Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-05
Followed Instructions of Su.
preme Court, Gov. Long
Announces.
PAIR ALMOST FRANTIC
AS ORDERS ARE SHIFTED
Executioner Ready to 0fficiate at
= Hanging When Last Order
Was Received.


FRANKLIN, La, January 5.--Sheriff
Pecot announced today that Gov. Huey
P. Long had again reprieved Ada Bon
ner lie Bouef and DR.. Thomas E. Dreher
until next Saturday.
Maj. Oscar Schneider, who was sent
here as official representative of the
governor, had previously said that if
the governor ordered the hanging it
would have to be carried out by the
sheriff, barring some court order, or
that officer would be subject to arrest.
The sheriff had explained that he
was trying to do his duty and that he
believed that he would succeed.
Il want to find out what is the uroner
course and then 90 ahead" he said
The executioner with his black mask
mad arrived from New Orleans and was
prepared to of1ciate when the latest re-
prieve came.
Driven Nearly Frantic.
AT the jail it was said that the shift
ing orders had just about driven Mrs,
LIE Boeuf and DR.. Dreher frantic, They
caught few cat maps during the night
broken by flashes of lightning, loud
thunder clapS and drenching rain, and
around O'Clock when awakened by the
Jailer on orders of the sheriff and told
OF the governors reprieve they were so
relieved and happy then that they could
not sleep.
The sheriff explained that the gov
ernor told him that since the State
Supreme Court had agreed to recon-
slider the case he had decided to grant
a final reprieve until next Saturday. If
the court oyerrules the defense again
the governor was quoted as saying he
would set another date for the hanging.
Inen came word that the governor had
WltnoraWn the reprieve and later word
that ne had granted it again.
The sheriff was placed in a perplex-
ing situation last night when Chief
Justice Charles A. O'Niell of the Louis
lana Supreme Court ordered a stay of
execution and four associate justices di-
rected the sheriff to carry out the ex-
ecutions.
A reprieve granted by Gov. Long early
today, however, seemed to clarity the
situation, but 1t became more involved
when he rescinded his previous in
S;ructionS.
Two days ago Gov. Long refused
clemency to the pair after a favorable
recommendation from the pardon board.
The refusal caused an open and
dramatic break between the governor
and Paul N. Cyr, lieutenant governor
and a member of the board, who
charged publicly that the governor "de-
llberately dOuble-croSSed me-
Cyr in his break with the governor
charged that Long had shown favoritism
in committing the sentence of New
Orleans slayer, and the governor replied
that In their recommendation for
clemency in that case the pardon board
told me they thought this was an acci-
dental murder"
Gov. Long secuted any other claim in
the Lebouef case than cold blooded
murder" after his review of the records.
mot one person in louisiana" Gov.
Long stated, thinks that any pistols or
guns went off accidentally ON Lake
Palourde when James Lebouef died"
Couple Declared Sane.
A determined fight was made here
yesterday by defense attorneys to save
the lives of their clients on the grounds
OF insanity but Judge James B. Simon
who presided at the trial, ruled that
the woman and physician are sane and
ne refused to appoint lunacy COM
mission.
After the hearing the attorneys sped
by automobile to New Orleans where
they appeared before five members of
the Supreme Court in an attempt to
obtain stay of execution and compel
Judge Simon to appear before the high
court and show cause why he should not
appoint lunacy commission.
The hearing over, four associate JUS
tices announced that the writs were de-
MED and Associate Justice Brunot in
structed the sheriff by telephone to pro-
ceed with the execution.
Let me talk to the sheriff" Chief
Justice ONiell, who issued a writ to
stay the execution, interposed.
Don't execute those people tomor-
row." he shouted through the telephone
to the sheriff. lone judge has the right
to issue the writs, and as chief Justice
of this court order that the executions
be stayed"
Chief Justice Declares Power.
Chief Justice O'Neill declared he was
empowered by the State constitution to
prevent the hangings, while the four
dissenting members, Justices Brunot,
Overton, Rogers and Land. held that
as majority of the court their de-
cision was final
In granting the stay of execution.
Chief Justice O'Neill ordered Judge
Simon and Sheriff Pecot to appear be-
fore the Supreme Court next Friday
and show cause why the lunacy COM
mission should not be appointed.
Lebouef was slain July /, 1927. Mrs
Lebouef and DR.. Dreher were arrested
and found guilty of the crime, along
with James Beadle, Morgan City trap
per, who drew life sentence, which he
is serving DR. Dreher contended at
the trial that Beadle fired the fatal
shots, while Beadle blamed the physi-
cian The State claimed that a love
affair between Mrs. Lebo'lef and DR..
Dreher was the motive and that they