davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
]. KOSSUTH SANDDZ,
PROMINENT CITIZEN.
JOINS GREAT
MAJORITY.

J. Kossuth Sandoz, aged 81
years, a prominent figure in the
affairs of 0pelousas, good citi-
zen, father and husband and
friend, died at his home, near
Opelousas, on Saturday, March
%, at 1890 a. m.
Mr.. Sandoz for many years
was a merchant in 0pelousas,
where by industry he accu1nu-
lated a competence that leaves
his dear ones free from the fear
of want after his passing away.
He was a police juror, an alder
man, and occupied several other
offices of trust, which he always
filled with conscientious scruple
and an eye to the public good.
For many years, prior to his
enteringsthe mercantile business,
he was engaged in the new spa
per field, both as an editor and q
printer. In fact he started life
as a printer, working here on
the old Courier, in New Orleans,
and in several other places. He
founded and edited the Wash
ington Argus, and during his
stay in that town gave it q first
class newspaper. He loved the
newspaper business, and after
his retirement from it, he would
contribute articles to the news
papers, and would often help
them out in the mechanical de-
partment.
His disposition was kind. and
he always displayed a love for
gooa.
He leaves a wife, nee Anna
Chenier, whom he married when
he was a struggling printer, and
who helped him through life; and
two children, Jose and Alma,
both grown.
Deceased had been a long and
patient sufferer from throat trou-
bic, and his last days were at
tended by intense agony.
His remains were inferred III
the Catholic cemetery on Sunday
evening. The high esteem in
which he was held was evidenced
by the large funeral cortege.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
make them so.
State Closes; Mrs McRee Testi.
flies.

Mrs. McRee, the slayer of
Allen Garland, displayed the
same stoical fortitude, bright
ness at repartee, and phenomi-
nal coolness on the witness stand
this time that she did on her first
| trial. There does not seem to
| be anything bold in her manner
of testifying. On the contrary.
lit is impressive. Her gentle
shake Of the head in emphasizing
an answer or a statement adds
positiyeness to her testimony.
I shot him, because he insuIted
me, and there is a manner of
expression that is even peculiar.
It is certainly striking.
. Mrs. McRee gave the same
testimony on this trial as she did
on the first: That she was at
home; phoned to Mrs. Garland
for spool of thread; that soon
after Allen came to her house
Win the Unread; that ne asked
her if Mr.. McRee would be home
that night, and if he wasn't toI
be home that he would be there;
that she resented the imputation;
that he told her she was no
good, anyhow" and that she
shot him down.
That practically is the story
told by Mrs. McRee.
She admits that Allen was
friendly with the family; that he
had stayed there during the i'll
ness of her son; that he had
taught her children. But that
did not justify him in insulting
her, = she said.
The examination was severe,
Mr.. Dubuisson conducting it in
the main. While courteous to
the woman, he was insistent.
No new evidence developed
during the trial SO far. /
The State, it is said, will intro
duce new evidence in rebuttal.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30

knew nothing of any intimacy
between Mrs. McRee and Allen
Garland. He came there often.
she said, and they went out to-
gether sometimes. She would
not say how often, and insisted
in confning herself to the word
Sometimes. !" Mrs. McRee had
been sewing that morning, ac-
cording to Mary. Just before
the shooting she does not know
whether the sewing machine
was running or not.
Mary, black as midnight,
showed a wonderful tact at re-
partee, polite but tart, when the
process of cross-exami-
nation began. She did not at
any time contradict herself.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
MRS. MCREE ONTRIAL FOR ID TINE

ton as it was on the day of the
homicide. The tragedy was
really, in pantomine, again en-
acted. The farm, then owned by
Mrs. McRee, which she and the
dead boy had often visited in
company with each other, both
taking a deep interest in agri-
culture and everything pertain
ing to the farm and farm life,
was also visited. Neighboring
places, residences Of witnesses,
the public roads. and other things
which might play a part in the
case, were shown the jury. The
examination extended for a period
of over an hour.
Mrs. McRee took little part in
indicating these places and scenes
of possible Importance. Only
once did she take active part in
the examination of her former
home, and that was when DR.. r.
NJ. Littell pointed out where the
telephone was on the day of the
killing. You are mistaken; it
was here and she pointed to
another place on the wall but
that indicated by the coroner.
DR.. Littell admitted that Mrs.
McRee was right.
Mr.. McRee showed more in
terest in indicating things about
the place, but he was not obtru-
siVe. He is never obtrusive. His
mild manners, denoting sad
epoch in his life and a sorrow for
MS wife in trouble, has been one
IT the causes of comment about
the courtroom.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
Another Mild Sensation.

