternative? 1t is because we have
committed a crime, the penalty of
which we must pay with our lives.
A few years ago, it vas in Paris,
France, that our beloved mother
breathed her last after long and
painful illness. Poor mother !!
How she must have suffered, if
from her heavenly abode she looked
down upon us and followed us
through our lives. We were left
alone on earth, two unhappy or
plants with no parents to guide us.
We were then, one 16 and the
other IS, years old. By the sale of
few househol articles we realized
little money. Considering our
position we decided to leave France
as we had no reason to remain
there. We journeyed through Bel
GUM, visiting Brussels, Bourges
and Anvers, and finally boarded a
steamer bound for New York where
we landed on the 24th Of August,
1898.
Immediately after our arrival
there, the love for adventure took
possession of us and having enough
money we departed for St. Louis,
passing through Norfolk, Cincin-
natl, indianapolis and Louisville,
arriving at St. Louis, where we
soon spent all our money. Being
penniless, we entered upon a life
of privation and misery. For two
months we had little to eat and
sometimes nothing at all. After
several efforts to secure employ
ment, a farmer near St. Louis gave
us work and a home; we remained
there all winter. With the APP
proach Of spring, our adventurous
spirit again took possession of US,
and not having been paid in money
we did not care to remain where we
we're. Then we packed our be-
longings and left for New Orleans,
and a month later reached that
city, having suffered much from
cold and hunger. But in that
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

fortunate prisoner, while Alexis
ransacked the safe with as much
sangfroid as a banker does his own.
Despite the gag Martin could speak
distinctly and it was at this
moment that he said: "Why do
you treat me in this manner? Had
you asked me to give you some
money I would have done So "
But replied, "You are saying this
because you are canght." Alexis
then said he had to tell him where
were the keys of those two little
drawers. Martin replied: The keys
are in one of the opened drawers,
and furthermore, one of drawers
contains only private papers while
the other contains some gold. "
Alexis returned to the safe and
found but one key which opened
the drawer containing the gold; he
searched for the other key, but
could not find it, but being satisfied
with the money he had found, he
believed Martins word that the
other drawer contained only pa
pers. After waiting impatiently near
the bed about fifteen minutes
walked over to where my brother
was to see if he had finished rif1ing
the safe l noticed on the floor
near the safe two sacks filled with
money while Alexis pockets were
puffed with bank notes. We were
discussing the manner in which we
would tie him SO that he could not
give the alarm before morning, when
he said:
ado not destroy my account
books nor my private papers, with
out which I cannot make a living. "
In the silence of the night this
sonorous voice appeared probably
stronger than it really was and i'm
pressed us with a feeling impossible
room and 1 (Ernest) stabbed Mar
How many times 1 stabbed him
know not, nor did 1 ever know.
All that I remember is that Martin
uttered smothered groan after the
| first plunge of the dagger, which
was certainly mortal. Without
losing any time we walked out of
road track to our cabin. After ar
bury the money, and conceal our
burned all clews. The next morn
were with Col. Boudreaux in his
old colonel was stupefed. We
feigncd to be equally affected. A
short while after we were informed
that the sheriff would arrive ON the
scene with blood h ounds to track
the murderers. We had not
tn ought Of blood ounds before and
easiness, and the consequence was
we remained in our cabin all day.
At four O'Clock in the afternoon the
dogs, after trailing around the store,
seemed to take a trail along the
railroad which they followed to the
| place where we left the track the
night before. We were very much
relieved when we felt sure that the
dogs had lost the scent. After
staying one week without being sus-
pected and making believe that we
| had received some money we left on
the 1910 train for New Orleans
with the stolen money strapped
around us. Immediately upon our
| arrival in New Orleans we bought
vaiises and going to hotel soon re-
| Iicved ourselves OF our belts. The
next morning we left for Atlanta,
thence to New York where we
rested several days before taking
our departure for Europe. After
six days of travelling we arrived at
Southampton, England, and the
next day we were at Havre, France.
We purchased new clothes and
lived several days there INDUCING in
the best Of wines and the finest OF
| French cooking. Dressed as
The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-04-03

The Peoples Cotton Oil Mil
closed a very success ft-;. season last
Wedne sday at IL O'Clock. For five
months the mill was run day and
night with very few stops. The
officers and stock-h olGers Of this
company have every reason 70 be
pleased with the first season of
their mill. Not only theses who
src pecuniarily interested in this
enterprise but every resident Of the
town has been benefited by tl7e
operation Of this manufa cturc.
he sum Of $3.50 has been paid
weekly in salaries and wages alone,
to say nothing CT the money dis
bursed for seed. The cotton seed
oil mill has been q source of con-
siderable revenue to our people and
it should crafty everyone interested
, in the welfare OF the town to know
that it is an assured success.
Manager Biossat informed The
Gazette that it is; the inteu,ion Of
! the company toy enlarge the ware
houses SO that enough seed may be
had to enable a longer ruiz nexk
season.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-05-13
NORTH SIDE NOTES.

II. N Bush returned from Grand
Rapids, Saturday night.
Chef Hubbell and wife OF Greenville
visited here over Sunday.
Mrs. Con Eddy and Mrs. Lyman
Convey we're in Greenville this week.
Miss Leone Lloyd possesses a new
wheel, the gift OF her brother, Percy,
who sent it to her.
Mrs. Clara Smith, who has been Wis.
iting her brother, T.. l.. Wright, left
for Chicago, Monday.
Geo. Wiley, who returned from New
York last week, says that he has not
been working in a refrigerator factory,
as has been reported and therefore
does not know that warehouses are
Overlooking with refrigerators. He
has been employed in casket factory
at good wages but living and house
rent there is SO high that it is impossi.
BILE to make anything more than fair
living.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-05-13
Admission only ten cents.

Rev. Il. A. Mcconnell will deliver
his popular lecture on ireland and the
Irish people, at Orleans Centre, Satur-
day evening, May %.
In the window of Fish & Co. IS mark ct
may be seen a pretty sight. 1t is a
dwarf orange tree bearing ripe fruit
and also in blossom. Mrs. Fish has
picked off large number of oranges,
it having borne profusely this spring.
City Clerk Eddy in another column
calls the attention of bicycle riGers to
the ordinance relating to riding on
sidewalks in the city and it will be
well for wheelmen and wheelwomen,
who are not posted as to the penalties,
to procure copy and read its provis'
ions.
Chas. Wagner and his sister, Miss
Jennie Wagner, have gone to Ann
Arbor to attend the fourth annual
music festival to be held In University
Hall. The Boston Festival orchestra
OF fifty men, choral union OF three
hundred voices and Mile. Emma Calve
are among the three days attractions
in that city this week.