The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-01

LOUISVILLE, KY, April 3O.-At sepa-
rate undertaking establishments in this
city lie the bodies OF two of the most
prominent people in the State OF Ken
tuoky. 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 remarkable beauty and excellent
family connections. The story is 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 2s, 1895. To
Archie B. Brown. governors private sec.
rotary, Frankfort, Ky: Don't write
any more. Come Tuesday. Me OF me
at g., 10 m. (Signed), P. M. c."
Upon receipt Of the above telegram
Mr.. Brown came to Louisville and pro-
ceeded to the appointed place, which is
an evil resort at 1920 Madison street,
where, at 1885 o'clock 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
we're admitted by Matte Mattingly,
colored woman, and immediately re-
paired to the upstairs front room, which
had been previously engaged. Thirty
minutes later rather tall, dark haired
man knocked at the door of the house
snd was admitted. This was Fulton
Gordon.
He engaged the front lower room,
saying that woman would join him
shortly. The man closed oil the doors
and few minutes later commotion
was heard above, followed by success
sion OF pistol shots. Then there WAS
hurried movement down stairs as Mrs.
Gordon fed from the scene. A few
more shots rang out and she fell dead
in the rear yard. Gordon left the
house and Immediately Browns corpse
WAS found in the upper room. Police
Officers Reilly and Lspaille were stand
ing at Tenth and Walnut at 2-35, when
some negro boys came along and told
them there had been murder at Lucie
Smiths. The policeman rushed down
Walnut street and saw man running
for buggy tied to post at the corner
of West street.
THE man was bloody" said Officer
Reilly, "and Immediately jumped at
the conclusion that he was the MUIR
derer. 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 such
he turned out to be, said. to me then:
Il shot both OF them. caught them in
the room. They are both dead. I am
shot too. Come with me and I'll show
you where they are Gordon was as
pale as q ghost and WAS evidently very
weak. Lapaille. myself and Gordon
walked to Lucy Smiths house. Just as
we got inside the front door Gordon
staggered and was about TO fall when
caught him. He was in fainting con-
dition and somebody dashed water in
his face. l also summoned the ambu.
lance and as soon as 1t arrived we sent
Gordon to JAIL"
Lapaille said he had known Mrs.
Gordon by reputation for some time.
She had been going by the name Of
Reese.
Never was there moro sanguinary
battle than the one fought on the
second floor of Lucie Smiths house.
Gordon had no difficulty in getting into
the rooms, as the fact that there are no
broken locks indicates that the entry
way was left Unattached. AS soon as
Gordon gained access q desperate duel
evidently began. Brown had 49,
cal!bre revolver, which WAS found empty
after the tragedy. Gordon must have
had two pistols, as six bullets pierced
Browns body and three that of Mrs.
Gordon.
The bed was covered with blood.
Gordon himself was covered with blood,
most of which came doubtless, from
contact with his wounded antagonist.
What part, II any, Mrs. Gordon took in
the encounter, her husband alone is in a
position to say Two bullets are i'm
bedded in the door, several went
through window, which faced the
north, three are buried in the wall and
two in the ceiling. 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 ia covered with blood
been removed and the wounds we're
plainly visible. There were three pis-
toll shots on the breast, one being over
the region Of the heart. two in the
head, one being in the center of the
forehean, and there was another in the
center OF the s'omach and still another
In the right arm. Clothed blood oozed
from the wounds, presenting o sicken-
ing sight. The features were distorted.
Mrs. Gordons body was found on the
cellar door, face downward, clothed
only in a chemise and skirt and ~wss
in stocking feet. Her hair was loose
and was hanging about her head in a
tangled mass. Her facs was calm and