The Washington herald., 1907-09-14


Yes, I am well aware that am in the
criminal ward Of St Elizabeth's, but
there is not a physician that can prove 10
a jury that l am crazy with me present
before that body and permitted 70 cross
examine the doctors.
Such is the view taken Of his own case
by Louis A. Gourdain, Of Chicago. who
some time ago became notorious on ac-
count Of his efforts 20 break into jail
Gourdaln was convicted Of using the
mails for lottery purposes, and was sen
fenced to the penitentiary at Joliet. H.
His attorneys appealed. and GOurdain
was released. He did not approve Of the
course OF his lawyers, and made many
efforts 70 get back into prison.
He was again sent 10 Joliet, the efforts
Of his lawyers not availing of anything
After having spent short time at Joliet
Gourdain was sent 10 Atlanta At this
institution, il is claimed. he refused to
eat after August 2. claiming that on that
day his term had expired and that he
should not be compelled 70 eat prison
fare. He was delivered at the Hospital
for the Insane yesterday morning. where
ne will serve ont the balance OF his term
unless his mind improves. in which case
he Will again be returned 70 Atlanta 70
serve out his sentence.
odd In Appearance.
Gourdain is an odd-looking man. and
would attract attention in a crowd. He
is tall and slim. His eyes are dark
brown. large. luminous, wide apart. and
observing
The high cheekbones are protruding and
Ms complexion is swarthy A fringe Of
olack hair encircIes the back part OF his
head. the high top OF which is as bald as
a billiard ball Gourdain's hands are long
and slender, his fingers tapering. When
he smiles he shows Irregular. very white
teeth. some Of which have gold filings
There are two upper teeth missing. which.
when he talks causes him 10 lisp slightly.
The millionaire prisoner old not object
to being interviewed when a reporter for
The Washington Herald called at the In
sNtA+ALAA'ts 1NNAEA tAtAa al ttl littll tlal LElt
contrary. he seemed glad TO have an op-
portunity 10 show that he IS mot as
crazy as some people think he is" as he
expressed himself. To a cheerful ''Howdy
do" and a hearty handsnake. the man
responded with a smile. a slight incliua-
tion OF the head. and placed his cold. un-
responsive hand in that Of the reporter.
GOuTdain wore a broadCloth Prince Al
bert, trousers Of rough. dark material.
blue hospital shirt gray hospital socks.
and slippers
Nothing In His POcketbooI<.
His possessions when he arrived al the
hospital, besides his wearing apparel con-
sisted Of a pocketbook, but no contents.
After I get out of this. If ! ever do. I
shall go abroad. Of course. I shall take
my wife and child along Even II I am
broke when I leave this place It won't
take me long TO accumulate another for
tune
Il own a partnership share in a whole
sale grocery business in New Orleans,
bank stock, railroad securities, 1,cog acres
OF land In Louisiana, and other real es-
tate. The stock and securities and other
valuables are on deposit in my name in
Chicago and New York and other trust
companies. Worth a million? Yes. more
than that
But since I have been convicted I do
not consider that I own that stock and
other stuff. l told Judge Lands when
he pronounced sentence that the United
States government could have everything
uad-that is, everything I had made out
of the lottery scheme for which ] Was
sentenced. ! don't consider it my prop
erty any more and shall not claim IL
when I am released and gain my liberty
If the government does not take II
don't care what becomes Of It; don't
want it.
Claims Only $4,000.
"AI I can claim now IS S2.r90 That's
my own, and $50 Of that goes to my law
Yer. Money isn't everything. It comes
and goes, and if you don't understand
your business thoroughly you are bound
70 lose it, I am a banker. a broker.
speculator. At the time when the Louis
lana lottery was coming money. I started
a competing lottery myself and called il
the Louisiana Grand Lottery Inside oC
four months I made more money than the
original company. How did 1 achieve sue
cess2 BY being honest with my patrons
I paid every prize and the drawing was
performed by my competitor. whose win
ming numbers also won In my concern.
Nobody could charge fraud or co.lusicn.
because the other company was my
hated rival
y was indicted and tried with another
man. my partner. who took advantage OF
every legal technicaIty and went free.
! would not do that. What's the usev
They viii simply draw up new .ndict-
mcnJ which covers the tcchnicality and IN
the long run it's a loss OF time. I was sen
fenced on three counts of eighteen months
each and a fine Of $500. II my sentence
which Judge Landis said was L. run con
current, is carried out acc0rdings 10 The
courts instructions. then I should have
been set AZ liberty on August last. 1t
seems. however. that my sentence Is not
TO be carried out COncurrently. Under
those circumstances 1 shall have 10 serve
four and half years.
Seeks HGbeaS Corpus Writ.
While IN the Atlanta prison 1 tried 10
get a lawyer and enter habeas corpus pro-
ceedings against the warden of the prison.
bat he would not permit me to get a
lawyer.
II cap get lawyer here, I shall
at once enter habeas corpus proceedings
for my release consider have served
my time, and think that am entitled 10
my liberty.
My appetite? All right 1 feel we'll
l am accustomed 10 surroundings Of this
kind lmeaning the insane asylum) ana
they don't make the slightest impression
on me. l don't worry; there is no use ~
4 little girl entered the office and