Another Mild Sensation.
| Another m e e k, furry wa
caused by the quasi introduction
of religion and fraternalism. I
was not intended as such, but i
had that effect.
It came in the last hours o.
jury selection, when Mr.. Gus
Rosenberg came up for examina
tion.
Are you a Mason?" asked
Mr.. Dubuisson, of Mr.. Rosen.
berg.
There was craining of necks
in every direction of the court.
room. This meant a revival of
q question which arose on the
first trial of Mrs. McRee: wheth-
er a Mason should serve on the
jury, because Mrs. McRee is a
member of the Eastern Star, a
branch order of Masonry. The
dead boy was a Catholic, and
Catholicism and Masonry do not
mix. But while it was consid-
cred on the outside as drawing
the line as between fraternalism
and Catholicism (fraternalfsnl,
that is, barred by the Catholic
church), it does not seem right
to charge the State, or Mr., Du-
buisson, with intending to in
ject the issue in this trial. On
the contrary, Mr.. Dubuisson, in
speaking on his challenge, en-
phatically declared that he did
not want to be understood as
casting the least reflection on
Masonry, or any fraternal orders.
In referring to the aid that it is
charged was given Mrs. McRee
in the first trial by the order of
the Eastern Star, Mr.. Dubuisson
said, substantially: Il have not
a word of criticism for these
good women of Opelousas who
came into court and lent their
presence and testimony for Mrs.
McRee. The women who came
here were the flower of Opelou-
sas' magnificent womanhood.
But, your honor, it developed on
cross-examination that these
good ladies knew Mrs. in most
part in the lodgeroom of the.
Eastern Star. And that en-.
phacizes the contention of the
State that the binding chain of
fraternal sisterhood or brother
hood should disqualify a member
of fraternity to pass on the
guilt or innocence of a brother
or sister in fraternity. Thu at
binding force is not a discredit
and is unconscious. A Mason
might go into the jury box to
pass upon a brother Mason with
full honesty of mind and heart
that he can do full justice-but
there is that brotherhood! Kin
is not allowed to go on the jury
to try kin. The kin of frater-
nifty should not. ]"
Mr.. John w. Lewis, leading
for the defense, hotIyE
the challenge, and cried
out in protest at the alleged at
tempt of the State to inject re-
Ligion into the case. He called
it an outrage. and said that fra
sernity did not mean the linking
IF a people for the exculpation
Of members from the amenability
IF law. On the contrary, he
said, fraternity taught good and
right and uplift.
Judge Hunter, Of the defense, I
was also Wroth. Why, you put 7
sWo Knights Of Columbus on this
Jury last time, to try this Mason
md this Methodist. We did not
,biect. We do not believe that
his country has reached a point
where religion will interfere
With even justice to all. +"
Another Mason, then on his
zoir dire, was not challenged.
Juror Rosenberg Was8s told by
he Court to, stand aside. He
lad said that while he could
'ender unbiased service when a
Mason was on trial, still a frater-
lal bond was appealing.
The order of the Eastern Star,
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
Mrs. Amy's Testimony.

