Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-01
oh GOD, This


BlindloIded the woman walked out
on the trap dressed IN a plain pink
slip dress. She cried
MY mother, my raather, Oh my
God. Isn't this q terrible thing.
Don't let me sEay there too long. GA
IEnt this a terrible thing. This Is
murder Itself. That rope is too
tight around my ne,:k. Yes Il Is
80. Martel (the sheriff.. Oh, my
God, my God.
She struggled. The black cloth
was placed over her head. Her
hands we're tied.
Father Eosscan administered the
extreme prayer as she hanged On the
rope, which slipped 10 one side
showing Der bIindf0ldCd face.
A small rope fastened her hands
and feet and she held tho black beads
with the cross in her locked hands
behind hcr back. She died instantly
without sound and with only a ire
mos after the trap opened.
She hung on the rope, straight
and still. The doctors applied 4
stcthoscope AZ 1910. Fatner Ros-
seaG LETT NJ 1910
At IZ:is they began taking down
the body. Four men took her body
To Il cell.
The trap was fastened back, the
rope rcaGJuStcd aud the sheriff
started Tor Dr. Dreher i'm 4 back cell.
DIR. Drehcr walked from his cell
and shock hands with the sheriff
and jailer. He walked strongly up
i the ten winding steps. As he walked
en- the trap. hs said, poor Miss Ada
mas gene"
Looking NJ Mrirz o. Frost. New
Orleans nevSpapcrman. Ne said.
MIR Frost, you know we didn't do
i'll"
As the rope was adjusted, he said:
"Oh, Cod. have mercy. Just don't
let Inc choke TO DEATH
AS he went through the trap, the
ropes binding his hands broke. His
body whirled around and around.
but was stopped hy Jailer Martel.
who held Ii with his hand.
He died instantly.
The trap vas sprung 10 1925 r. m.
NJ 1880 the cowI was lifted by y
physician TO determine il life was
extinct. Az 1880 the doctors pro-
nOGnced him dead.
The body Vas cut down at 1874.
The undertakerS went up 10 receive
the ccrpses. DIR. Dreher was brought
down the stairs between six men. he
was laid on = cot.
Both executions were effected
quickly and smoothly. the necks Of
botn being broken by the drop.
Beth died forgiving all but pro-
testing their innocence.
The Rev. J.. A. Mccormack. the
Methodist minister, said DR.. Dreher
went 70 his death arieving that his
son. TED was unaLEc "a reach him
from the Texas oil fields for a fare
we'll.
He prayed all morning. he said, and
was praying when he died. lie prayed
for Mrs. Lcboucf, the sheriff and par
ticularly his family.
IL told him he was now in the
presence Of God. and he should not
die without the truth on his lips" the
minister said.
ale insisted that both Ne and Mrs.
Lebouef were innocent"
Both hsnRings were completed ant
turned over 10 the uniertakers with
in an hour.
Jail attendants sent the effects Of
the man and woman TO their families,
and closed the books on the Dreher-
Lohouef case.
a cold wind bIe~ over the country
at dawn Of the day on which Mrs.
Lcbouef and DIR. Drcher we're to die.
The hangnan arrived in the night
from New Orleans. tested the rope
and the gallows and gav final or
dcrs for preparation OF the prison
crs.
The mar and woman awcke after
4 d~rug-induced sleep. A negro nurse
sat in the cell throughout Che night
with Mrs. Lcbouef while two men
on death watch stood vigil outside
the cells of each.
Mrs. Leboucf was given holy COM
munion by Father Rosseau. She was
then given a cup Of coffee. She was
calmcr and more collected than al
any time since her sentence.
DR.. Drcher received Rev. j. Al.
Mccormack, pastor of the Franklin
Methodist church. He was also
quiet and calm.
He returned a beck TO 2 friend
with a notation on the fly leaf. say
ing. "wait for him in Heaven" The
book was entitled Ito Die With Je-
sus."
IL enjoyed every word OF the book
the notation said. \ will wait IN
Heaven for yon. | VIII be with Je-
sus."
At nins a M. Eugene Dreher.
nephew Of nr. Dreher. visited the
ISL and received instruetiors for
closing his uncles business affairs.
Ted Dreher. son of DR.. Dreher.
was In west Texas. His father called
for him several times.
Mrs. Lebouef asked for her 72-year-
old mother. but she sent word she
would not come. Sheriff Pecot had
announced no members Of the FAM
lily would be admitted.
Mrs. Leboucf requested that her
body be laid TO rest in the Morgan
Cry cemetery beside hat of her
husband for whose murder she was
sentenced 10 the scaffold.
Or. Dreher. her alleged paramount,
will 10 buried in north Louisiana at
Clayton, the family burial ground.
During the morning Mrs. Lebouef
offered a prayer for the forgiveness
of governor Long for his refusal to
spare her life.
As the town clock toliei III strokes
Mrs. Lebouef and DR.. Dreher lzpsed
into silence 70 listen to the comfort
Ing words or their spiritual advisers.
At 1850 Sheriff Pecot yielded TO
TT fEEHEI FitNr W. hAu TIn. L.
bouef farewell. He was led 20 her
cell. shook her hand and said.
Il hope I will meet you in Heaven"
Official witnesses were announced
Is. follows.
George H. Miller, Wiliiain Dumesil.
w. y. Badeux. James Edmonds. IT.,
Kenneth knchiock, George Wander
voot. w. y. Pugh.
Shortly before noen a crowd Of
several hundred persons had gath
cred around the jail.