The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-01
Sensational Killing of the Son
of Kentucky'S Governor
and a Frail Woman.
BETRAYED BY A TELEGRAM.
Followed to Their Place of Meeting
the Couple Are Surprised and
Shot to Death.

|
city lie the bodies of two of the
most prominent people in the State of
Kentucky-one that of Archie Brown, son
and private secretary to Kentucky's chief
executive; the other that of Mrs. Fulton
| Gordon, prominent because of her remark
able beauty and excellent family connec-
tions. The story is a sad one and has
caused one of the greatest sensations this
city or State has ever been called upon to
chronicle.
The following telegram found in Mr..
Browns pocket no doubt is the direct cause
of the double murder:
LOUISVILLE, KY, April %, 1895.
To Archie D. Broa0n, Governors Private Secre-
tdry, Frankfort, Ky.-Do not write any more.
Come Tuesday. Meet me ats. PING.
Upon receipt of the foregoing telegram
Mr.. Brown came to Louisville and pro-
ceeded to the appointed place. which is an
evil resort at 1905 Madison street, where, at
1885 to-day, the tragedy occurred.
At noon, Brown, with Gordon's wife,
knocked at the front door of Lucie B.
Smiths Madison-street house. They were
admitted by Matte Warrington, colored
woman, and Immediately repaired to the
upstairs front room, which had been previ-
ously engaged.
Thirty minutes later rather tall man
knocked at the door of the house and was
admitted. This was Fulton Gordon. He
engaged the front lower room, saying
WON an would join him shortly. The man
closed all the doors and a few minutes
later a commotion was heard above, fol-
lowed by a succession of pistol shots.
Then there was a hurried movement down.
stairs as Mrs. Gordon fed from the scene.
few more shots rang out and she fell
dead on the perch in the rear yard. Cor
don left the house Immediately and few
minutes later Browns corpse was found in
the upstairs room. Policemen Reilly and
La Paille rushed down Walnut street, and
saw man running for buggy tied to a
post, at the corner of West street.
"The man was bloody" said Officer
Reilly, "and 1 Immediately jumped at
the conclusion he was the murderer. L
ran and grabbed him just as he was in the
act of jumping into the buggy. He had
already united the horse when I arrived.
Gordon, for he turned out to be Gordon,
said to me then: L shot both of them;
caught them in the act. They are both
dead / am shot, too. Come with me and
I'll show you where they are
Gordon was as pale as ghost and was
evidently very weak. La Paille, myself
and Gordon walked to the house. Just as
we got inside the front door Gordon stag
gered and was about to fall when I caught
him. He was in a fainting condition and
somebody dashed water into his face.
also summoned the ambulance and as soon
as that arrived we sent Gordon to jail"
Never was there a more sanguine battle
than the one fought on the second floor of
Lucy Smiths house. Gordon had little
difficulty in getting into the room, as the
fact that there are no broken locks indi-
Gates that the entry was left unattached.
AS soon as Gordon gained ingress des-
perate duel evidently began. Brown had
a 38-caliber revolver, which was empty
after the tragedy.
Gordon must have had two pistols, as
six bullets pierced Browns body and three
of them pierced Mrs. Gordon. The bed on
which Brown and Mrs. Gordon lay was
covered with blood, showing that one or
both had been shot while in that position
or in the struggle one or more of the
wounded had fallen there. Gordon him
self was covered with blood, most of which
doubtless was the result of contact with
his wounded antagonist.
What part. if, any, Mrs. Gordon took in
the encounter her husband only is in
position to say. Two bullets are embedded
in the door, several went through win
dow which faced to the north, three are
buried in the wall, and two are in the cell
ing. The walls are smeared with blood.
The dingy carpet on the floor is saturated
with gore, and the furniture was badly
broken in the fray.
Browns body presented horrible ap-
pearance, being covered with blood. The
undershirt had been removed and the
wounds were plainly visible. There were
three shot wounds in the breast, one of
them being over the region of the heart.
There were two wounds in the head, one
being in the center of the forehead, and
there was another in the center of the
stomach and another in the right arm.
The features were distorted.
Mrs. Gordon's body was found on the
cellar door, face downward, clothed only
in chemise and skirt. She had been in
her stocking feet. Her hair was loose and
hanging about her head in a tangled mass
Her bosom was covered with blood and
her skirt was despatched with it. Her
hands were tightly clenched and her face
was smeared with splotches.
Gordon is in jail and no one lis allowed
to see him. He is unhurt, butts suffering
from nervous prostration. Gordon stated
that he tried to kill himself after shooting
Brown and his wife, but the cartridge
failed to explode and his hand was nervous.
On his way to Jail Gordon stated to the
officer that he had suspected the couple for
some time, and about week ago his sus-
picions were confirmed. Ever since he had
kept a watch on his wife, and to-day,
learning that she and Brown were at the
house, he went there and the tragedy fol-
lowed.
AT O'Clock tonight the Coroner's jury
rendered verdict of justifable homicide.
Gordon's case will be tried tomorrow.
Governor Brown, accompanied by Secre-
tary of State Headley, arrived in the city
from Frankfort at $50 o'clock, and is stop
ping at the Gait House. The Governor is
completely Frustrated by the sad affair.
Young Browns BODY will be taken to