The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-10-11
CONVICTED CHICAGO MAN De-
MAHDs CELL as HIS RIGHT
MAY BUILD PRIVATE ANNEX
Louis A. G0urdain, Found Guilty Of
Conducting a Lottery, 70 Con
struct Small Penitenhary and
Serve His Sentence.

er, recently convicted Of conducting a
lottery. Gourdain was sentenced 70
serve a term Of four and a half years
IN the peaitentiary for bis crime, but
was released on an appeal bond
through the efforts Of his friends and
entirely against his wishes He prom
lsed the jury that convicted him that
Re would serve his sentence. which he
regards as a debt Of honor TO the gov
ernment
Gourdain has made several attempts
to enter Joliet. but Warden Murphy
has refused 10 accept him. and his
plan to build q private jan is the re-
suit
AS a last resort G0urdain has gone
70 Washington, to implore the United
I States supreme court to compel the
United States district court in Chi
cago 10 compel the prison authorities
I'd admit him az a prisoner for the
length Of his sentence
II am going to serve out my sem
tence in Joliet one way or anCsuer
said Gourdain. vehemently, when
asked TO explain his plans before leay-
ing for Washington That's why i
have packed up all my belongings and
sent them to Joliet. II they won't
let me into the prison shall board
with the family Of one Of the guards
near the prison until can erect my
own penitentiary.
First / am going to try TO get the
United States supreme court TO inter
fere and set aside Judge Grosscup's
order Of supersedeas. under which my
release on bail was brought about.
For that purpose shall go TO Wash
ington after establishing myself at
Joliet | shall file my petition with
the clerk Of the court and try 10 get
hearing Immediately II the order
is issued / will ask that ! be allowed
I to serve the papers personally on
Judge Gr0sscup Then shall get
back into Joliet. II I fail to enlist
1.-THE interference OF the supreme court
shall return at once and begin
building my prison.
Private Cell for Own Repentance.
IF they won't let me into a cell
IN Joliet I'm going ahead with my
own prison Through the penitentiary
guard with whom am going TO board
Temporarily / am now negotiating for
Nthe lease Of a vacant lot opposite the
Il penitentiary grounds On this lot
am going to build my own peniten-
tiary. which will be just like the big
one. was confined there "a days a.
bookkeeper in the shirt-making de-
partment and | know the place from
top to bottom"
Gourdain, with his enthusiasm ris-
ing. got up from his chair and con-
fronted his interviewer, his whole per-
son animate with gestures
II have the whole thing planned out
all | have to do IS to let the con-
tract for the work-cpmpetitive bids.
you know. that's the way the state
does in building a penitentiary. I'll
have a regular miniature Joliet. See,
it'll be like this
The lottery man stepped to the desk
and drew forth a sheet Of paper on
which he sketched his ground plan.
First. will have an outside wall
running clear around the inclosure, :"
he went on. 1T will be 80 feet on all
sides and built Of the same stone as
the hig prison Then there will be
guard towers here and here-six in
all--with room on top the wall for
the guards 70 pace back and forth and
watch me.
Inside the outer wall I shall have
my cellhouse with a courtyard rum
ming around it-there1l be room for
flower garden here in one corner,
and a well. and SO on. ] am going
to have my prison grounds we'll kept
up you know Inside the cellhouse
will be my cell, just the same Size as
the cells in the big prison across the
street It will be built Of stone and
whitewashed. and will have heavy
barred iron door with the latest kind
OF prison lock-
'The cell viii be furnished with the
regulation prison furniture-an iron
bed, hay mattress, two blankets, two
sheets. one pillow and slip, one pail,
one bucket. two towels. one foot stool
and one water jug.
Gourdain was again on his feet and
accompanying his talk with a maze
Of gestures.
There's no reason why / can't serve
out my sentence there just the same
as in the big penitentiary," he rapidly
continued i shall have to get some
guards three viii be enough; that
will give them an eight-hour watch
each
Looks to State for Guards.
Where viii you get reliable
guards?" he was asked
~Wen perhaps they'd let ne have
them from the state civil service list
II will pay them just what the state
does. The state might furnish me a
Z warden. too. if there is one out Of a
job Anyway, III get the guards all
right. and want good ones. They
will he responsible for keeping me