New-York tribune., 1873-03-22
A MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY
A p1cu NAN SHOT DEAD.

The neaple of Brooklyn were greatly startled
-,rs.erdav ehen H became known that a prominent
,saept haa been found dead on the floor of his resi-
nce with ghsstly pistol shot wound in his head, hav-
sr either committed suicide been robbed and muT-
sered The victim was Charles Goodrich, brother OF
tx AssombSmau William W. Goodrich The particulars
pf the mysterious affair far they can be asccI-
I4ined, ss follows:
Charles Goodrich a wealthy lumber merchant
who had amassed fortune IN NevIorR City, and taken
an his abode IN BROOKLYN about month ago. He bad
erected row OF three-story brown stone dwellings III
Decrawst between Fifth aud sxthavcs, aud had fitted
up one of them-the fifth house from Fthave.-for ms
own occupancy. Some OF tRe other dwellings, he nau
pacatded sale TO let. His age was about AZ year
aud he was widOwer, and man OF somewhat seclu"ed
habits No servants companions occupied the mousse
with him. and what domestic work was required ne per
formed bimsoL Last week he sold three OF the houses
and he had also made arrangements 10 lease TO his
nrother the very house in which he lived Ou Thursday
morning the Hon W W. Goodrich called at the house OF
hs brother iound closed and his knocks and rings
failed 10 bring the door Yesterday morning
about Q o'clock he again called and still the house was
closed and barred little TIN pail, containing some
thing for his brother s standing under the stoOp
where he bad left the previous morning. Unable
10 obtain admission, aud considerably alarmed, MI
Goodrich hastcned 10 the Office of Ray W. Potter real
estate agent at Fulton ana FatbuShavcs, procured the
keys Of the house adjoining that in which his brother
effected entrance. He at once proceeded do"n
siairs examining the rooms each floor on the way
On reaching the second floor front room, Where MS
brother usually slept he found that II was empty Dnt
everything in perfect order, and the pea had not
been runied He then examined The parlor
nooI, aud found everything in good order Go
inc down 10 the basement, he tried 10 open the
door leading into the diungroon but 1t was fastened
OF the iusde hc obliged TO go around and enter
ly means oi Stepping into the room
the visitor hOrried To find the cless body OF his
lying the oor the head resting on the legs OF
lie boots, ais by his side, and beside the night
baud au Ethan Allen seven-shoOter, with three Of the
chambers empty. The body lay fiat on the back tho
hmb> stretched ~ fu length. and the slippers stl on
None Of the clothing dsordered- but upon
Examination MI Goodrich fouRd pistOlshot wound a
few inches the the left side OF the head and
& would such a sharp instrument would be likely TO
lnGct, over the night eye.
RrIay believing that his brother had been fouy mnr-
dercd for MS gold watch and p0cRet-bOoh were both
missing Mr. Goodrich hasened 10 Police headquarters,
and gave information Of the horrible discovery. Ser
geanis Folk Vidett0, ana Van Wagner immediately re-
paired o. the house. aud proceeded TO make minute
investigation 10 the hope OF unravelmC the mystery
surrounding case but eithout success. Everything
H. the house was found perfect order, aud nothing
except the watch aud pockebook had been removed as
probably have been the case If burglars had been
present The watch which missing was
valued 500, but Vnlt amount OF money
was in the pocket-booE is OF COURSE, unknown.
There was no blood the floor except the
email pool beneath his head and clot the marble
stone under the mantel-pece. There no blood on
the face which seemed to have been carefully washed
aud dried after DEATH and evidence of bav
ing recently been washed with wet cloth. coarse
wet cloth with blood also found hanging to
nail over the wasbasn. copy Of the last edition Of
Thursddy's Eaqle, saturated With found on
the side ~ The police also found that paue
glass had been broken in Of the Kitchen windows,
evidently by person who bad endeavorcd to effect
entrance.
coroner whitehil also visited the house during the
day directions TO prepare the body for post
n,orem examination. lie determined to hold in
quest either today Monday and the following
Bave brcn summoned as jmors:
Alderman William Richardson, ev-Aldcrman Daniel d.
whitney snneon b. Cbittenden, Thomas Hu-ella, John
2. Role, Henry L. Bowen, william J. Osborne, George
EOwers, Daniel \. Robins. Robert Spear.
TWO THEORIES.
17,o-e who have visited the scene Of The ccdy
about equally divided 10 whether IL a murder
n suicide The Hon. W W. Goodrich is firmly impressed
the idea that his brother has been murdered. and
states that motive that could have tempted
fne deceased 10 take his life Mr Goodrich believes
that deceased his bedchamber when he heard
tie noise Of the window being broken down stars, and
that on descending confront the burglars he was
Knocked down and afterward shot His brothers. busi-
mess affairs. he says in highly prosperous condi-
ion When Mr.. Goodrich cOnversed with him. on
Wednesday he not suffering from any fit Of despond
,ncy Olhe friends OF the deceased also state that he
w9s % hDo-spiuted man. with apparently no his
mind. Many of them believe that he murdered.
The detectives found open psnnife the sink in
the back Kitchen under the broken window. 1t not
identified the property OF Charles Goodrich. From
the that copy of Thursday evenings newspaper
the with the body 1t Is evident that
oil Tho of
the body such. however to lead to the opinion
that death had been caused by suicide and the pistol by
the side OF the body strengthens this theory.
Mrs. Mary Fletcher. residing IN Degraw-st., near Fifth
ave. stateg 70 a Tribune reporter, yesterday. that
Charles Goodrich had been living In the house where his
body had been found for the past month and that he
had been frequent visitor at her house. Two weeks
ago he met her George The street. and said to him.
=. Tel your @other that my brother and sister are
coming TO live with and they will be good ghbor"
she had the habit OF receiving letters for Mr.
Goodrich and would take them to his house. On Tues
day night received one and took it his house. and
was Obliged % knoeB long ume before
be came to the door When the door
opened she was startled at his wild and
haeeard appearance He grufhy demanded her mission
and when she handed him the letter with tho words
soIae news for you Mr.. Goodrich" be exclaimed ex
ctedy 81 sban't bother with letters any more" She
asked why =" and the answer was, am going into
another business that you know nothing about" He
then closed the door home and related the
circumstances 10 family with the remark that Mr.
Goodrich vas either crazy drunk-erazy more like.
George Fletcher boy states that when passing the
sxsidenee Of the deceased Thursday morning. his
way 10 school, be a strange man at the basement
door aud he also saw the man in the spot
Yesterday morning. He does not know the Hon W. W.
Goodrich by sight, and cannot tell whether this strange
Hnan wac he not.
The detectives say that the attempt to open the base
lneDt window was evidently the work OF novces as
fessiora burglars have gone 10 work 30 cum