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It was sensational news when actress Julia Morrison walked onto the stage and shot her leading man dead.
She was the wife of Frederick James, who had been the druggist at Moss Pharmacy in Lafayette, “where his genial smile always bade you welcome,” but the couple stayed in Lafayette only a couple of months after they were married.
“It was known that she was inclined towards the stage,” according to the Lafayette Advertiser, and they “went up North” to pursue her career. She was touring with a comedy troupe in Chattanooga on Friday night, Sept. 22, 1899, when she killed leading man Frank Leiden.
The orchestra had just finished the opening overture for “Mr. Plaster of Paris” and the “large and fashionable audience” gathered at Chattanooga’s Opera House thought the three gunshots were part of the show. They weren’t.
“The shots had been fired from a revolver in the hands of Mrs. Morrison-James,” according to the newspaper account. Julia, the leading lady in the play, had been involved in “a succession of bitter quarrels” with Leiden, and had slapped him and walked out of rehearsal that afternoon.
As the first act was about to begin that evening, she “came out of her dressing room with the revolver in her hand, walked deliberately up to Leiden … and fired twice.”
“At the second, he fell and then as he lay bleeding and dying, she fired the third shot, which struck him just below the eye.” He lived five minutes.
Both Julia and her husband were arrested and put in separate cells in the Chattanooga jail. She surrendered quietly, and “told a consistent, straight story, every word of which was corroborated by her husband.” She told police Leiden had made “improper proposals” and that he harassed and insulted her when she refused his advances Police were sympathetic, but she was still charged with murder.
Leiden was said to be popular with the rest of the cast. but at Julia’s first court hearing prosecutors found out that “the whole company had … slipped off … to New York rather than testify against Mrs. James.”
The troupe’s manager, a Mr. Harris, visited Julia’s cell before leaving town “and the scene … was touching and affecting,” according to the news account. “Both of them wept and after thirty minutes of conversation Mr. Harris came out fully convinced that Mrs. James was justified in the terrible act she had committed.”
He was not the only sympathizer. The actress was visited in her cell “by many influential ladies of Chattanooga” who brought baskets of flowers and fruit, and she was the recipient of “many attentions” from others, including the mayor of Chattanooga and his wife. Julia’s cell “was fixed up elegantly by the kind people of Chattanooga.”
“The motherless girl, charged with murder, sobbing out her remorse and grief on the bosom of the best women of the city . . . called tears to the eyes of all bystanders, men and women,” according to one account. Her visitors said “she has not the least remembrance of her act.” That amnesia was the basis of her plea of temporary insanity.
When the trial opened on Jan. 5, 1900, the Chattanooga Daily Times proclaimed that Julia was “on trial for her life.”
She did not dispute that she shot Leiden. A theater full of people were witnesses. But, as the Jan. 6 headline proclaimed, she told her story in “all its sensational details,” claiming that Leiden came to her dressing room and made an advance, that she pushed him away, and that the next thing she remembered was a policeman arresting her. The newspaper implied that she used her acting skills to add drama to her testimony.
Prosecutors claimed it was premeditated murder, pure and simple. They tangled her testimony under cross examination and cast considerable doubt on her alleged forgetfulness.
Her attorney made an impassioned argument that he was defending not only “this unhappy woman” but was arguing for “a vindication of all womanhood.”
“Great throngs” gathered to hear the verdict, and they didn’t have to wait long. It took the jury only two minutes to make a decision.
The big headline on Jan. 11 read: “Julia Morrison James A Free Woman.” The story said the verdict prompted “a remarkable scene” as her supporters celebrated.
The acquitted actress said she would go back on stage, but not as a performer. She planned a series of lectures on “The Other Side of Stage Life.”
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, Cajuns and Other Characters, is available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

September 5, 1930 ~ September 20, 2021

COW ISLAND — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at St. Anne Catholic Church honoring the life of Shirley Stelly Rung, 91, who died Monday, September 20, 2021 surrounded by her family at her residence. She will be laid to rest at Immaculate Conception Cemetery with Reverend Matthew Barzare officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Rung, Corey Clostio, Hunter Fitch, Chet Simon, Blaise Trahan, Trayvn Hargrave and Caleb Rung.
Shirley better known as “Sis” loved the outdoors which she learned about at an early age driving tractors for her father. She loved sports but softball was her favorite. She actively played softball until her mid 50’s and coached many locals in youth softball. Like her father before she supported her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids in their endeavors whole heartedly. Family meant the most to her and she always put them first in her life.
She is survived by her children, Ralph Rung (Sandra), Sharon Clostio (Russell), Russel Rung (Angelle), Cindy Simon (Lynn), Darren Rung (Valerie), Patty Richard (Raphael) and Tina Hargrave (David); her 19 grandchildren; and her 24 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Rung; her daughter, Patty Rung; her parents, Rene and Edmay Stelly; her sister, Louella Gaspard; and her brothers, Carnes and Floyd Stelly.
The family would also like to thank Amedisys Hospice Care for the love and care extended to their mother during this time.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 10:00 AM until the procession departs for the church at 1:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 11:00 AM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Rung family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

