Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-18
INSANITY MAY Be HIS PLEA.
Cordy Il Is said. Once Suffered from
Acute Mania.


Arrival of the Murnered NaInsr's Sister at
GsorEetoun-A New Theory Advanced as
Z, the Henson for the Murder-A Letter
Discovered.
Georgetown, March l6. --It Is expected
that the lawyers retained 10 neIeno
james H. GUrdy, who is accused OF
numbering bis bride formerly Mrs.
Mary Lewis Of New York, will set up
plea of insanity.
Once before Gordy appeared to be
insane He iB alleged to have made
some insulting remarks about a young
woman. She threatened suit against
him for Islander. lie began TO rave and
act strangely.
DR.. Jones was called iu. and after an
examination stated that Gorily was suf-
fsring from acute mania. This was on
September l4th, 1880. The proposed
suit was dropped after the doctor had
made bis reports
To-day DIR. Jones', in speaking OF the
case, said Gordy had recovered rapidly
from the mania. He was asked IL he
believed Gordy was shamming, and
replied that doctors thought a great
many things about which they could
not speak.
Detactiye w,tsil and Attorney Cen
eral White have made another search of
the furniture shipped to Gordy and now
in the freight station here. In q
drawer of a table they found letter
written by Gordy to Mrs. Lewis last
month. II referred to her coming to
Delaware to live Several pieces of
iewelry were among the other articles
found.
Attorney-General White learned TO-
night from detectives whom be had
sent to New York to investigate Mrs.
Lewis life 10 that city that sbe had
little money or property just before her
last marriage. Goruy had heard that
she had ssveral thousand dollars, and
when he found that she had but little
money, it is alleged. the couple quar-
relied. For short time after the mar
riage Gordy was worry attentive to her,
but later his ardor cooled and be did
not visit her fiat so often. 1t is
believed that tho hammer found at the
Messick house gas brought from New
York.
Detective McVey. Madame Grunert
and her riece arrival in Georgetown
from Brooklyn, NJ y, this evening.
Madame Gruuert, who is sister of the
murdered woman, was greatly agitated.
She will be taken TO Milton to- morrow
to see the bouy. As far as she knew.
she said, Mrs. Lewis had never tasen
any insurance on her life. Attorney
General White is trying to find out
whether or not the m urdered woman e
life was insured,
THEORIES OF THE MURDER.
Georgetown, March IA drive to
Milton to-day found tho excitement
there over the murder mystery very
little abated. The impression that
Gordy is not the only man who was
implicated 10 the murder is growing
stronger there. II 10 said that it would
be impossible for one man TO row two
miles Up the river from Vaughn g
wharf, throw overheard the body Of
the woman. and after breaking one
oar, either by hitting the woman on
the head with it or in any other way,
and then propel the heavy boat back to
tho wharf against food tide, by
means OF one oar.
On the other hand. if he had landed
near where the body was found, it is
almost as impossible for him to have
made his way along the bank of the
river back to the landing TO his
carriage, because of the density of the
scrub growth along the bank, the
hngsy nature OF the soil, and the
numerous small streams making into
tbs river. which he would have had to
cross.
The theory advanced, and it is
gaining credeIce with those who bave
visited the locality, is that at least
ono. and perhaps two men besides
Gurdy, were interested in tho ceremony
of sending the unfortunate woman out
OF the world, and while Gordy and
perhaps one man rowed IN the river
with the woman (dead or aliva) the
other man drove the team back towards
Milton, stopping opposite Blacks ship.
yard, which is only about half mile
from Milton aud few hundred yards
from the road, and picked up tho
other man Tor mem who hao landed
near where the body wes found and
made their way across to the road,
This would have been much castor,
and occupied much shorter time than
rowing back to the wharf from which
the boat was taken even il that could
have been dGne with one oar broken,
or landing and making ones way back
TO the wharf on foot. This theory was
not at first given much credence, but
careful consideration OF tho facts
makes it seem moro plausible than
any other.
Hut tho question is as to the
identity Of the accomplish or accom-
pliees. The authorities have made no
move as yet toward any further arrests.
Gordy is allowed the luxury OF a
shave to-day, barbsr having gone TO
his cell for that purpose. Aside from
this break in the monotony of prison
life, the day has passed to him like
those thar have gone before. He atill
steadfastiy refuses to talk to anyone.
put his counsel claim that they will be
abie to explain satisfactorily all of
Wadnesday piuht ts'