The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-07-31

HoSt >orlglnai type and beyond their
powers Of fathoming, if he. is motive
they declare he is a man Of a motive,
also unfathonmable at the present
time. In the latter instance, it is de-
clared, he probably has no desire TO
go to prison and knows he will not
be sent there and his present ap-
pearance in the public eye merely is
meant to lead up. to some particular
ambition that will still allow him the
free air and the sunshine of the world.
That he is eccentric, if not insane
there's no doubt; that he has money
with him is equally certain, and the
value he places upon all services ren-
dcred him is lovely to bchod ana alb
normally renumerative to all those
SO fortunate as to turn their hand one
way or another in his interest. That
he spends twenty-dollar bills where
quarters and dollars would suffice
and that he has peculiar and al
most gruesome penchant for the use
of red ink, whether it be on the hotel
register or signing legal documents
does not attempt to explain and which
is mystery to all.
With all his yellow backs which
were proffered even to court officials
the only instance on record SO far
where they were declined with
thanks-Gourdain was unsuccessful
III his efferots to file his petition, be-
cause the court was enjoying its
summer recess. Attempted to have
the postmaster general invite him to
his office for an interview, in order
to aid him in returning millions of
lll-%otten dollars to persons through
out the country and world who took
long chances on buying oil lands in
also failed, Gourdain is through with
also failed, Gourdain is though with
Washington.
In rooms l01, one of the richest and
most elegantly appointed suites at the
Raleigh hotel, Gourdain spent the
night. That he did not sleep wink
is testified by a neswpaper reporter,
who formerly knew of the self-impose
convict Of new Orleans and kept by
his side and watched his every move
ment FROM the moment he arrived till
he left the city. After the last of the
newspaper men and other guests de-
parted, at an early hour this morning,
Gourdain paced the floor an hour or
so, discussed his life with the one re-
and nervously bit at dry
cigar. Ordinarily fond of smoking, he
withstood the temptation to consume
the perfectos.
When the warm, gray dawn peeped
in through the windows this morning
he had not once occupied his bed. He
had only removed his cat and shoes,
and, donning fresh linen, he went
down to breakfast in the hotel res
taurant with his friends. The latter
ate literally, but Gourdain managed
to withstand the temptation.
"T can do it," he declared "There
is much in will power. Now l will go
through the motion of eating, and
take not bite. II will serve me suf-
fciently."
He carved his Imaginary steak and
seemed to enjoy il. Hc declared the
invisible coffee was about as good as
the real kind, and great deal safer,
and that the canteloupes: which ap-
pcarcd only on his friends plate,
were rather underdonc.
At 7.45 they entered a landeau, and,
after being driven about the city half
an hour, went to the office of a stem
o%raphcr in t he Columbian building.
His petition to the supreme court,
which he dictated last night, did not
suit him this morning. Some of the
legal terms were not quite impressive
enough, he observed, so he did it all
over again. The stenographer is rich
er by fifty-dollar note by the call of
his ecentric client:
En- route to Washington yesterday
morning, Gourdain wired to the clerk
of the Federal supreme court to send
"the best court stcno"rapher in
Washington, to be at the Raleigh
upon his arrival. A. Johns, an expert
stenoryrapher, spent two hours in his
service last night, and Mr.. Parkman
gave him an hour this morning.
"Now, what is the bill for the enc
tire amoutq' asked the former lot
terry king, in his customary mild and
genteel way. "Eleven- fifty" was