The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-07-26
Millionaire Gourdain Seeks
to Break Into Joliet Pen.
APPEALS TO HIGH COURT
Declares That if He Fails in Endeav-
or, He Will Build Private PEN
itentiary Of His own-Case
is a Most Unique One.

Usually men QSlC EaTQ 10 keep OUT
of the penitentiary, but Charles A.
Gourdain, member Of a well known
Louisiana family, is fighting with all
the means at his command to get in
the peniteniary at Joliet, Ills. He is
busy seeking a United States judge
who will sign a mandamus that will
open the gates of the pen.
Gouardain declares that he has
pledged 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.
He hopes to be able to reach one
of the supreme court justice with his
plea, or else find some other plan
to get back into the Joliet peniten-
tiary. If he fails, he says, he will
build a private penitentiary at Joliet,
and serve out his sentence in his
own penitentiary under exactly the
same conditions as if ne were a pris-
oner in the government penal insti-
tuition. Gourdain estimates his own
fortune at S50,OO0,000.
"Some men worship money. Some
men worship God. Others worship
other things. 1 worship honor
This is the motto of Gourdain tha!
has brought about the most remark
able appeal that ever was called to
the attention of the supreme court
of the United States.
Eearly last year the United States
authorities got after Gourdain on &C.
count of a land scheme he was con-
Quoting from Chicago, involving lands
near the oil fields Of Jefferson, La
The case came to trial in May last
in Chicago, and Gourdain put in no
defense. He said he would make no
appeal, but would serve his sentence
and at the conclusion, Of that SEN
tence would turn over his entire for
tune to the postoffice authorities to
pay back every person in full all that
they had subscribed toward the land
scheme and the entire Gourdain fam
ily would then quit the United States
forever.
The jury was out fifteen minutes
and returned with verdict of guilty.
Gourdain said that he was satisfied,
and asked for immediate sentence, and
demanded that the sentence be all
that the law provided 1or in his Of
fense. Judge Lands said he would
comply with the demand, and sem
fenced Gourdain to four and hall
wears in Joliet, and the Dext day,
June 8, he entered the penitentiaEs.
Although Gourdain is Of slight
blild and weighs only 150 pounds,
he picked out the job of shoveiins
coal for himself, and told the keep
er he would shovel more coal than
any other prisoner, and lived up TO
the agreement.
While he was cheertaily serving
time, his RaWTcf, ao hS Sfe>hAhS, "
out his knowledge or consent, was
working for his release, ana through
a writ of sapersedeas before Judge
qrosscup had Geurdain transferred
from Joliet to Chicago, os July 8, and
lodged in the county Jail. Gourdaan
was very angry and declared that th.s
proceeding was against his agreement
with himself, and demanded that ne
he taken back to Joliet. The only
vay he could obtain selease from the
county Jail was to sign a bail bond'
and he took this course and was
let out on bail.
Gourdain Immediately returned 10
Joliet and demanded to be received
again as a prisoner, but the warden
would not admit him. Defeated at all
points in his effort to get back into
the peuNentfary, Gourdan conceived
the idea OF appealing to the supreme
court Of the United States for a WrH
Of mandamus committing him to the
Joliet peniteniary.