Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-25
The Murder OF Gordon in Missouri.

Singular Ererds-Arrea Of tie .Hardercrs.
One Of the mos, cold blooded murders on record
i. that Of B. Il GoRDoS, the Principal Assistant
Engineer OF the Missouri Railroad, which took
place OF the oath Of January last about si1;y five
miles above st. Louis The details, if ever faithfully
chroncl,d, will present one Of the most singular
chapters in the annals Of crime. We are not in
possession Of the whole facts Of the case, but the
few incidents which have come to our knowledge,
60 20 show that the whole affair lie one Of more than
usual interest. We profess no love for the marvel.
Ious, when connected with the shedding Of blood,
much less Tor the details Of crime Nevertheless,
IN the present instance, deem it not insppropri
ate 20 relate a few incidents, hurredly collected
together and perhaps entirely accurate relating
TO the murder Of the late BAIL II. Gordon.
Sometime ia January, two soldiers belonging to
the Dragon service of the United States, made
their escape from Fort Leaveuworth, riding their
Government horses, and carrying with them the
arms Colts six barreled revolvers) winch are used
by the DragOous. OF course they were short Of
funds, and being men Injured to danger and blood,
as we'll rs the hardships of life in camp they de
termined to supply themselves with money the frs:
favorable opportunity. Their names are Z. d.
WorreIl and VIM II Bruf.
In day or two after their desertion they stole a
pony from a farmer, aud came up in travelling, with
Mr. Godon. He had been along the line Of the pro.
posed North Missouri road, in company with Isaac
II Sturgeon, President, aud r Walker, Superin-
tendent OF the railroad, collecting county aud ind
vidual subscriptions for the work. At place called
Mexico, in Anderson coulty, No, they separated !;
Messrs. Sturgeon aud Walker going to Jefferson
City with the money they had COLI ctcd, and Mr.
Gordon setting out for St. Louis lie fcll in with
Worreil and BruG DanviIle The de-.
sertrrs sold their stolen pony to Mr.. Ferguson
eleven miles west of Warrcnton.
Mr. Gordon well dressed with heavy winter
clothes, gold watch, &c; his external appearance
being sufficient TO make him a mark for such des
perate rascals as the men ia his company While
riding along in the cold aud snow, about seven
miles from Warrenton, No., the deserters took the
opportunity TO shoot him, had been arranged
between them the night previous. One Of them
fired the fatal ball, and Mr. Gordon rolled from his
horse meless corpse.
To secrete the dead body Of the noble victim was
the next care ou the minds Of Worrel aud Bruff
They soon decided on concealng it in ravine not
very far from the roadside. They accomplished
their purpose and bid the body securely, covering
IL over with snow, which was then four inches deep
and frozen. They ridrd his pockets, taking what
money he had about hi- person. his watch, furs &c,
before depOsiung him in what they supposed would
be has fn4l resting place. Fatal dciusion An
Oveuulng Providence almost invariably brings
these thugs to light, and the ancient maxim that
'murder will out stll maintains lie truthfulness
Not wishing to create suspicion by leading sn
extra horse with a saddle on him, one Of the mur.
derers threw his old saddle away near the roadside,
behind log ia the snow, IL also Was well secured
iom vieW Soon alter the murder the snow com
meneed falling again. and the most hardened Of the
two, (Worrell.) calmly remarked that old Master
favored the deed by sending down more snow 20
conceal their vieliul" They rode away aud soon
came up with Hungarian psddler, who was walking
With box OF cheap jc~vlry strapped across his
sho llders One Of the men proposed 20 the peddler
20 get Up and ride the extra horse he was Lead
ing. The peddler accepted the invitation, and the
three rode along Ia company-the snow Ia the
meautime falling rapidly. worrell and BruT fell
behind, when the foraer proposed 10 bis aceompHce
TO get possession OF the jewelry, ss il vas worth
thirty or forty dollars aud they could excl ange il
in the country for perhaps t~o or three hundred
dollars worth Of horses. Bruf wanted 10 knou
how. Like We got Gn=iou's things" was the
reply. Bruf demonstrated against killing an
other man before they got out Of hearing Of the
pistol shot that sent Mr. GordoS 10 his long home.
Worrell chided him Tor being chicken hearted about
the matter, telling him that he would never make
. y money-that killing man wss no circumstance
" 1rth nlking about, &c. Just sitter such eoBver-
sAtion, the pedders horse stumbled, and hs box d
iewely was thrown to the ground. bsoksn. The
rings and breast-pins mostly In the srow, ana
the peddler was endeAvOrirg TO recover them. One
Of the men advised him 10 let the jewelry 20 as il
was Of no value, get on the horse and come sloaR
The Peddler, however declared that be never would
ride that horse again aud BFuf and worrsl rode
on, leading the horse as before, and leaving the
man to secure such Of his trash a. he could find
They stopped at house Of entertainment soon At.
csc AE