Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-15
.CLINGS TO OATH
OF VENGEANCE
FRENCH GLoBE-TR0TTER IS
DETERMINED
Louis Avenal Tells Dramatic Story
Of Murder Of His Companion
by Robbers--swesrs to
Have Vengeance

An example OF devotion and loyalty
such as is rarely met in this world is
presented in the case Of Louis Avenal.
a French journalist and globe-trotter.
whose quest for vengeance for the MUIR
der Of his friend, Gustave Laurent, by
q highwayman I'm Redding last October,
brings him to Los Angeles. Avenal ar
rived yesterday.
The story reads like melodrama. The
two frlends-"partners, they called
each other-both French writers, seek
ing knowledge and strange experiences
in foreign lands, met last summer at
the Lewis and Clark exposition. Both
were in the prime of manhood, Drowned
with exposure to the sun in their long
travels-Laurent, tall, straight, we'll
featured, q linguist and scholar, and
Avenal, dark and sturdy, with soft.
brown eyes and gentle manners. The
tri-colored ribbon on his arm attracted
his compatriot and led to their ac-
Quaintance.
Each had interesting tales to tell the
other Of adventures in his world wan
derings For everyone of the east told
by Laurent, there was one of the west
to match It by Avenal. There were
souvenirs and bulging scrapbooks of
photographs and clippings to be COM
pared. The two liked each other and
agreed to continue their travels to-
gether.
Laurent Is Murdered
They started south TO Redding, Cal.
Although each was well supplied with
funds, Avenal and Laurent decided tC
beat their way on q freight. 1t was
near there on October 30, of last year.
that the deep and tender attachment of
the two men was tragically broken by
the foul murder of Laurent.
While the train on which they were
AI.of. III
speed toward Redding, the two French
men, relieved of their knapsacks, were
chatting comfortably while looking out
over the changing landscape, when
suddenly two roughly dressed men
arose from the dark recesses of the
other end of the car, advancing toward
them.
One asked Laurent for the price OF
a meal and was given a quarter with
strangers drew revolvers and ordered
the Frenchmen to throw up their
hands. Avenal complied Immediately
but Laurent pulled out his revolver
and opened fire. His shot went wild
and one of the bandits returned the
fire, killing Laurent. The murderer
and his accomplice jumped from the
train, while Avenal with his dead conf
rade in his arms, sobbed out an oatr
to heaven that never would he leave
the state of California until the murder
of his friend had been avenged.
Finds His Man
For two months Avenal hunted with
the tireless patience of bloodhound
Up and down the state he went with but
one object in view-tlle finding of the
villain who had taken the life of hi!
comrade. He would know him in
thousand the 1nurderer's face was in
delibly photographed on his mind. On
day he would find him and then--h
would see justice done.
The day came. Avenal was goinl
through the San Francisco Jail one af
ternoon, still pursuing his quest. HI
scanned group of prisoners. One stooC
out from the rest. Avenal started, looket
more closely
THAT is the man. he shouted. TT il
hei / could not mistake. The murdere
of my partnerl" In voluble French ant
broken English he told his story L
Chief of Police Dinan. The alleged muir
derer was Jim Welch, who was doini
time for robbery.
Avenal did not succeed in making
out case against Wech, but he di'
not give up. He stayed in San Fran
cisco and was there during the earth
quake.
Watched City Prison
never very Iar from MS enemy
Avenal rushed to the Jail at the frs
alarm. He saw the prisoners, Welc
among them, under heavy guard trans
ferred to Alameda.
His money running low, Avena
sought the French consul and wa
given transportation to San Pedro b
boat, coming here from there yesterda
afternoon.
Avenal seeks employment Of an
kind; something to enable him to re
main here until he fulfills his oath.
He may not see justice done, but Jir
Welch will finish his term some day
he will not always have prison guard
to protect him; he will be free and the
Ia Frenchman has taken his oath, an
Jim Welch may have to pay.
n Avenal is a man of education an
refinement, modest and unobtrusivt
grave and quiet-mannered. Only whe
he speaks of the terrible tragedy tina
has cast night over his life, does til
excitability of the French Temperament
appear. Then his voice trembles an
his whole being betrays the sorrow c
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