Mrs. Amy, living near the
McRee home, testified for the de-
Tense that Immediately after the
shooting Mrs. McRee and one of
her boys, sand her little girl
Valera, came to her house. The
children were crying. Mrs. Nc
Rec told Mrs. Amy that she had
just shot Allen Garland because
he had insulted her. She said
she was weak, and asked for
something to drink some stim-
ulent. It developed that it was
not an intoxicant t h al she
wanted, but coffee, or something
Of the kind. While there, Mr..
McRee came driving up in a
buggy, and she ran to him and
threw herself into his arms. She
was not in tears, testified Mrs.
Amy.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30

and the Masons, deny that they
are in any ways connected with
the defense of Mrs. McRee as a
body. If any Of them are taking
part, it is as individuals. The
matter, a high officer of the order
declares, has never been men
toned In the lodge room.
The Catholic organizations
the Knights of Columbus and
the Catholic Knights of America
are equally emphatic in their
declaration that there is no or
ganized effort on the part of
either bodies to secure the con-
viction of Mrs. McRee.
Nothing has developed at the
courthouse so far that would in
dicate the hand of either Masons
or Catholics in the case.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
FRISCO GOOD ROADS
TRAIN OF GREAT IN
TEREST TO COUNTRY

It is expected that much ma
terial good will be accomplished
by the four months tour which
the Good Roads Department Of
the United States bureau of agri-
culture will take through the
Southwest.
Under the present schedule the
tour begins the latter part of
March at Brownsville, Texas, on
the St. Louis ard Brownsville
railroad and gradually progress
Continued On page s.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
New Evidence Said to BE Ly.
ing In Wait.

The promised new evidence of
the State has not yet developed.
It has been bruited, on seeming
" good authority, that the pros
ecution had up its sleeve dam
aging evidence, which it would
introduce to strengthen the case
against Mrs. McRee.
If the prosecution has such, it
may do so in rebuttal.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
Newspapers Hunger for Pre-
ceedingS.

Send strong McRee story by
wire,," Send us three thousand
words on McRee trial quick
make it strong. " These are
some of the messages, and many
more of a like nature, received
by reporters for different news
papers who are here.
Several of the city dailies have
sent special men to report the
case, and newspapers through
out the United States haVeshoWn
a desire for strong stories on
the case, which shows that there
is a morbid want for sensation
by the American people that. the
newspapers must cater to. It is
not the fault Of the newspapers;
it is the fault of the people who
crave for it. It is repulsive to
many newspaper men to give.
glamour to unfortunate affairs as
this one is. But that newspaper
which does not do it will soon not
be a newspaper, but a junk shop,
with closed doors. Don't blame
the newspapers for being sensa-
tional. Blame the people who
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
The Jury.

The jurors are: Alcee Arnaud,
merchant, forty-nine years old,
married and has a family; Cleo
phas Guidry, farmer, thirty-four
years old, also a man of family
Enos Miller, farmer, twenty-nine
years old, married; Diogenes Sa-
vote, thirty-two years old, farm,
er, married; Henry Bourdier;
Frisco Railroad employee, thirty
seven years old, married; Philo-
gene Morrough, farmer, thirty
three years old, married. w. A.
Peckham, thirty-fve years old,
unmarried, farmer, Mason; Rob
ert Vidrine, twenty-nine years
old, farmer, married; John Car
ron, mechanical engineer, fnar-
ried, thirty three years old; Max
Miller, farmer, sixty years DID,
John Leblanc, merchant, fifty
one years old and a man of fam
lily; Jesse Vannoy, farmer, un-
married, twenty-six years old.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30

