The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-07-26
WANTS BACK IN ZEN
Wealthy Man Wants Admitted
Again to Prison
A MAN WHO "WORSHIPS HONOR"
and That He will Spend His For.
tune if Necessary 70 Get Into the
Pen at Joliet, Ills.

uSbl BaEu 10 keep out OF the IbeHItefl-
tiary, but Charles 4. Gourdain, mem
Der Of a well known Louisiana family,
Is fighting with all the means at his
Command 10 get in the peniteniiary
at Joliet, Ills. He is busy seeking a
United States judge who will sign
a mandamus that will open the gates
Of the pen.
Gourdain declares that he has pledg-
ed his whole energy and large private
fortune To the cause Of his honor.
which he staked III 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 penitentiary
and release on bail, he is exhausting
every endeavor to get back into the
penitentiary and serve out the full
term Of four years aGd six months i'm
posed by the judge at his own re-
quest.
He hopes to be able to reach one
Of the 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
n private penitcntiary at Joliet. and
serve out his sentence III his own pen
itentiary under exactly the same con-
dltlons as if he was a prisoner in the
government penal institution
GOurdain estimates his own for
tune at $50,000,O00, but if the figure
is exaggerated, it is at least certain
that he is we'll supplied with money
sufficient and more for him to carry
out the plan Of the private peniten-
tiary, or to carr 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. | worship honor.n
This is the motto Of Gourdain that
has brought about the most remarka-
bic appeal that ever has called to the
attention of the supreme court Of the
United States.
GOurdaln was connected with a lot
tery that ran III 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 postoffice au-
thorlties first accused him of fraudu-
lent schemes he employed w. Knox
Haynes, a lawyer of Chicago, promis-
ING to pay him $500 month for life
not to defend him. but to bring about
bis 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
IN 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 hc
wished them to find him guilty. He
said he would make 10 appeal. but
would serve his sentence. and at the
conclusion of that sentence would
turn over his entire fortune to the
postotfice authorities to pay back ev-
ery person in full all that thew had
subscribed toward the land scheme
which he was conducting and the Ell
tire Gourdain family would then quit
the United States forever.
While he was cheerfullv SERVING
time his lawyer. as he claims. withou,
his knowledge or consent was work,
ing for his release, and through a
writ of supersedas before Judge
Grosseup had Gourdain transferred
from Joliet to Chicago on July 8
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 q
bail bond. and he took this course
and was let out on bail.
Gourdain immediately returned tc
Joliet and demanded to be received
again as a prisoner, but the warden
would not admit hint Defeated al
all points in his effort to Get back
into the penitentiary, Gourdain con
celved the idea of appealing to the S,,-
preme court Of the United States fol-
writ of mandamus committing him
to the Joliet penitenitarv.
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
1lls.,' and asked for change Of $500
bill to pay the cabman who had driv-
| en- him from the station. He had
pledged himself not to eat, drink moi
sleep until his appeal was before the
United States supreme court, and he
carried out his pledge, only breaking
his fast when he had presented his
request to Chief Clerk Mailer in
Washington.
Clerk Maher refused to receive the
petition. as such papers must be pre-