Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-27
GonDr YALRs OF Z ~ or.
Ne Says Lawyer Cullen Has n Letter tn
Throws New Light on His Case.

Georgetown, May 20. "A sensation
was created here to-day when it be.
came rumorsd that Lawyer Cullen, the
chief attorney for the defence 10 the
Gordy case, had letter which stated
that the writer and a companion had
plotted the murder of Mrs. Mary
Lewis, for whose death James M.
Gordy ia to hang June 1lth. The
story comes from Gordy's cell. and he
says he has been assured that his
attorney has tho letter. and that the
case ia to be Investigated.
Gordy talked as il he were firmly
convinced that the writer can aud will
be traced, as be says he has an idea
who the two persons are. This is in
keeping with the theory advanced by
him in a recent interview, when be
stated that be suspected certain persons
In Newark, N. j., Of having worked
up the Job" ami pe-sonated him. as
they knew all about his private affairs.
He says the letter states that there
were two in the plot; that thev induced
Mrs. Gordy to convert everything she
had into cash, even her furniture.
which was sold to dealer hose name
is given; that one OF them married her,
then brought her down into Delaware
as described at the trial: that the
accomplice, who had gone before, met
them at the river, took charge Of tho
woman after she was placed in the
boat and then finished tho murder,
which the other had begun.
AT the trial the question was argued
az to whether or not one man could
have done all it was said that Goriy
did IN the time of the murder.
Especially was ii doubted IL he could
have rowed mile UP the creek and
disposed of the body 10 the short time
which the woman's companion that
night is known to have spent on the
river 1t is also recollected that a
mysterious stranger bad been in
Georgetown and Milton two days, and
that he disappeared on the night of tho
murdar. Gordy says this man was the
accomplish of the real murderer.
Gordy has always admitted that he
Lewis, hut insisted that be aftsrward
drove leisurey to his homo, aud also
that the satchels and handbag found,
and which, it was said, belonged to
Mrs. Lewis, were the property of his
wife, who died three years ago. The
sensation created by this latest story
is widespread, ana many are asking II
Gordy is guilty.
Georgetown. May "a. :. Murderer
James NJ. Gordy this morning sent
for Sheriff johnson and asked per
mission to answer the letter written TO
him by Lizzie 7. Brown of Washing
ton, ID. O., in which she accused him
OF swindling her out OF Sl95 through
photograph coloring business deal. This
sheriff readily granted the permission
| asked for, and the condemned man,
who is unable to write anything more
than his name, dictated to the sheriff
the following reply: lrfg
Georgetown, Del, May "a, 1897
Miss Lizzie T. Brown. Washington,
ID. C.-Dear Madam: Your letter 70.
ceired, and would say that have a
contract from you where you say that
you are perfectly satisfied and under.
stand the business. also have q
letter from you, saying that you and
Mr.. Howard ara getting along very fine
and you like the business. III YOU let
Mr.. Howard sell out the gallery and
pocket the money it is not my fault,
and you will have to look to him for
the money, as shall not pay you ono
| cent. You were 10 give me $500 for
my part, and you paid me only Slg5
and | now havo your note for sos
which l hope you will pay soon, az
need it very badly now.
Very respectfully yours.
lsigne1 James M. Gordy.
The "Mr. Howard" spoken of in tbs
letter is the man who, Gordy's friends
claim. is the cause OF all the numerous
scrapes Gordy has gotten into for the
past three years They say that
Howard was at the head of the photo.
graph coloring scheme, and made Gordy
a partner, signing hia name to con.
tracts Gordy has referred to a man
who knows about Mrs. Lewis murder,
but will not say where "IIowara'' is.
W. j. Thoroughbred, the guardian
OF tho two Gordy children, visited the
doomed man yesterday, to endeayor to
ascertain his wishes rs to the future OF
his children. He said be wished tho
guardianship transferred to bis brother
John, but he desired Mr.. Thoroucbgood
still to hold the rema nder Of the i'm.
surance money in trust for them.
Gordy persisted in talking of his in.
nocence of the crime with which he ia
charged.
Mrs. Gordy paid another visit to her
son on Saturday. Ii ia understood that
Gordy's brothers will appeal to Gov,
tunnel to commune his sentence To
life imprisonment, but there is not
much probability that the Governor
will interfere. The sheriff says that
the man will bang on June 18th. Yes,
terday afternoon there was another of
what has come to be known as
"6ordy's concerts,' when he spent
more than an hour in singing old
campmeeting melodies. His strong
TENOR voice was distinctly heard out.
side the Jail inclosure, and the Oman
space back of the Jail was filled with
listeners.
Georgetown, May 81. Sheriff johnson
to night stated that he expected to ask
the Governor to secure for him a com.
pany OF militia to preserve order at the
execution of James NJ. Gordy, on june
18th.
When asked who would build tina
scatfold on which Gordy will he hanged
the sheriff said il would be under fhe
supervision of Peter Pepper, who has
constructed the scaffolds on which the
two last hangings took place here. ii
Will be OF solid oak and will have
drop OF five feet. The scaffold will be
IN the southwest corner of the jailyard
opposits a window in Gordy'g cell.
where he can look at its construction
The sheriff says only 80 mon will he
allowed to sac the hanging, and Io of
them will be summoned as iuror. az
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