Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-20
IT MIGHT HAVE SAVED GORDY
Had He Been Arrested for This
Offence.
STORY OF A WASHINGTON VICTIM
He SWindled Her and Made His
Escape.
Had BE Been Captured and Punished In
Washington, He Would Not Now be Under
Sentence of Death for wife-murder--An
Interesting Story.

interesting story.
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal .
Washington. May To- local paper
says: .rlf'3
III the wheels of justice, started in
this city in August last, had been kept
in motion by the police authorities
James NJ. Gordy, under sentence OF
death for wife murder, would not he
hanged at Georgetown, Del, next
month. He is fugitive from justice.
being wanted here on charge of rob-
hing Miss Lizzie Brown Of this city,
who lives at No. 1928 Sixth street north
west The conde mned murderer swindled
her to the extent of Sl95, and to-day
che addressed letter to the man behind
the bars asking him to make good the
amount he obtained from her.
Before writing the letter Miss Brown
called at the Office of Inspector Holm
berger at police headquarters and held
conference with Detectives Carter
and Gallaher, who had charge of her
case at tine time she was swindled.
It appears that last summer Gordy
came here and rented suite OF rooms
at No. 628 Pennsy lvania avenue, where
he lived until he got Miss Browns
money. He is about 40 years old, and
is good looking He dressed we'll at
that time. and had the appearance of a
man who would be honorable in his
dealings, and gave evidence of being q
man Of refinement.
He had money, for he lived we'll. and
did not seem to deprive himself of
either luxuries or necessities,
One day he paid for an advertisement
IN a local newspaper, which resulted in
his making Miss Browns acquaint-
aDce. His advertisement was to the
effect that he was going in the business
of coloring photographs, and. being
such an expert at ths business, he was
able to insure partner big profit.
He declared money was no object to
him. for he had $50, 600 in a bank in
ST. Paul, besides owning real estate and
other property.
Miss Brown was fayorably impressed
with her prospective business partner.
and the smooth. tongued stranger won
her confidence to the extent that she
would have intrusted him with every
cent she had in the world. While Gordy
did not need money, his partner must
give him some evidence Of good faith in
the transaction, she being a stranger
to him. Miss Brown thought this was
no more than proper, and went with
him to- the savings bank at Fifteenth,
street and New York avenue, and drew .
from the bank Sl95, which she promptly
handed over to him.
This happened few minutes after 10
O'Clock in the morning, and subsequenr
developments showed that he went away
on train about IL o'clock. Miss Brown
tbnt nbn Lal
and that the man to whom she had in
trusted her money and whose partner
she had expected to he was nothing but
an ordinary swindler.
Sne sought the assistance of the
police. and as already stated. Detectives
Carter, and Gallaher made a full in
vestigation of the case. The inquiry
resulted in the issuance of a warrant for
Gordy and companion, charging them
with false pretences. The swin3ler's
name and residence were known, and
the local officers communicated with the
sheriff OF Sussex county, DEL, even
going so far as TO send copy Of the
warrant 70 him. But the sheriff refused
to serve the warrant on Gordy, who
lived in the country, about 10 miles
from Georgetown, unless the officers
would come there and sue him in per-
son. This was not done, and instead of
being arrested and brought here the
swindler went TO New York, where he
married the woman whom he afterward
murdeed. Had he been arrested and
then brought to justice he would prob.
ably be serving a term IN the Albany
psnitentiary instead of awaiting the
day when his life is to be taken for the
more heinuus crime which he com.
mitted.
This morning, when Miss Brown
called at the detective office, she had
with her lengthy letter which she had
written and which she afterward sent
TO Gortly. 1t was enclosed in an en-
velope, addressed to the sheriff. and
that official was requested TO read the
message to the condemned man. Miss
Brown understands that Gordy has
some money or property interests, and,
as the newspaper accounts Of the case
say he claims to have made his peace
with God, she wants to know OF him
how he can be in such state of mind
when he has not returned money he
from woman in SO dishonest
a manner.
man who is mean enough to rob a
woman in this way, Miss Brown thinks.
is mean enough to murder woman,
and she will never be convinced that
he is innocent, although he still insists
that he did not kill his wife. She
hopes to get favorable response from