The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-07-26
MOULD RETURN 70 PRISON
Wealthy Man Wants Admitted
Again to Prison
A MAN WHO WORKSHOPS HONOR"
and That He will Spend His For
tune if Necessary to Get Into the
Pen at Joliet, Ills.

Der OF a well known Louisiana family,
is fighting with all the means at his
command to get In the penitentiary
at Joliet, Ills. He is busy seeking a
United States judge who will sign
a mandamus that will open the gates
of the pen. Z
Gourdain declares that he has pledg-
ed his whole energy and large private
fortune to the cause of his honor.
which he staked in court when he was
on trial for fraudulent use of the
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 frau
dulent actin violation of his word
on the part of his lawyer in suing
out a writ of supercedes and causing
his removal from the p~enitentiary
and release on bail, he is exhaustino
every cndeavor to get back into the
~peRltentlary and serve out the full
term OF four years and six months i'm
posed by the judge at his own re-
quest.
He hopes to be able to reach one
OF h supreme court justices with
his plea, or else find some other plan
to get back into the Joliet penitenti-
airy. If he fails, he SAYS, he will build
a private pen~itentiary at Joliet, and
serve out his sentence in his own-pen-
Itentlary under exactly the same con-
dltlons as if he was a prisoner in the
government penal institution.
Gourdain estimates his own For
tune at $4,000. 900, but if the figure
is exaggerated. it is at least certain
that he is well supplied with money
sufficient and nor for him to carry
out the plan of the private peniten-
tlary, or to carry on his present en-
deavor to be incarcerated by order
of the courts.
He Worships Honor.
"Some men worship money. Some
men worship God. Others worship
other things. 1 worship honor"
This is the motto of Gourdain that
has brought about the most remarka-
BILE appeal that ever has called to the
attention of the supreme court-of the
United States.
G%ourdaIt was connected with a lot
terry that ran in opposition to the old
Louisiana State lottery, but claims
that when the law which ended the
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 it since.
Early last year the United States
authorities got after Gourdain on ac-
count of a land scheme he was con
Quoting from Chicago, involving lands
near the oil fields Of Jefferson. La.
He says that when the postofice au-
thorltles first accused him of fraudu-
lent schemes he employed w. Knox
Haynes, a lawyer of Chicago, promis-
ing to pay him $500 a month for life,
not to defend him, but to bring about
his indictment. Gourdain felt. that
he had been falsely accused, and wish
ed a vindication in open court.
The case came to trial in May last
III Chicago, and Gourdain put in no
defense. He made an argument, stat
ing that if the jury had the least
doubt of his honesty and sincerity he
wished them to find him guilty. He
said he would make no appeal, but
would serve his sentence, and at the
conclusion of that sentence would
turn over his entire fortune to the
p~Ostoffice authorities to pay back ev-
cry person in full all that they had
subscribed toward. the land scheme
which he was conducting and the en-
tire Gourdain family would then quit
the United States forever.
While he was cheerfully serving
time his lawyer, as he claims, without
his knowledge or consent was work
ing for his release, and through a
writ of supersedas before Judge
Grosscup had GOurdain transferred
from Joliet to Chicago on July s,
and lodged in the county jail. Gour-
dam was very angry and declared
that this proceeding against his agree
ment with himself, and demanded
that he be taken back to Joliet. The
only way he could obtain his release
from the county Jail was to sign a
bail bond. and he took this course,
and was let out on bail.
Gourdain Immediately returned to
Joliet and demanded to be received
again as a prisoner, but the warden
would not admit him. Defeated az
all points in his effort to get back
into the ~penitentiary, Gourdain con-
ceived the idea of appealing to the SUI
preme court of the United States for
a writ of mandamus committing him
to the Joliet ~penitenitary.
He Registers From Prison.
When Gourdain reached Washing
ton he registered at the fashionable
Raleigh hotel as "Louis A. Gourdain.
No. 1880, Illinois State Prison, Joliet,
Uls.," and asked for change of $500
Hill 70 nov tho oohnoop u,bo bo1 Io:r