The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-11
He Married Her Only a Few
Days Before the Crime.
An Irrefragable Chain of Circum-
Stantial Evidence.
His Victims Body Was Found An
Broad Creek by Two Fishermen.

Georgetown. Del. June 11.-James M.
Gordy was hanged at 0:26 this morning
for the murder of his wife. He protested
his innocence to the last. He had pre-
pared rambling statement to be read on
the scaffold, impugning tho evidence of
those who testified against him and de-
clariDg his innocence. A portion OF the
statement is as follows: "In regard to
the newspapers I'm sorry people believe
oil they say. They arc the the greatest
falsiliers that l ever heard of, and are
largely responsible for people thinking 80
i'll of me- l thank God the day will come
when newspaper men will have to give
an account for the deeds done In the
body.
"They say killed my dear father. My
people know that it is false. l was not
at fathers house at tho time, IL is alleged
that / gave him something that killed
him. was miles away at my own home.
q am also charged with killing my
dear wife who died about two years ago.
i am said to have caused the death of my
sweet little child. It Is hard to bear
these things. l thank God that my con-
science is clear Of all these charges and
God and l know that l never directly or
indirectly killed any one. +"
1t had been rumored last night that q
this morning to mob the murderer but
Sheriff johnson took extra precaution
AMI between and 3 o'clock he swore in
40 deputies. Early in the morning people
from the country and nearby towns began
TO arrive in carriages and by other con-
voyances and by o'clock tho town was
literally crowded with strangers, but
there was no disorder, A most touching
scene was the visit from Gordy's brothers
John and Berton. They arrived at the
Jail at $3.50 with new suit for the pris-
oner. AS they entered the cell they wept
bitterly, and the prisoner was somewhat
III owed.
A Deliberate and Brutal Crime.
The murder of Mrs. Gordy was one Of
the most brutal and deliberate in criminal
annals. All the circumstances in connec-
tion with the woman $ death tend to show
that the crime was calmly premeditated
and that the murder was committed for
no other purpose than greed for money.
The body of Mrs. Estella M. Gordy was
found in the Broad Kill Greek near Mill
ton, Delaware, March H. by two fisher
men. Until March 10th the woman had
lived at 26l3 Eighth avenue, New York
city, and was known there until few
days before as Mrs. Estelle NJ. Lewis,
widow Of Major Robert NJ Lewis, for
mer prominent ink manufactures. Two
days previous to the womans disappear
ance from New York city she told some OF
her friends that she had married James
nj GoTdv, planter and horse breeder,
living in Delaware The woman disposed
of the business which had been left her by
her former husband and accompanied by
Gordy left New York city for Delaware
That was the last seen of her by her New
York friends alive. Her body was found
in the Broad Creek by two fishermen.
Further up the creek boat was found
Hrif hp ar
hair pins and near IL n broken oar. Sus-
picion was directed toward Gordy because
of his having been seen with the woman.
Working upon this clue officers went to
the home of Harvey T. Messick, one of
Gordys tenants, with whom he lived, but
Gordy had fled. Ho was finally located at
his mother $ home, in Sussex county about
l6 miles from Georgetown and taken TO
Georgetown Jail.
Gordy's Arrest.
When taken into custody Gordv turned
60 the officers and said: II did not hurt
that woman" He had not been told why
no was arrested. In his pockets were
found n woman's pocketbook, containing
$500 and % diamond ring. The ring was
identified AS belonging TO the dead
! woman. by her sister. In the rooms oc-
cupied by Gordy at Messick's house was
found sccreted between the feather bed
/ and mattress n womnn'S shopping bag,
containing a night gown and Kid glove.
/ The mate 20 this glove was found on the
woman's hand when her body was dis
covered in tho creek. In the shed where
| Gordy's carriage stood was found an old
claw hammer, partly broken, with hair
and what appeared TO bo blood stains
upon it, With this evidence 10 work
upon, the detectives redoubled their
efforts and soon had collected an over
whelming mass Of circumstantial evidence
against the prisoner. Gordy was placed
on trial on April l3 and two days later
the case was brought To- an ABRUPT ana
sensational close by the defense refusing
to call but single witness.
Testimony at Trial.
Testimony produced at the trial de-
veloped tho fact that Gordy was married
| TO Mrs. Estolla NJ Lewis on Feb. -, lsy1.
| by Rev. William w. Moir. rector of the
| Church of Holy Communion, New York
city. Link hy link the state forged =
chain of evidence about Gordy that could
not be broken. How the prisoner had
first became acquainted with Mrs. Lewis
was not shown, but from time OF GOrdys 4
departure from New York on March IN.
with his bride. until his arrest az his
mothers home. three days later. Goruys
steps were traced with such precision by
continual on page "a