The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-06-27
TIL E, BULLETIN.
s===s==-=--s-
nssAiss nassss 81 every pase.
THE MURDER MANIA.
TIE TRORNDlKE TRAGEDY
TRIPLE MURDER AND
ATTEMPTED ARSON.

shire eivss tho details Of ths recent horrri
Ole tragedy near that quiet village.
Many years ago Ar. John Gordon, F,
most esameble and indussrtous mae, came
70 Thorndiko here to make bic hons and
rear HE family. lie improved bic lsad
and 5000 built up one Of The landowner
places In tho county. Ne had ave sons /;
one died st home, one In Confsdsrats
prison duripg tho war, but ErastuA Al
mon and john True Gordon, the murderer,
stayed a. home. The old gentleman began
TO feel his age, and, 10 help his boys along.
lone eight yoars ego, he gave bic place 10
Erastus, on condition that himself and
his wife should b supported BY him
trouble arose, and Mr.. Gordon resumed
possession Of bis property. A fcw years
$50, Almon, the youngest Of the sons,
married girl CT the heighborhood, and
tho match was % we'll liked by
the parents that the estate wa,
| turned over to the young man
on terms similar TO those upon which
Erastus bad received u. A. Year, went
on, three children were born 70 the happy
couple. The conditions Of the compact
we're carried out, both In spirit and letter,
and che aged eoupls wcee bleas IN their
cAildrsn aad child rea's children. hut
Jealousy of HE brother was Of work ia the
breast " John, who looked upon Almon
a. one who had cheated him out Of HE
birthright Ne worked on the farm with
envy In HE heart, no was early aud III
msnnered, but no one look I'd upon him o.
capable oi bscoming fratricidc, an incon-
diary, md the murderer Of innocent chill
dren. Lss. week the dssd conveying the
property % Almon WAS put on record,
and tho Old geatldman and his wife went
on . visit TO some relatives Al Bangor.
The last hope Of reversing the decision Of
the father-and u was . righteous deci-
sion, for Almon IVES prudent, steady, mar.
risd, and haA family 70 support, whilo
John resembles him In none OF these par.
siculars--lsft John. and he determined on
revenge. The division Of the property
had teen determined upon when be was
away from home, and this, too, CALLED him;
and this was the causs OF tho tragedy
which has dazei the little village 81
Thorndike, and will ever remain its one
tale Of horror.
The house whsrc the Gordon family
we're murdered IL situatcd on the top oil .
steep hill, In plain view Of the rhoradiks
station. I. 10 two stories high, contain
ing twelve rooms, with On Il and long
shed extending 10 large barn. All tho
buildings are connected together, and all
painted white except tho barn, presenting
an elegant appearance. The green and
,uxurisut Gslds we're broad and beautiful,
ffingsd around with magnificent forest.
A large orchard stands 10 the rear OF the
nouss Tho whUlo appearance 10 one OF
comfort, nsatncss snd thrifl.
The coroner's inquest was 10 session
.-h>u orsae~I e.k{u~ Guidance and
about adjourning 10 meet again on Satur.
upon shc son, named John I. Gordon,
Who was under arrest, and with others had
given testimony Ia tie case. The pris.
oner was greatly sgitatsd, weeping and
calculating, protesting bic Innocence, and
apparently bewildsrsd At what was going
on around him. His hands and portion OF
hls clothing wore covered with blood.
He 10 twenty Eight ysars Of eye, bsars .
bad character, and calls himself spirit
ualist.
Tho slosping.room Of ths prisoner wss
in the second story, TO the LETT OF the
stsirs. Il was . comfortable room, con-
tanning . bad, bureau, bible, chairs and
other CON veniencss. Marks Of Fingers
stained with blood were visible upon the
Jams Of two doors leading from the room,
showing that II he did the bloody work.
he returned 20 his room after ih execu-
ton. Directly In tho fear Of this room
WAS . smaller bedroom, occupied BY
hirod man By the name Of Ward. Ward
ststes that he was aroused from slesp
about 3 o'clock am, by the cry Of some
one below. On going down stairs and
passing through The prisoners room, he
found him missing, and discovering the
house 10 DO on Ore, no shouted "John,'
many timer, but got no answer. The
nearest neighbor, Mr.. Harmon, Yves
aroused, aud immediate efforts made TO
extinguish the flames, no one as yet sus.
pscting foul play:
the slcepinc-ro room of Mr.. Alm0n Gordon,
br other of the prisoner, which Was on the
0rst floor. Mr.. Harmon burst open the
door, seized shs body of Mr.. Gordon and
dragged il out DOOR. lie then returned,
clssped the burning body Of Mrs. Gordon,
and con eyed Il also out of doors. Then /,
rushing to window, NOT being able 70
return 70 the room on account OF the
smoke end flame, he reached In HE arm,
graspsA . little boy, Ire. Ave years old,
and brought him forth alive. He also
took little Girl, Emma, seventeen months
| old, from the bed, dead and on hre. Dur.
ing oil this time no one bed suspected
murder. The excitement Of the IRE he'd
blinded them TO the horrorr Of tho fearful
crime.
Havirg extinguishsd the flames, an sI-
amination Of the Victims revealed the ap-
pallips fact that oil Of them had bsen
cruelty murdered. Their lower Limbs
were burned and charrsd 10 crisp, while
their heads, faces and ascks we're literally
cut into 8 score Of CACHES, disclosing
most revolving sight. The bodies also
emitted an odos Of kerosene, ~ did ths
room whore they slept, indicating that
they he'd bosn saturated with this COM
bustible 6uld 70 facilitate the burning
On searching the house an axe VA found
Ia 1 closst, covered With blood and viii
the hair OF tho victims clioglng TO ths
cory blade II was Of once sean that this
was the deadly weapon with which I'M
deed was done.
TO THE WEST.
For sale,--a ticket good for 1900 mile
travel issued "t0 bearer and good cithe
| wsv far ana mr. mare nersOns. over the AZ