The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-14
LETS END IT ALL.
Gourdain's Wife Begs Him to Come
Out and Die With Her.

Chicago, July 14.-Moved finally by
his wife's appeals, Louis A. Gourdain
is thought to be arranging to gain his
liberty, despite the fact that he teens
it "dishonora BILE" to avoid his sentence.
At the county jail It is generally be-
lieved that Gourdain will sign his bond
and secure his freedom for the sake OF
his wife.
The convicted man repeatedly has de-
clared that he never would try to es-
cape the sentence imposed upon him in
the federal court for conducting lot
terry scheme and until now he has turn
ed a. deaf ear to the piteous appeals of
his wife to take his freedom. The dis
tracted woman, after repeatedly pray
ing to her husband to sign the bail
bond, went to the Jail again yesterday
afternoon in the faint hope that she
could gain her point. The interview
was dramatic
Mrs. Gourdain begged her husband to
sign the bond and then accompany her
TO the Auditorium Annex that they
might "end it ALI. together. For nearly
an hour she demonstrated with him
and pleaded with him to leave the pris-
on under bond. Finally she emerged
from the jail with a satisfied smile on
her face. AS she stepped into her car
riage she was heard to say to the wo-
man who accompanied her:
He will sign the bond.
But she did not say they would carry
out the second half of the suggestion
suicide.
Calls Law dissatisfied.
After the interview Gourdain's express
sion was as inscrutable as ever Asked
why he did not freely accept his wife's
suggestion, he said the law had not been
You know women" he added. they
don't understand. You know they are
filed with sentiment They love until they
hate. No woman loves coward If a
sob on his breast and say they don't want
him to go. but they would not respect him
if he refused to do his duty They would
hate him if he shirked responsibility.
Il want to go back to Joliet I have
asked Marshal Hoy and Jailer Whitman
to take me. but they will not comply
am going to serve out my sentence If the
government viii let me- but Just now II
would appear that the government off
my way to compel me to take an appeal
and that I do not want TO DO.
Gourdain has no liking for jail life and
IA stated that he would rather serve ten
years in Joliet than six months in the
county Jail He objects to the noise al
ways found about jail. This hatred. Of
low cut his wife's wishes. Another rea-
son for his supposed change Of decision
is his desire to avoid any further harrow
ing interviews with his family
Gourdain Comes Out.
L A Gourdain was released from
the Cook county jail on bonds of S1O,-
600, presented short time later The
unique spectacle of man trying to
DTGdk INTO the DStlltEIA1dA[ IOAAOWCO
Just after he was given his liberty the
former banker hurried on an electric
car to Joliet and demanded Of the
chief deputy that he be incarcerated
Immediately within the walls of the
prison The deputy denied the strange
request and Gourdain started back to
Chicago with the avowed intention of
instituting mandamus proceedings to
compel the authorities to put him in
prison at once so that he might begin
without delay serving the four and
one-half years sentence for operating
q lottery
Gourdain later explained his aver
sion to the Cook county jail. Il pro-
pose to serve my sentence. every day
of it, said he. but I will not do it
in the county Jail My objection is
the noise and the close proximity of
the street At Joliet it Is quiet and
my rest is never disturbed with ribald
songs and changing bells. If 1 cannot
serve my sentence any other way I
shall build penitentiary somewhere
on the side of hill and live in a cell
for four and one-half years.