The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-24

Pittsburg, April 23-A special to the
Times from Uniontown gives an ac-
count of tragedy at that city as fol-
lows A terrible double tragedy came
to light here tonight by the discovery
of the dead bodies of Joshua McFad-
den, of this place, and Frank Brown, of
Fairchance, in a room on the third floor
of the Lafayette hotel. Both are well
known. Brown has been a civil engi-
neer in the employ of the II. c. Frick
Coke company for seven years, while
McFadden was q clerk in Roth's de-
partment store, and is a son of James
McFadden, the butcher of this place.
Only one revolver was found in the
room and the six chambers were
empty, pointing to murder and suicide,
but which man committed the crime
is not nown and will probably never
be answered.
There is no evidence of a scuftle.
Both men were lying on the floor,
Browns head being at McFadden's
feet. The empty revolver lay two feet
away from the bodies, and from its po-
sition it cannot be told which man
used it. McFadden is shot through the
chest, while Browns fatal wound Is
the left hand.
The tragedy was not discovered till
10 o'clock tonight and the bodies were
cold and stiff, indicating that the men
had been dead several hours. The dis
covery was made by a chambermaid,
who forced her way into the room
through a set of folding doors from an
adjoining room. The alarm was i'm
Nn1,- rrf,
moned, as it was at first supposed the
men were murdered by third man,
who might possibly be in the house
even at that time. Coroner p. F. Smith
was also sent for, and upon his ar
rival summoned a jury and began to
take testimony. The only evidence was
circumstantial and very incomplete.
HAD BEEN PARTNERS.
1t was developed that Brown and
McFadden had been in partnership in
the grocery business in Fairchance.
They dissolved partnership last Sep
tember and when the books were bal
anced, Brown was Indebted to the firm
and he gave McFadden note for 1922.
The note was due today, and their
meeting at the hotel was for the pur-
pose of effectng n settlement. The
note was found on the floor, torn in
two and badly crumpled, which creates
the theory that there had been a scram-
bic for it, A check for the amount of
the note, in Browns handwriting, was
also found. 1t was not signed. All the
papers We're blood stained.
The testimony showed that the men
had gone to the room shortly after +
o'clock in the evening. Brown walked
to this place from LeithwOrks a mile
south Of town, where he had been sur
veying during the day. He brought with
him the ledger containing the part
nership accounts, and told some of his
friends there were some mistakes which
McFadden would have to reCtify be
fore the note would be paid. McFad-
den also told some of his friends that
he could explain the disputed accounts
1t is possible the men quarreled over
these accounts and got into an alter
cation, which eliminated in the trag-
edy. Coroner Smith adjourned the in
quest till tomorrow, when another ses-
sion will be held and a verdict rem
dered
There are many rumors and theories
Rfloat tonight. one story told is that
the tragedy is the result of jealousy
over young milliner of this place, and
there was some testimony bearing or
this feature of the case at the inquest.
The scene in the room in which the
tragedy was enacted was as ghastly
as can be imagined. Both men blet
profusey and We're lying in large pool:
of blood which literally soaked Their
clothes and the carpet. Blood lad al.
go been dashed against the walls anC
on the washstand and bed.