slVe. He is never obtrusiVe. Hi
mild manners, denoting sac
epoch in his life and asorroW fol
his wife in trouble, has been one
of the causes of comment about
the courtroom.
Coroner LitteIl Testifies.
DR.. r. M. Littell, coroner Of
| st. Landry parish, was the first
witness in the case. It was
then that it was definitely known
that the body of Allen Garland
had been exhumed: The grew
seme exhibit was produced in
court the head, and the bullet
which pierced it suspended on q
Wire,shoWing its course. It enter
edHat the base of the brain, taking
a right to left range. It was fa-
tai, said DR.. Littell, but there
was no way Of determing Wheth-
er or not it was this bullet which
stripped Allen of his life, or
whether one of the two wounds
in his back, alse declared fatal,
had killed him.
The exhibition of the skull was
more spectacular than productive
Of enlightenment on the crucial
point Of the case: did Mrs.
McRee shoot the boy while he
was sitting in the recking chair,
or did she shoot him after he had
arisen, and was either trying to
make his exit from the cottage
after insulting Mrs. McRee, or
was advancing on her, as she
claims. =
The body was exhumed from
the family tomb in the Catholic
cemetery last Saturday morning.
r.sB. A. Littell, Coroner R. M.
Littell, the sexton of the grave
yard, and a brickmason, were
the only ones there. The head
was servered from the body. It
was decomposed to such an ex-
tent that it was necessary to take
the flesh from it, and the putrid
brain, SO that nothing but the
bare skull could be produced in
court.
Efforts to find out whether or
NOT the hOdy had bnnn ayh1Irned
failed, until a reporter of the
New Orleans Daily States the
day before its dramatic introduc-
tion in court, went to the ceme-
tery. and there saw where the
tomb had been recently disturb
ed. That fact was wired to that
paper, and it was no surprise to
the spectators when the skull
was produced in court.
The dramatic effect was mild.
Mrs. McRee looked in the direc-
ton of the head Of her victim
but once. Then she revolved her
chair; but there was no visible
The piercing eyes did
not show anything but firm de-
termination; a fight for liberty,
a consciousness that she was
right. DR.. Litte1I demon
to sthe jury the position
Of Allen Garland when he reach
ed the scene. 1t was PROSTATE
on the floor, with an upturned
rocking chair alongside the body.
The State claims that this shows
that Allen was shot while sitting
IN the chair. He tod of the two
bullet wounds in the back, and
the one in the head.
Mary, the House Girl.
Mary, who cooked for the Nc
Rees, testified that on the fateful
she had just made a fire
when she heard three shots ring
out. Mrs. McRee shortly after
came out. and told her that she
had shot Allen Garland because
Allen had insulted her. Mrs.
McRee spoke naturally; just as
The usually did. She did not
seem to be excited, !" said Mary.
Mary said she did not know
Ian was In fha h011sn Che
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30


was running or not.
Mary, black as midnight,
showed a wonderful tact at re,
partee, polite but tart, when the
grueling process of cross-exami-
nation began. She did not at
any time contradict herself.
Bon Nam" Testiffes.
With a face shadoWed by the
death of her pet grandson, her
constant companion since the
death of her lamented husband,
the venerable Henry L. Garland,
Mrs. Henry L. Garland took the
stand Thursday evening late.
While there were tears in her
expression if not in her eyes,
she showed a disposition to bal
ance evenly the scale of justice.
There could be no mistake in her
attitude in the matter: that her
boy had been killed, and that
she would like to have the one
who killed him punished if the
facts justified it. But there was
no bitterness in her testimony;
she left it, as plainly voiced by
her demeanor and her nobility Of
sentiment, to God and the law.
I will not answer, sir, If it is
not proper to do so, !" the grand
old lady would say, when asked
by a lawyer to wait a minute.
The reverence to her, and to
her goodness, was plainly mani
fest. The attorneys on the
other side scarcely cross-exam-
ined her, and when they did, the
questions were couched in
Mrs. Garland testified that on
the morning of September %
the telephone at her home rang.
Allen answered It. He told her
that Mrs. McRee wanted a spool
Of thread. Allen volunteered to
bring it to her. Mrs. Garland
told him to be careful not to
drink any wine at Mrs. McRee's.
He promised not to, and was
given the spool of thread to
bring to Mrs. McRee. About
ten minutes after news was con-
veyed to her that Allen had been
killed by Mrs. McRee. She hur- |
.ied to the McRee home. Sew |
eral people had gathered there
hen. She tried to make her
way into the room where the
BOY was. Let me go in; |
perhaps my boy is not dead. !"
Mrs. McRee, who was on the |
gallery, said, Il know that he
s dead, for I shot him three
lines. = Why did you kill my
ooy?' Mrs. Garland said she
Isked of Mrs. McRee, and the
.eply was Because he insulted
ne, | did tito protect my honor, !"
md Mrs. Garland testified she
aid "A woman has a right to
protect her honor. Z
Mrs. Garland said that Mrs.
dcRee visited her home as much I
IS five times a day. Mrs. Nc
Rec was very friendly with Al
en-, and they frequently went
,ut to the McRee farm together.
Allen was a studious boy, she
aid, deyouring every piece Of
tandard literature he could find.
Ie was studying Spanish, Ger +
nan, and Italian. He was
proficient in French and
english.
He was strictly d home body,
nd came to town very seldom.
Ie visited the McRee home very
ften.
newspapers Hunger for Pre-
ceedings.
Send strong McRee story by /
vire,," Send us three thousand
lords on MeRee trial quick 4
make it strong. 5" These are
ONE of the messages, and many
1ore of a like nature, received ];
,y y.ay,oy+az.c fa4s JiHcnray,4 yaoyrxc !.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
Piacidness Marked the Actual
Trial.

