Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1907-01-10
LOUISIANA INTERESTED
IN MURDER TRIAL
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FAvRoT
ON TRIAL FOR KILLING LIFE
LONG FRIEND.

Baton Rouge, La, Jan. 1O.-Through'
out this section the one topic of dis
cussion Just now is the trial of Repre-
sentative-elect George K. Favrot for
the alleged murder of DR.. r. H. Aid
rich, his college classmate, lifelong
friend and family physician. The case
resembles the Thaw case in New York,
in that both involve the 'unwritten
law" But the two cases are entirely
dissimilar in respect to the reputation
of the principals. In the Favrot case,
up to the day of the tragedy, all those
chiefly concerned were of unimpeach-
able reputation and of highest stand
ing in the community. At the time
of the killing Favrot was district
Judge, and. about the same time was
elected a representative in congress.
The victim, until short time before
his death, was a physician of high
standing, and known as a religious,
abstemious man.
Different stories are told of the
events and causes that led up to the
tragedy. 1t is averred by his friends
that DR.. Aldrich possessed a secret
regarding the wife of Favrot, and that
the knowledge greatly oppressed him.
1t is related that he appealed to a
fellow physician that he go to Judge
Favrot and reveal it to him. DR.. Aid
rich spoke of his anguish and of his
reluctance to destroy the confidence
reposed in woman, yet he felt as a
friend he could no longer preserve
silence. 1t is said that the doctor APP
pealed to finally consented, and this
brought on the tragedy.
But the friends of Judge Favrot give
an entirely different version of the
case. They affirm that DR.. Aldrich,
while intoxicated, was not so careful
in his speech as he should have been,
and made boasts that involved the
good name of woman. The usual
tale-bearer hurried to Favrot and in
formed him of the alleged reflections
cast by DR.. Aldrich.
The tragedy occurred November z
last. The returns from the election
were still coming in when the repre-
sentative-elect walked down Capitol
street On his way numerous friends
stopped him and congratulated him on
his victory. Judge Favrot thanked
them, apparently as collected as ever.
Leaving a group of his friends he
crossed the street and entered the
Raymond building. Hardly had he
disappeared within the door when
pistol shot was heard, followed by an
other, and third The first to reach
the scene found the body of DR.. Aid
rich stretched upon the floor, with
Judge Favrot, pistol in hand, looking
coolly on. The physician had just de-
scended the stairs from his Office on
the second floor when met by the vo!-
ley of bullets that Instantly killed him
Judge Favrot has consistently e
fused to make public the facts that
Z
be known that he killed the physician
because the latter had traduced Mrs.
Favrots character In circles known
TO be friendly TO the Aldrich family
the belief is expressed that Dr. Aid |
rich was martyr; that he sacrificed
his life in an unwise attempt to show
his ceep friendship for Judge Fayrot |
and to reveal to him a secret which |
he thought his friend ought to know |
Others express the opinion that Favrot |
got the wrong man." and that he real. |
lied his error too late. Others. in |
Guiding some who declare they have |
a knowledge of the inside facts, stout |
ly maintain that Judge Favrot was
justified in. taking the law into his own |
hands.
Mrs. Favrot, the supposed cause of |
the tragedy, has been a leader in the
social life of Baton Rouge. Her home
has been one of the most elegant in |
the city, and there the legislators have |
found hospitable greeting. Mrs. Fav-
rot took an active part in her hus-
bands campaign for congress when he |
defeated Col. Sam" Robertson, who |
had represented the Sixth district for |
a dozen years. In connection with |
the killing of DR. Aldrich, Mrs. Favrot
has not uttered one word for publica- |
ton. Under the Louisiana laws she |
can not be compelled to testify
against her husband.
The Favrot family has retained
formidable array of eminent counsel
10 assist in the defense. The list is
headed by Judge T. j. Herman of this
city, who is recognized as one of the
greatest opponents of the unwritten
law in America, and whose address
before the recent meeting of the
American Bar association at st. Paul
attracted widespread attention.
Judge Herman formulates the "un-
written law" svstnm into ton c,rdin,t