Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-04-17
a MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY.


Two Brothers-in-Law OF Prominent Mag.
ara Falls Families Enact q Tragedy on
Luna Island-The Body OF One Found
Shot to Death-The Other Supposed to
Have Gone Over the Falls.
NIAGARA FAILS, N. z, April IL.
A startling double tragedy was enact.
ed Thursday night on Luna Island at the
brink of the American Falls. A wealthy
and influential citizen of Suspension
Bridge shot and killed his brother-in-law
and then walked off the icy bank into
the cataract. 1t appears, however, tina,
the men had family troubles, and the
most reasonable way of accounting fol
the tragedy is tlb.t they went to the is.
land to settle their difficulties, and one
killed the other and then himself. Luna
Island is much below Goat Island and is
reached by walking down long flight OF
steps and crossing bridge. The sur
face is covered with snow and hall
melted ice, the protecting ratings at the
edge being nearly buried in the snow.
The icy spray blowing over on to the
stunted trees freezes as it falls. Alto
gether it is not the place where men go
for amusement, or to have friendly talk
about their troubles.
The facts as gathered by your CORE
spondent are that Thomas Vedder, the
wealthiest man in the place, and his
brother-in-law, Van r. Pearson, went out
to drive at five O'Clock in the afternoon
Pearson did not seem disposed to go anG
Vedder urged him to accompany him.
They drove from Suspension Bridge to
Niagara Falls, and at six O'Clock went to
Goat Island. The gate-keeper who let
them through is the last man who saw
them alive and he noticed nothing unu-
sual about either of the two men. We'd
der promised to be home for supper at
six O'Clock, and as he was punctual in his
habits, his absence excited some COM
ment. At about ten O'Clock his brother,
James Vedder, with whom he lived, and
Howard Pearson, son of Vedder's COM
panion, became much alarmed and
secured the village of Niagara Falls for
the missing men. Toward midnight they
ascertained that the two had gone on to
Goat Island. The gate was closed at
seven O'Clock, but they aroused the gate
keeper and ascertained that they had not
returned.
Policeman Burns and Roland were then
summoned and began a search of the IS
land Lighting their dark lanterns they
traversed the muddy roads until they
reached the northern promontory, where
Fedder's horse was found tied to a tree
and coated with ice. The spray had
fallen for hours on the animal and when
Inc was released he could hardly move.
The policemen, closely followed by the
other searchers. went down on to Luna
Island, and close to the brink saw two
dark objects in the snow. The first was
Parsons body. The head was covered
with blood which had flown from two
ugly pistol wounds. Burns felt of one
of the cold hands and shouted back:
<'I've found him; here's Vedderi" How
ard Pierson came running up, and look
ing at the CHASTITY face revealed by the
light of the dark-lantern, burst into tears
as he cried, mo, it's father." He tried
TO throw himself on the dead body, but
was led away by the policemen We'd
der's brother came up just then, but was
not allowed to see the corpse.
The policemen resumed the search, and
and scarf, neatly piled up, with
the vest beneath them and his hat on
top. Tracks led from the clothes into
the river at the edge of the cataract.
There were no return footprints, and it
was plain that after Vedder had killed
Pearson he had walked deliberately into
the falls. Whether he was seized by re-
morse, or made insane by the events
Of the night and weird surroundings of
the roar of the waters, can never be
known. There was no robbery, for Pear
sons watch and money were in his pock-
cts, and there was money in Vedder's
vest. No indications of struggle were
visible. Pearson's face wore peaceful
expression. His arms were thrown back
His hands were not clenched,
and the physicians say that death must
have been instantaneous. The revolver
was not found, and as one of the shots
could never have been fired by Pearson,
there is no basis for the theory that he
killed himself.
Pearson was married to Vedder's sis
ter. His first wife was also Vedder's sis
ter. He leaves wife and four children.
They live on Main street next door to
Vedder's house, which is one of the larg-
est and finest in the place. Pearson was
cashier of the New York Central Railroad,
ever since the road was started. He
came here from Albany. He has been
very quarrelsome for the last few weeks.
He drank hard, and was suspended by the
railroad company, but last week his
friends secured his reinstatement. Pear
son was proud and refused to return to
work. His friends contemplated sending
him to an asylum for the insane. Yes-
terday before the fatal drive Vedder AMI
Parsons wife were seen driving at SuS.
pension Bridge. Pearson was about for
ty-eight years old, of medium height, and
wore q full black beard.
Thomas Vedder was unmarried, and
was worth $250,OO0. He had been a
partner of bis brother James score Of
years in the wholesale grocery business.
They lived together in an elegant resi-
dence on LOckport street, Suspension
Bridge. An unm arried sister, Catherine,
and their mother, live in the same house.
Vedder was tall, as straight as an arrow,
and of dark complexion. He wore a full
black beard, tinged with gray. He was
about fifty-two years old. People who
knew Vedder say they do not think he
would harm auy one The body of We'd.