It was notable how calm set
tied over the atmosphere of the
courtroom as soon as Judge Pavy
ordered the trial to proceed. No
bills OF exception We're taken; no
Wrangle of lawyers; it was q
stern battle for the liberty of an
accused and the demand of the
law for her punishment because
she had killed.
A trial of this Importance is
generally productive Of a score
of bills Of exception, but it
seems that both the defense and
the prosecution were willing to
allow all the light that could be
thrown on the unfortunate affair
to be produced.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30
visit to Scene Of Tragedy.

The jury, Judge, and other
court officials, Mrs. McRee, Mr..
McRee, lawyers on both sides,
went to the scene Of the homi-
eide as soon as Judge Payy de-
cided, Tuesday, that the case
must go to trial.
There the locus in quo was
examined. The furniture was
placed in as near the same posi-
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-30

1
the Catholic Knights of America
are equally emphatic in their
declaration that there is no or
ganized effort on the part of
either bodies to secure the con-
viction of Mrs. McRee.
Nothing has developed at the
courthouse so far that would in
dicate the hand of either Masons
or Catholics in the case.
District Attorney Garland
Forced Out.
The name of District Attorney
r. Lee Garland, uncle of the boy
for whose death Mrs. McRee is
on trial, was given to the court
Monday as one of the attorneys
for the prosecution. He had
asked, a few days previous, to
be recused, and the court had
reeused him.
The defense Immediately,
upon the prosecutions plan for
Mr.. Garland to take active part
in the case was given, made
vigorous objection, and Judge
Pavy, after hearing argument
on both sides, took the matter
under advisement.
And this, too. was the cause
of slight furry on several occa-
sions.
The defense repeatedly asked
the court to define the status Of
the District Attorney, until Judge
Pavy, becoming exasperated,
pounded on his desk and deto-
mated: Does the prosecution
want the court to put Mr.. Gar
land out of the courthouse to
send him out of town." Mr..
Garland had been, as he
is still, in this trial
taking only an advisory part in
the proceedings, consulting with
the attorneys, but having moth
ing to do with the questioning of
witnesses.
Thursday morning Judge Pavy
ruled that Mr.. Garland could
take no part as an associate
counsel.
Warmth aud AmiabiIity
There have been several hot
spells in the courtroom between
the attorneys.
MIR. Dubuisson intiaated at
one time that he knew more law
than did Judge Hunter. Judge
Hunter said it was a question for
debate. There was a fiery flash
Of eyes. Judge Pavy raped
loudly for order. The gentle
men resumed their seats. A
minute after everything was as
calm as the deWdrops. They |
actually looked at each other and
smiled. Then it was My friend
Mr.. Dubuisson, +" and My friend /
Judge Hunter.
Mr.. John w. Lewis, leading
counsel, budded out in Tabasco
oropensities on several occasions.
His whole heart is in this case, /
md he is leading a Well-directed I
md feeling defense.
But withal, there is not the
acrimony in this trial that there
vas IN the first.
It's a calm battle.
A woman for her liberty. The
aW invoking its majesty against
t.
Visit to Scene of Tragedy.
The jury, Judge, and other
.ourt officials, Mrs. McRee, Mr.. /
dcRee, lawyers on both sides,
vent to the scene Of the hon1i-
ide as soon as Judge Payy de-
:ided, Tuesday, that the case
must go to trial.
There the locus In quo was