Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
RESPITE SAVES TWO
IN LEBOUEF CASE
Louisiana Governor Spares
Paramour and Widow From
Hangman's Moose for Week.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreSS.
FRANKLIN, La, January Sat the
end of what the law had decreed should
be their last day to live, Mrs. Ada
Bonner Lebouef and DR.. Thomas E.
Dreher tonight began another week OF
uncertainty after "a hours, during
which the thumb of fate turned first up,
then down and then up again with in
termittent periods Of doubt.
The final decision of Gov. Huey P.
Long to grant the couple, convicted Of
numbering the woman's husband, James
Lebouef stay of execution until next
Saturday came four hours before the
final time set for the hanging at 8
o'clock this afternoon. Even when word
of the governors decision reached here.
Sheriff Charles Pecot, passive recipient
Of the numerous orders and counter
orders of courts and executives, did not
dismiss the New Orleans executioner
nor disturb the new rope which hung
taut above 700-pound test weight. 1t
was not until the governor had actual
ly signed the reprieve order that local
officials and the 5000 residents of
Franklin felt certain there would be
no hanging.
Citizens Anxious.
The days developments, which
started out with a disagreement be-
tween the chief Justice and four other
members of the State Supreme Court,
so stirred the citizens of Franklin that
business was at Standstill. Shops,
homes and Offices were deserted while
the toWnspeople, most of them de-
scendants of the Acadians immortalized
In Longfellows Evangeline, stood
around the little red-towered jail and
awaited the latest news.
The occurrences of the day on which
they were sentenced to die were as
spectacular as the circumstances OF the
crime for which the couple were con-
victed. The jury which convicted
them had believed that they, along with
James Beadle, trapper, had conspired
to kill Lebouef because the latter OBJ
iected to Dr. Dreher's attention to Mrs.
Lebouef and that they had lured the
husband out In rowboat on lake at
night, killing him from another boat
and sinking the body in the lake.
Judge James D. Simon, 30-year-old
iurlst, who sentenced the couple on this
testimony, stuck to his opinion that
they should die until the last. refusing
to hold them insane yesterday after
noon. but other agencies of the law
interviewed.
Chief Justice O'Neil of the Supreme
Court granted a stay of execution in
the face of a refusal of the other
justices to act, and at o'clock this
morning, ii hours before the time for
the hanging, the sheriff was the sole
Judge of which portion of the court he
should obey. The governor joined the
majority of the justices when the sheriff
appealed to him for advice.
An hour later, however, came long
distance call from Baton Rouge. The
governor had granted reprieve. The
word was carried to the prisoners, Sleep
less In jail because of worry and be-
cause fierce storm was raging.
Lightning flashed as the sheriff told
them what mad happened, and thunder
drowned out his voice at intervals. A
few hours later came another telephone
call, and the sheriff was told that the
governor had withdrawn his reprieve.
The county official locked himself in
his Office and used his telephone for
hours, asking advice from every one
he thought could help him. The advice
was conflicting, and only the second
reprieve saved him from choosing be-
tween defying the governor and the
chief Justice, on the one hand, and a
majority of the members of his States
highest court on the other, with the
possibility of becoming a murderer If
he took the former course.
Governor Gives Reasons.
In sending this final word, the gov
ernor said that he acted as he did be-
cause it was the first time the ques-
ton of whether chief justice could
grant a stay over the opposition of the
rest of the court had been raised and
that he had been informed that ma
jority of the members of the court had
come to the conclusion that the prison.
ers' lives should be spared until the law
could be interpreted. Today's two re-
prieves came after weeks of insistence
: on the part of the governor that the
mendation of the parole board that
the sentence be committed to life i'm
prisonment, the punishment imposed on
their alleged accomplish, who, accord
ing to testimony in the case, fired the
fatal shot. Lieut.. Gov. Paul N. Cyr
took hand In the case Thursday with
| charge that the governor hsd "dou-
ble-crossed" him in refusing clemency,
/ to which the governor made vigorous
denial
The two persons around whom all of
| this activity and controversy revolved
had gone through so many emotional
| crises that one of them-Dr Dreher-
| seemed to have lost interest in his fate
or anything else, it was said at the jail
| tonight. Before the last message was
taken to him, he was in such condition
| that he merely STARED, muttered, and
stared" each time he received news,
| those who saw him reported.
| Mrs. Lebouef, was far enough from
collapse to rise from her cot and moan
! or smile, according to the nature Of the
{ message, 1t was said at the jail She
was almost constantly attended by her
confessor, Father ]. ]. Rosseau, and
repeated over and over again, I'm in
| Gods hands"
DR.. Dreher, who had been visited
frequently by Methodist clergyman,
showed as little interest in spiritual as
material matters tonight. jail officials
said.