The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-04-17
NIAGARA FANS, n. NJ, Aprll II.

Have Gone Over the Falls.
NIAGARA FALLS n. NJ, ApIil Ii.
! 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. II appears, however, that
the men had family troubles, and the
most reasonable way Of accounting for
the tragedy is that they went to the is
land to settle their difficulties, and one
killed the other and then himself Lima
Island is much below Goat Island and is
reached BY walking down il long flight Of
steps and crossing bridge The sur
face is covered with snow ana half
melted ice, the protecting railings at the
edge being nearly buried in the snow
The Icy spray blowing over ON to the
stunted trees freezes us it falls. Alto
gether It is not the place where men 20
for amusement, Or TO have 4 friendly talk
about their troubles.
The facts as gathered by your CORE
spondent are that Thomas ycdder, Tie
wealthiest man In the place, and Ills
-brothcr-in-law, Van II. Pearson, went out
to drive at five O'Clock in the afternoon.
Pearson did not seem disposed to 20 ana
Vedder urged him to accompany him.
They drove from Suspension Bridge to
Niagara Falls, and at six O'Clock went to
Goat Island The gatc-keepcr 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
panlon, 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 al
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
trayersed the muddy roads until they
reached the northern promontory, where
Vedder's horse was found tied 70 tree
and coated with ice The spray had
fallen for hours on the animal aud when
he 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
Pearson's 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:
"Pyc found him; here's Vedderu' How
ard Pierson came running up, aud look
ing at the ghastly face revealed by the
light Of the dark-lantern, burst into tears
as he cried, "No, it's fathern lie 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 tile search. and
near the body found Nedder's oyercoat.
the vest beneath theIa 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 ii
was plain that after Yedder 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
me roar of the waters, can never be |
Known. There was no robbery, for Pear |
sons watch and money were In his pock- |
us, and there was money In Vedder's
rest. No indications Offa struggle were
ilsible. Pearson's face wore peaceful |
expression. His arms were thrown back |
naturally. His hands were not clenched, |
lnd the physicians say that death must /
nave been instantaneous. The revolver
was not found, and as one of the shots |
'ould never have been fired by Pearson. |
here is no basis for the theory that be
titled himself.
Pearson was married TO Vedder's sis
er. His first wife was also Vedder's sis
er lie leaves a wife and four children.
rhey live on Main street next door to |
Fedder's house, which is one of the larg-
'st and finest in the place. Pearson was
'ashier of the New York Central Railroad,
position he has held fortwenty-si years
ever since the road was started. lie
ame here from Albany. He has been
Iery quarrelsomc for the last few weeks.
lie drank hard, and was suspended by the
abroad company, but last week his
riends secured his reinstatement. Pear
on was proud and refused to return to
work. His friends contemplated sending
lin to an asylum for the insane. Yes
erday before the fatal drive Vedder and
wife were seen driving at Sus-
'ension Bridge. Pearson was about for
y-eight years old, of medium height, and
wore full black beard.
Thomas Yedder was unmarried, and
vas worth S250,Q00. He had been a
artner of his brother James score of
ears In the wholesale grocery business.
hey lived together In an elegant resi-
enee on Lockport street, Suspension
ridge. An unmarried sister, Catherine, II
nd their mother, live in the same house.
'edder was tall, as straight as an arrow,
nd of dark complexion. He wore full
lack beard, tinged with gray. He was
bout ffty-two years old. People who