tered, . After his conviction had been affirmed, the U. S, Supreme
Court denied a Writ of Certiorari and he was asphyxiated at the
Lowvisiana State Prison June 9, i an
THE CAT AND ST, LANDRY by Mary hice Fontenot and Vincent Riehl,
, Claitor's Publishing Division, Baton Rouge, La,..Copyright 1972,
Pages 129-131,
2hO LOUISIANA 593
12) SOUTHERN (2nd) 558
366.0 By2913.
| tered, ,. After his conviction had been affirmed, the U. S. Supreme
Court denied a Writ of Certiorari and he was asphyxiated at the
Louisiana State Prison June 9, el.
THE CAT AND ST, LANDRY by Mary ates Fontenot and Vincent Riehl,
Claitor's Publishing Division, Baton Rouge, la, Copyright 1972,
Pages 129-131.
20. LOUISIANA 593
12), SOUTEERN (2nd) 558
366 U, 8.913 7
tered, . After his conviction had been affirmed, the U, S, Supreme
Court denied a Writ of Certiorari and he was asphyxiated at the
Louisiana State Prison June 9, 1961,
AT AND ST, LANDRY by Mary Alice Fontenot and Vincent Rich1,
ete Publishing Division, Baton Rouge, La, Copyright 1972.
Pages 129-131.
20 LOUIS
12h
AUR RCATER TY ALAN Cony
! June 9, 1961
FERGUSON, Jesse James
Ferguson, a 37-year-old black resident of Opelousas, La,, had served
a sentence in the Louisiana Prison system for crimes committed in
Rapides Parish and had, on one occasion, been indicted for but
acquitted of the attempted rape of a black woman, On the morning of
Jan, 31, 1959, he went to the home of a black woman who Lived nearby
and obtained her consent for her llg-year-old daughter, Joyce Marie
Thibodeaux, to accompany him to his home and assist with some house
work as his wife was an invalid, After the girl had been in. his home
for a short while, he took her to an abandoned bar and restaurant on
Eiram Street and raped her, He then strangled her to death and
covered her body with some old clothing that he had previously taken
there, The child's body was found the next day and Ferguson was
taken into custody, When confronted with the fact that people had
seen her leaving his house in his company and entering the deserted
building with him, be confessed, At his trial he repudiated his
confession and his first trial ended in a mistrial, He was then
tried again, convicted and sentenced to die, His case was appealed
to. the State Supreme Court on a number of grounds, the primary one
being hac ene trial court had erred in permitting the Chie? Tayeok
gator to remain in the Court Room while other witnesses were seques-
me
June 9, 1961
FERGUSON, Jesse James
Ferguson, a 37-year-old black resident of Opelousas, La., had served
a sentence in the Louisiana Prison system for crimes committed in
Rapides Parish and had, on one occasion, been indicted for but
acquitted of the attempted rape of a black woman, On the morning of
Jan. 31, 1959, he went to the home of a black woman who lived nearby
and obtained her consent for her 114-year-old daughter, Joyce Marie
Thibodeaux, to accompany him to his home and assist with some house
work as his wife was an invalid, After the girl had been in. his home
for a short while, he took her to an abandoned bar and restaurant on
Eiram Street and raped her, He then strangled her to death and
covered her body with some old clothing that he had previously taken
there, The child's body was found the next day and Ferguson was é
taken into custody, When confronted with the fact that people had
seen her leaving his house in his company and entering the deserted
building with him, be confessed, At his trial he repudiated his
confession and his first trial ended in a mistrial, He was then
tried again, convicted and sentenced to die, His case was appealed
£9, the State Supreme Court on a number of grounds, the primary one
ig tha the trial court had erred in permitting the Chief Invesii-~
gator to remain in the Court Room while other witnesses were seques-
a 1961
FERGUSON, Jesse James ig
Ferguson, a 37-year-old black resident of Opelousas, La,, had served
a sentence in the Louisiana Prison system for crimes committed in
Rapides Parish and had, on one occasion, been indicted for but
acquitted of the attemted rape of a black woman, On the morning of
Jan, 31, 1959, he went to the home of a black woman who lived nearby
and obtained her consent for her 1l}-year-old daughter, Joyce Marie
Thibodeaux, to accompany him to his home and assist with some house
work as his wife was an invalid, After the girl had been in.his home
for a short while, he took her to an abandoned bar and restaurant on
Hiram Street and raped her, He then strangled her to death and
covered her body with some old clothing that he had previously taken
there, The child's body was found the next day and Ferguson was
taken into custody, When confronted with the fact that people had
seen her leaving his house in his company and entering the deserted
building with him, he confessed, At his trial he repudiated his
confession and his first trial ended in a mistrial, He was then
tried again, convicted and sentenced to die, His case was appealed
bo, the, state Supreme Court on a number of grounds, the primary one
jeing that the trial court had erred in permitting the Chie? Investi-
gator to remain in the Court Room while other witnesses were seques~
ane 95 1962
14 ask resect. of dplonnsy
& eR ak
