The record-union., 1895-05-09
Sensational Story Regarding the
Recent Tragedy at Louisville.
CLAIM THAT 1T WAS A DEEP-LAID
PLOT TO MURDER.
Governor Brown Convinced that
Trap Was Planned to Assass1nate
His Son by One Who Was Afraid to
Do the Work, and Used Gordon as
Tool to Carry Out His Designs a
Full Investigation of All the Facts
to Be Made.
Special to the REcoRp-UNrov.


LOUISVILLE Ny.), May 8. The
Coau'ier-Jon!1lal to day prints the follow
ing: The sensation attending tho Cor
don double killing is not over yet by
half The prosecution will attempt to
prove that Arch Dixon Browns death
was due to deep-laid plot to assassinate
him. A trap, as the prosecution believes,
was fostered and planned by one who.
for reasons best known to himself, was
afraid to do the work and used Gordon
as tool to carry out his designs.
Governor Brown has reason to believe
that his son in coming to Louisville on
the day of the tragedy and his assignation
with Mrs. Gordon was known TO a man
in Louisville. The Louisville man, the
prosecution claims, notified Gordon that
his wife was TO meet Brown, and act
ually assisted in the foul assassination.
The prosecution further says the name
of the man who ''acted as the spy" is
known and he will have to be produced
in court.
a subpoena has been issued for Webster
GaZlay. The attorneys for the prosecu-
ton have taken this step upon the theory
that Gazlay telephoned to Gordon and
shadowed and located the couple.
In a private letter last night Governor
Brown insisted that the man referred to
be brought into court on an attachment.
The man who, as the prosecution be-
lieves, piloted Gordon TO the house Of
Lucy Smith. is a college chum OF Cor
don's, and was married IN Frankfort.
James A. Scott, the Frank fort attorney,
employed by the Governor to prosecute
the case, was seen at the Willard Hotel.
He is fearless, capable lawyer, and has
the reputation OF doing what he believes
10 be his duty at all hazards. He said:
"Governor Brown sent for me about II
O'Clock yesterday. He explained his
views and position in the matter, and en-
ployed me to prosecute the case i'll the eX-
amining trial. l want to say that Gov
ernor Brown never authorized any state
nents that he would not prosecute the
case, nor did he ever dream OF granting a
pardon to Gordon. as has been stated.
before deciding on the step. Governor
Brown took counsel with mum Der OF
intimate friends from all over the State.
He came to the conclusion that it was due
to the memory OF his son that there
should be full and fair investigation of
all the facts; not necessarily for the pur-
pose of prosecution, but for the purpose
of enabling him and the officials of the
law to determine whether there ought to
be further prosecution OF the case. He
himself that his son did not seduce Mrs.
Gordon, and that Mrs. Gordon had no
reason to believe that he had led her
from the path of virtue. He was con-
vinced that Gordon must have known
that his wife was dissipated, reckless and
imprudent, if not an unchaste woman.
"Governor Brown is now fully con-
vinced that well-planned trap was laid
for his son, and that his son was selected
for the sacrifice out OF large number of
like offenders, and that information was
furnished of his coming by some one in
Frank fort to another in Louisville, who,
for some motive, advised and actively as
sisted in what Governor Brown considers
foul assassination. We have good
reason to believe that we know who the
man is who took Gordon to Lucy
Smiths house. He was O college mate of
GOrdOn's, and was married in Frank
fort, Ky.
This man must be brought into court.
We will demand it. There will be some
very interesting Developments when be
is brought up. We will push the matter
to the bottom, and bring out all the facts.
''In regard 10 the others who were like
offenders with Arch Brown, I will say
for the sake of Mrs. GordOn's relatives,
who are all excellent people, and highly
esteemed by Governor Brown and his
counsel, that the Governor would shrink
from any attack upon her character, but
would prefer to throw the veil of charity
over all her acts, especially as she is dead.
The future will determine whether it will
be necessary to further blacken the char
acter of Mrs. Gordon, in order to show
the defendants thorough knowledge OF
it. We do not know as yet what the de-
fense will try to prove, and until we do
know 1 will be unable to answer that
question. If necessary, we will show
that others were equally guilty, but do
not think we will have TO do this. think
the developments will be surprising to
many neonla.O