Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1906-07-26
WANTS BACK IN PEN
Wealthy Man Wants Admitted
Again to Prison
A MAN WHO "WORSHIPS HONOR"
and That He will Spend His For
tune if Necessary to Get Into the
Pen at Joliet, Ills.


fight hard To keep out of the peniten-
tiary. but Charles A. Gourdain. mem
Der OF a well known Louisiana family.
is fighting with all the means at his
command to get in the penitentiarv
at Joliet. His. He is busy seeking
United States Judge who will sign
a mandamus that will open the gates
of The pen.
Gourdaln declares that he has plcdy
ed his whole energy and large private
fortune 10 the cause of his honor.
which he stakcd in court when he WIS
on trial for fraudulent use of th,.
mails that he would not appeal should
he be found guilty. To redeem him
self III his own eyes from what he
claims was an unauthorized and fran
dulent act-in violation of his word
on the part of his lawyer in suing
Oh; i wii: 81 SupevcedeS and causin"
MS removal from the peniientiarv
and release on bail. he is exhaustiny
every endeavor To .et back into the
penilenliarv and serve out the full
term OF four years and six months i'm
posed by the Judge at his own re-
quest.
lie hopes to be able 10 reach one
o! the supreme court justices with
MS plea. or else find some other plan
TO get back into the Joliet penitenti-
AIRY. If he fails, he SAYS. he will buiId
private penitentiary a. Joliet. and
serve out his sentence in his own nen-
itentlarr under exactly the same con
dltlons as If he was n prisoner in the
government penal institution.
Gourdain estimates his own for
tune at S3O.000000. but if the fyure
Is exaggerated. il is at least certain
that he is well supplied with money
sufficient aud more for him to carry
ont the plan of the private peniten
nary. or Ia carry on his present EN-
aeavor to be inearcerated by order
of the courts.
He Worships Honor.
some men worship money Some
men worship God. Others worship
other things. worship honor.
This Is the motto Of Gourdain that
has brought about the most remarka-
hle appeal that ever has called to the
attention of the supreme court of the
United States.
iourdam was connected with n lot
leFy that ran IN opposition to the old
Louisiana State lottery, hut claims
that when the law which ended tho
existence of that giant gamble went
INTO effect, he and his family with
drew all interests in the lottery bus-
mess, and never engaged in il since
Early last year the United States
authorities got after Gourdain on ac-
count of land scheme he was con
ducting from Chicago. involving lands
near the oil fields of Jefferson. La
RE says that when the postoffice an
thoritieS first accused him of froudu-
,cht schemes ne employed w. Knox
Haynes. lawyer Of Chicago, promis-
ing to pay him $500 a month for life
not to defend him. but TO bring abopt
ms Indictment. Gourdain felt that
ne mad been falsely accused, and wish
ed vindication in open court.
me ease came to trial in Nav last
III Chicago. and Gourdnin put in no
defense. lie made an argument. stat
IN" that II the jury had the least
doubt OF his honesty and sincerity he
wished them to find him guilty. He
said he would make no appooI but
would serve his sentence. and at the
conclusion Of that sentence would
turn over his entire fortune to tho
Pos'o'hcc authorities to pav back ev-
cry person III full all that they had
subscribed toward the land scheme
winch lie was conducting and the en-
IRE Gonrdain family wonld then ouit
the United States forever
"hle he was chccrfullv serving
tlme his lawyer. as he claims. without
MS knowledge or consent was work
ing for his release. and tbrouob y
WITH OF supersedas before Judge
nrosscup had Gourdain transferred
from Joliet TO Chicago ON July g
ana lodged in the county iaiI. Gour.
dam was very angry and declared
tha' this proceeding against his agree
ment with himself. ard demanded
mat ne be taken back 10 Joliet. The
only way he could obtain his rclense
from the county jail was 20 sign a
hall bond, and he took this course.
and was let out on bail.
Gourdain Immediately returned to
'oIlet and demanded to be received
again as prisoner. but the warden
would not admit him. Defeated at
all points in his effort to get back |
INTO the penitentiary, Gourdain con-
ceIycl fbn idno of ,,,,.ooI:,>O- - A.. -