The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-22
MURDERED FOR
A ROLL OF BILLS
Gaspard 0. vandaI Killed and
Robbed al Fall River.
AN 0YSTERMAN ARRESTED.
Ernest King Of New Haven Suspected Of
Doing the Deed, His Statements Being
Very Conflicting.

A brutal murder in which a baseball
bat did duty as a weapon was committed
at Fall River on Saturday night, robbery
undoubtedly being the motive. the victim
being Gaspard o. vandal. a grocer doing
| business on the east side OF the city
About 1918 Mr.. vandal left his store at
l35 Nashua street and went to the barber
shop OF Napoleon Cumberland to be
shaved. In paying for the shave he took
the days receipts of his store, about $500
in bills, from his trousers pockets, in
order to reach the change beneath, and
the roll was seen by several customers In
the shop.
He then left the shop for his home, GO
ing up Nashua street and to his own
store, as was his custom, to make sure
the doors were locked. Leading past the
store to the rear is blind alley leading
up through the yard to a small open
front shed used for storing carriages. In
the rear Of this shed on the left hand
side is door. which opens into the yard
of Vandals house, which faces on Lowell
street Vandais house, at 207, is a huge
people, and the murderous assault oc-
CURED within 20 feet OF his own door. and
not soul but the assailants knew of It.
NO one has been found who saw the
victim OF the assault after he left the
barber shop until he was found In the
alleyway in the rear OF the store, badly
beaten and in a precarious condition ~
Shortly before IL o'clock Mrs. Mary
fournier who lives In the tenement over
the store. heard some one In the yard
calling for help. She went to the door.
and upon looking -ont,-saM man lying
on the ground at the foot OF the steps
and ca<'ing her name. She called her
husband, Napoleon Fournier.
The latter found that the man was his
landlord, Mr.. Vandal. Being unable to
lift the man, Fournier summoned Charles
Dupres. boarder. and the two men as
sisted Vandal TO his own home. As Van
dal was taken through the shed he |
stopped at the door In the rear and said
TO the men: This is where / was |
At this point one of the men picked up |
his cap, inside the shed. and just outside |
the door the other man found heavy
club, which appeared to be broken off |
short. This club they turned over to the |
police.
When found his trousers pocket where
the roll of bills had been was turned In L
was left.
DR. Beaudet was called and said that |
tn, the man was suffering from apoplexy.
Then the doctor left, with instructions |
to give medicine TO the man every two
hourds. At ] o'clock Mrs. vandal at
tempted TO administer the medicine, but /
her husband was unconscious. and as
later events proved. probably dead.
Becoming alarmed. she again summon
ed Dr. Beaudet, who in turn. called DIR.
), Kelly In consultation The two physi-
clans found that the man was dead be-
fore their arrival
1t was o'clock yesterday morning be-
fore the police were notified and an In
vestigation was begun which resulted I'm |
the arrest OF Ernest King, sailor on the |
on suspicion OF having committed tho as
sault. King, when arrested, was consider |
ably under the influence of liquor, and |
could not tell a connected story, but |
Il was ascertained that he was shaved |
twice not far from Vandais place of bust
ness, and the second time he had his
cut off
The police are still at work on the case
N the hopes OF obtaining some clew 10
he owner OF the club, apparently a base |
ball bat. Friends OF Nandal state that
ne had no enemies. and believe that rob-
1ery was the only motive OF the assailant
Medical Examiner A w. Buck was
many fractures of the skull but little
External indications of injury. Later I'm
he day he held an autopsy and found |
ieath to be due to fracture of the skull |
Ind the hemorrhages which resulted.
The victim was young man In the
Prime Of life. less than 40 years OF age; re-
,uted to be wealthy and known to do a
rood business and own a large amount Of
eai estate. He had been married but
hiee months.