Le Devoir, April 22, 1920, p. 8

QUEBEC CITY

SENTENCED TO THE GALLOWS

THE GAGNON WOMAN IS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF HER STEPDAUGHTER, AURORE GAGNON. -- JUSTICE PELLETIER SETS THE EXECUTION FOR OCTOBER FIRST.

Quebec City, 22. — (D.N.C.) — At 4:30 yesterday afternoon, after deliberating for fifteen minutes, the jury returned a verdict of guilty against the Gagnon woman, nee Houde (Marie-Anne), who was accused of having caused the death of her stepdaughter, Aurore Gagnon, by mistreatment. Justice Pelletier immediately sentenced her to be hanged on next October 1st.

The closing arguments and the judge's charge lasted the entire day. Justice Pelletier, who spoke for three hours, was very harsh with the accused in his assessment of the facts in the case.

A considerable crowd flocked into the criminal court when the jury appeared to return its verdict. After the jury foreman summarily declared that the jurors agreed upon their verdict -- guilty of murder -- the judge suspended the hearing for a few minutes.

When court resumed, Maître Fitzpatrick, Crown prosecutor, asked that the sentence of death be pronounced against the accused. The judge then passed the sentence of death, using the common formula. The Gagnon woman will be hanged on Friday, next October 1st. Upon hearing the sentence, and after Maître Francoeur had declared, on her behalf, that she had nothing to say, the accused burst out sobbing. The judge himself, gripped by emotion, had difficulty finishing the sentence and was crying while he said, in an almost inaudible voice, "May God have pity on your soul." When he stepped down from the bench, he needed help returning to his chambers, where he fell into a chair. A deep silence prevailed in the court and a no less great emotion could be seen on all faces. Despite the effect the sentence of death had on her, the accused was able to leave the dock unassisted, accompanied by guards, to return to the prison.

During the judge's charge, which contained several very moving passages, we noticed that three of the jurors were crying.

The trial that has just ended was one of the most sensational trials to take place at the Quebec City Assizes. The next one will very likely be that of the Remillards, also accused of murder. It is possible that Justice Pelletier, whose health is not strong and who has been deeply affected by the grave and painful duties he has been called upon to fulfil in pronouncing three death sentences in ten days, will not be able to preside over the end of the term.