Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
FAVROT MAY co FREE
Chances Are That Grand Jury
Will Not Indict.
IN JAIL SINCE KILLING
DR.. Aldrich is Said to Have Slandered
Mrs. Favrot.
DEAD MAN WAS MODEL CITIZEN
Mrs. Favrot Charming Woman and
Leader in Louisiana Society
The "Unwritten Law"
DEAD MAN WAS MODEL CITIZEN

BATON ROUGE, La, February Tn
vestigation of the circumstances under
which Democratic Representative-elect
George X. Favrot shot and killed Dr. Harry
Aldrich last November, is IN progress here
today.
1.-THE killing of DIR. R. II. Aldrich resulted
from his persistent circulation of slanderOus
reports about Judge Favrot's wife, which
were of such a character as to force Judge
Favrot to act. and complete justification for
such action will be shown at the trial Of the
case"
This brief statement, signed by Col.
Thomas ]. Herman and Laycock & Beale,
attorneys for Judge Favrot, is the only
word that has ever been given out by Fav-
rot to the cause of the shooting of DR..
Adrich on the evening of November z. AL
though Judge Favrot has been confined in
the Baton Rouge Jail ever since that night.
never has one word escaped his lips as to
the real cause as to why he killed his col
lege chum, DR.. Aldrich.
Favrot was district Judge of the Baton
Rouge judicial district. He had served in
that capacity with honor and distinction:
Just one day before he killed DR.. Aldrich
he had been elected to the United States
Congress from the sixth Louisiana district,
defeating Col Samuel NJ. Robertson, father
OF the Louisiana delegation in Congress-,
who had served there twenty years. Judge
Favrot stood on the threshold of a career
as promising as ever a young southerner
faced Reputation, honor and distinction
had come to him.
Then Came Tragedy.
Then Judge Favrot met DR.. Aldrich in the
passageway of the Raymond building and
without word shot him to death. He sur
rendered and next day sent his resignation
20
Judge. The governor called a special cleo
ton. which has resulted in the selection of
Judge H. F. BrunOt district judge. He
qualified and assumed the duties February
8, this being the first time there had been
court in the Baton Rouge district since
lost October.
DR.. Aldrich, who was slain at the hand
or Judge Favrot, was in many ways a
model citizen of the state capital. He en-
Joyed large practice and was a social
favorite. He was married and had three
little boys. His home and his boys were
the pride of his life and heart. When not
at his office he was in his buggy accom-
panied by his children. the sight being a
common one on the streets of Baton Rouge.
One of DR.. Aldrich's boys had always suf-
fered from a crippled leg and this little
fellow was the doctors favorite. Scarcely
ever was DIR. Aldrich seen in his carriage
that this lad not so handy at play as his
two brothers. was not by his side.
Such were the two men-Judge Favrot
and DIR. Aldrich-November Z. 1906. They
stood at the head of two of the professions
in the Louisiana capital. To add to this re-
Favrot had gone to school together; they
went through college as boy chums and had
grown up together.
Left Friends Whistling.
At $50 pm. November Judge Favrot
slipped by party of friends standing on
the street, near the entrance to the Rey-
mond building, showed the swinging doors
open and disappeared. Before entering he
had stopped and chatted, keeping an eye on
the office OF DR.. Aldrich, on the third floor.
One of the party suggested
Judge, YOU look worried"
But he assured them that he was not, and
walked Off whistling. In few minutes DR..
Aldrich left his Office, walked down the
steps. as the elevator had stopped running,
and started through the passageway which
dark. At that moment Judge Favrot
stepped inside the swinging doors and the
two men met. Three shots were fired, and
Dr. -4ldrich fell dead. A revolver was after
ward found just inside his waistcoat, but it
had not been used.
Judge Favrot walked out of the door of
the Raymond building with the smoking
pistol in his hand. Mayor Bynum of Baton
Rouge District Attorney Wax and other
friends. who had been standing across the
street in front of the Louisiana Bank build
Ing rushed over TO him. exclaiming:
Judge. what in the world have you
done?'
"
mat was the only reply. and with that
he surrendered himself to deputy sheriff
and went to jail.
The Whole State Shocked.
The whole state was shocked. A Louisi-
ana congressman-elec just off the bench.
the principal in deplorable tragedy.
The next day Judge Favrot resigned from
the bench. his lawyers carrying the letter
to Gov. Blanchard in person.
The next day DIR. Aldrich was laid to
rest and seldom. if ever. has the old capt.
tai OF Louisiana witnessed such funeral.
Hundreds and hundreds followed the bier
TO the grave. orphans ana Catholic sis
tiers walked in the procession to pay their
silent tribute to the dead. 1t was one of
the saddest of funerals.
While vigil was being kept at the Aid
rich home the night folio wing the tragedy
Just at the break OF day two childish
voices were heard in the adjoining room:
Where is my papag and then silence.
The two little boys had climbed from
bed. and, as had been their custom every
morning, had gone to their fathers bed
On this morning they had found that bed
vacant forever.
This incident was repeated at the me-
mortal services and brought tears to
many eyes.
"Unwritten Law" Invoked
AS to the cause of the tragedy only
whispered rumors have ever gained cur
rency
The ''unwritten law" however. is the
backbone of the defense. The defense
claims that DR.. Aldrich made certain re-
marks about Mrs. Favrot which resulted
in the staying of DIR. Aldrich Fayrot's
friends contend that he will put up de-
Tense which will justify his act They
say DIR. Aldrich was the author of certain
remarks about Mrs. Favrot which called
for an application of the 'unwritten law
and only that would suffice. The written
statement of Judge Favrots lawyers, No
vember o. Is the only authentic statement
made since the tragedy. In full II was
Judge George X. Favrot by advice of
his counsel will not make any detailed
statement at this time; but he authorizes
us to say that the killing of DIR. r. II. Al
drich resulted from his persistent circula-
ton OF slanderous reports about Judge