ERATH — Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 22, 2021 with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Erath, Louisiana, honoring the life of Florine Montey Suire, 98, who passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, September 19, 2021.
Readings will be done by Madeline LeBlanc and TJ LeBlanc. Gift bearers will be her great grandchildren TJ LeBlanc, Charles Ed Turner, Madeline LeBlanc, Chris “Blaine” Turner, Jake LeBlanc, and Peter LeBlanc. Vocalist will be Jodi Boich and violinist will be Lauren Baker.
She will be laid to rest at Erath Cemetery with co-officiants being Father Andre Metrejean and Monsignor Charles Dubois officiating the Mass and services. Pallbearers include TJ LeBlanc, Charles Ed Turner, Chris “Blaine” Turner, Jake LeBlanc, Peter LeBlanc, Eric Perrin and Tim LeBlanc.
Mrs. Suire was born in LeRoy, Louisiana, and was a resident of Erath for most of her life. She was a graduate of Indian Bayou High School and Southwestern Louisiana Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Mrs. Suire was a Home Economics teacher with instructions and lessons taught to hundreds of students during her twenty-nine years in Erath, Meaux, Henry and Abbeville High Schools.
Mrs. Suire was a talented, proud and stately lady -- proper in every way. She was a gracious hostess with much flair. Just a few of the talents mastered during her life included sewing, quilting, painting, decoupaging, knitting, crocheting, cooking, baking and canning. She never quit researching and learning new techniques to express her creative gene. She was an extremely talented artist who created an impressive collection of hand-quilted blankets, pillows, draperies and oil paintings. Her paintings and quilts are proudly displayed in all of her families’ homes as well as Erath City Hall and Hamilton Hall at University of Louisiana. She and her husband, Johnnie, enjoyed traveling the United States, Europe and Mexico. Most memorable was a summer spent in France representing the Acadiana area for CODOFIL. The most memorable time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would be the hours spent reading Little Golden Books, making wooden puzzles, and playing the card game bataille (battle) to help teach numbers. Most notable baked goods were her well-loved fig cakes made from her fig preserves with fruit rendered from her fig tree and her peanut butter fudge. A tradition passed along to her granddaughter Jeanne Perrin.
During her lifetime she was active member of Les Travailleurs, Demi Tasse Coffee Club, Twelve and Go Club, Catholic Daughters, and Bible Classes. She belonged to the Louisiana Teachers Association, Louisiana Vocational Association, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana and American Home Economics Association and Delta Kappa Gamma International Society.
Keeping her memory alive are her daughter Rickey Domingues and husband Ed. Two granddaughters, Mary D. LeBlanc and her husband, Tim, Jeanne Perrin and husband Eric and six grandchildren. TJ LeBlanc and wife Sarah, Madeline, Jake, and Peter LeBlanc and Charles Ed and Chris “Blaine” Turner.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of sixty-three years, Johnnie W. Suire as well as her parents Roy and Emelina Montey. Her four sisters, Anise “Nanoon” M. Comeaux, Famie M. Comeaux, Inez M. Primeaux, and Rosie M. Meaux. Especially close and an influencer in her life choices, was her oldest sister Nanoon. She pushed the importance of higher education and made sure she was exposed to experiences such as equestrian riding and violin and other music lessons.
The family would like to expresses their deepest gratitude to her doctors -Lahasky, Fei and Leleux, as well as her loving end of life attendants Valerie, Debbie, Mandy and Christine.
Honorary pall bearers will be Dr. Michael Foreman, David Sonnier, Harold Primeaux, Philippe Saunier, Chris Salvo, and Lovelace Touchet.
The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity or St Joseph’s Seminary College, 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, Louisiana 70457, in memory of Florine Montey Suire.
David Funeral home of Erath is handling the arrangements. 337-937-0405, 209 East Putnam Street, Erath, Louisiana. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 21,2021 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm with a recitation of the rosary at 7:00pm by the Catholic Daughters. Visitation will resume on Wednesday from 10:00am until time of service at 1:00pm.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
To help the community stay safe we will honor the August 1, 2021 Louisiana Mandates.  All families and their guests are required to wear a face-covering while at the funeral home and church. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time.

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services for Ramona Tribe Theall, 77, will be held Wednesday September 22, 2021 at 2:00 PM in David Funeral Home in Abbeville, with Deacon Bryon Soley officiating.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 22, 2021 from 10:00 AM until time of service. Burial will be held in Graceland Cemetery.
A native of Lafayette and a resident of Abbeville, Ramona passed away Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Abbeville General Hospital. Ramona will be missed by all who knew her. 
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
To help the community stay safe we will honor the August 1, 2021 Louisiana Mandates.  All families and their guests are required to wear a face-covering while at the funeral home and church. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time.
David Funeral Home 316 Youngsville Hwy. 337-893-3777 is in charge of arrangement.