The Washington times., 1919-01-14
by MARGERY REX.


II jury of women were appointed
to weigh the merits of the case OF
Nine. Augustine Lebaudy, what would
the outcome be for the defendant:
Would women take the stand that
since Mime. Lebaudy was never legally
married to the man who introduced
her for years as his wife, any i'll
treatment she received was her due,
and that the situation she finds her
self in at present is good enough for
herr"
Would they stop and consider tho
fact that for fifteen years this woman
endured the eccentrfcities, abuse, and
threats of Lebaudy. but did not take
II upon herself to silence his dreaded
voice until he menaced The safety OF
her beloved daughter, Jacqueline?
Every woman will not be able 20
picture herself in the position OF
Nine. Lebaudy, unmarried, yet facing
the world as wife. And many
women would say she endured him
100 long, that she should have left
his home long ago. Many would say
dering another under the average
circumstances that lead women to
kill men.
But the point might be made that
these conditions were NOT those
which generally compel the taking Of
life. Nine. Lebaudy had not been
cast aside for the worlds scorn. she
did not kill through jealousy or be-
cause Lebaudy refused to marry her,
but solely in self-defense, knowing
he menaced her life, since he had
often said he would kill her, and she
knew that if she were gone her
- Ill
him.
known as Eccentric.
To their Long Island neighbors and
to many in New York, the name Of
Jacques Lebsudy was a synonym for
everything that was outside the way
of reason. 1t was Lebaudy. according
to these stories, who tried cross
country canters astride a COW; Le-
baudy who tied a lantern around his
neck and said it was "for his health:"'
and on the very Gay of his death
Lebaudy bought a supply of charcoal
and rode about in a taXicab with II
cautioning the driver TO go softly lest
the precious bundle be disturbed.
And when the car neared his home
he ordered one thousand gallons of
gasolene to be sent to his house i'm
mediately.
To him Nine. Lebaudy clung in spite
OF everything. and now we know from
her own statement the last fifteen
years were lived in constant fear and
foreboding. aggravated from time to
time by some fresh outburst from
the Emperor OF the Sahara" There
would be long respites when the
monarch would take trips TO far
away places. and then there was
peace in the fifty rooms of The
Phoenix House" as the home OF
Jacques Lebaudy was known.
Misery came back always when his
footsteps and querulous voice were
heard approaching the Long Island
dwelling.
To JacqueIine. the daughter as sh"
grew up, the man she called hel
father WAS amusing at times wtta his
funny capers. and again embarrass-
ing. 1t was only lately she knew
the terror that accompanied his pres
ence and the hurried flight. from
room to room. with her mother pale
and trembling in her effort to seek
safety behind doors, locked and
chained.
Taunts That Hurt.
Lebaudy. so the story goes, taunted
the woman he introduced as his wife
with the fact that she had lost all
attraction for him and that he in
tended transferring his affections.
A friend furnished her with re-
voiver for protection. And then last
Saturday night a message came over
the phone from Lebaudy saving he
would visit the Long Island home.
and such was his tone of voice and
language that Nine. Lebaudy was
alarmed. She ran half way down a
spiral staircase, and when, so she
says. she saw her husband attempt