The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-14
GOURDAIN IS CRAZY.
Noted Lottery Promoter RSnW@
from Prison to Asylum

Washington. Sept. 14.-oou4H g
Gourdain. of Chicago. who 1uped 500.
900 people in twenty years and whose
operations netted him nearly $1,000
coo. and whose spectacuIss attsme<R
to premature1y break int ne penf-
Tertiary attracted much ,4ktentfon .
year ago, became ravin maniac in
the government prison at Atlanta. Go.
where he was transferred last June
from Joliet. III
Gourdain was delivered % tAe gov
eminent hospital for the insane here
by the Atlanta prison authorities AZ
tef a preliminary exa minatton was
made of Gourdain by Dr. White. the
superintendent of the asylum. he was
sent to quarters assigned to him Fol-
lowing a further examination the
course of treatment will be decided
upon. The exa mination disclosed that
Gourdatn had deIusion that his
present term had expired. Gourdain
was convicted of using the mails for
lottery purposes
Threw Away Millions
Chicago, Sept 14-Word of Louis
A. Gourdafn's mental condition was
received in Chicago last night. The
kilograms state that his mind has
crumbIed completely, obliterating
every spark Of reason.
Gourdafn's last freak which at
tracted wide interest was his threat
about a year ago to build a miniature
prison outside the peuitentiary at
Joliet and become his own tafIer un-
four and a haH years sentence TIM
posed on him by. Judge Lands for a
lottery fraud.
Gourdain became one Of the great
est swim d1ers OF the age. but HIS dis
torted fancy led him to throw away
his millions as fast as he made them.
He did not drink. Neither did he
smoke. None Of the ordinary vices
attracted him. He simply was gold
mad" His money was spent TO
slant excitement Sumptuous apart
ments, costly carriages drawn by
blooded pairs. which he rode behind
dressed in silk and embroidered bath
rob es. and countless schemes for self
advertise ment. into which he tossed
money with both hands. drained his
well stocked Golfers.
Operated Many Schemes.
For four years, before he was sen
fenced to prison by Judge Lands.
old lived in a magnificent suite OF rooms
at the Auditorium Annex 1t r. estt-
mated that for years his expenditures
equaIed $4,000 a month He simply
lived it up" and when asked about bis
wild extravaganees would simply laugh
and remark: Bah 1t is nothing A
man has simply to think and then gath
er in golden harvest"
Coming originally from Thibedeau. q
small town in Louisiana, Gourdafn soon
made his presence felt in the world OF
schemers-
After operating a dozen lottery
schemes he f1oated the Louisiana Loan
and Trust company. He divided .
swamp up into thousands OF "on lots"
Tickets were sold for these and public
drawings held In New Orleans John H
Dalton, a Chicago politician and ga
who is now IN joliet. was
Gourdain's partner. They made more
than 81 Oo0. 900. but came to grief.
In Asylum Before
When both were sentenced Gourdain,
because Of a technicality, was refused
admission to the Joliet penitentiary. He
pretended that he wanted to serve his
sentence ard spoke loudly Of his per
soraI honor" He declared he would
build a miniature prison and be his own
taller. serving his entire term. He rent
ed a house for his wife near Joliet prfs-
on and had an architect draw his prison
plans Finally he was placed IN the
penitentiary and a few weeks later re-
moved to the government prison at At
Ianta. He has been IN prison since
June 8, 1906.
When a man who knew him was told
Of his collapse last night, he remarked:
'fGourdain is the most cunning maniac
the world ever saw. He was always
mad and served one year in an asylum