The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-04-17

Two bEONneEs-lu-LfAW OF IEQlnlnGnG mag
ara Falls Families Enact Tragedy on
Luna IsIand-The Body of One Found
Shot to Drath-The Other Supposed to
Have Gone Over the Falls.
NIAGARA FALLS, y. Y, 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-fn-law
and then walked off the icy bank into
the cataract. 1t 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. Luna
Island is much below Goat Island and is
reached by walking down long flight of
steps and crossing a bridge. The sur
face is covered with snow and half
melted ice, the protecting ratings ut 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 a 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 90 and
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
mcnt. At about ten O'Clock his brother,
James VeddeT, with whom he lived, and
Howard Pearson, son of Eedder'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
Vcdder's horse was found tied to a tree
and coated with ice. The spray had
fallen for hours on the animal and 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 i'm 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
''Pve tOuEd him; here's Vcdder!' 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, ''No, it's father!" 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 the search, and
near the body found Vedder's Overcoat,
undcrcOat 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 Neddcr's
vest. No indications of a struggle were
visible. Pearson's face wore a peaceful
expression. His arms were thrown back
naturally. 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 Vedders sis-
ter. He leaves a 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,
a position he has held for twcnty-siX years
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
him to an asylum for the insane. Yes
terday before the fatal drive Vedder aud
Pearson's wife were seen driving at Sus-
pension Bridge. Pearson was about for
ty-eight years old, of medium height, and
wore full black beard.
Thomas Vedder was unmarried, and
was worth $3.50, 900. lie had been a
partner of his brother James score of
years in the wholesale grocery business.
They lived together in an elegant resi-
dence on LockpOrt street, Suspension
Bridge. An unmarried sister, Catherine,
and their mother, live in the same house.
Vedder was tall, as straight as an arrow,
and of dark complexion. He wore full
black beard, tinged with gray. He was
about tifty-two years old. People who
knew Vedder say they do not think he
would harm any one. The body of We'd
der has not been found 1t is probably
beneath the Cave of Winds, which cannot
now be reached on account of ice, cx-
cept by a rope, and none of the guides
were willing to make the venture.
The Condition of Affairs in Cuba.
LONDON, April 10.
4 correspondent of the Times writing