COUTCURE

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 05:07:26 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, January 13, 1916
Page 3

Slayer Pays For Crime With Life

Lawrence Coutcure was hanged at San Quentin Friday at 10 o’clock for the murder of Don W. Sullivan near Paso Robles in December, 1914.

Coutcure went to his death calmly and refusing all spiritual consolation. He said that he had not lived a Christina life and that he would not die a hypocrit (sic).

The crime followed Coutcure’s discharge from a road camp for the theft of food from the cook tent. He went to the house of the contractor, A. Nyberg, the next night. Sullivan was also there. During the argument between Coutcure and Nyberg, Sullivan stepped forward as if to take part and was shot. Coutcure also fired a shot at Nyberg, wounding the latter slightly. The condemned man never at any time denied his guilt, but contended that he was justified.