Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-23
ARRESTED IN BALTIMORE.
a1phonsa Gordon Afflicted with Dip
Have Been Killed.

BALTIMORE. MD, December 22-tSpe-
cial. "a man who gave his name as Al
phonz Gordon. to-day told the police that
a companion had been cut to pieces IN a
railroad yard in the suburbs. NO trace
of such an accident could be found. ana
finally the police held Gordon. under sus-
picion Of his being one Of the men who
ESCAPED from the Richmond jaih Gordon
said he had a brother in Richmond and
another in Newport News.
Later in the day Gordon told the police
that he had ct one time been confined III
the hospital for the insane at Staunton.
and it was decided that he was denented
Tonight he became i'll in the police sta
ton, and he was taken to hospital.
He will be released tomorrow II he re-
covers.
story OF the Downfall.
An investigation that carried reporter
Of the Dispatch into the muddy roads OF
Henrico county last night after midnight
brought out the fact that Alpnonsa
Gordon, the Richmond man who is held
in custody in Baltimore. Is NOT one OF we
prisoners who escaped from the JAN sun
day morning. He has been absent from
his home at No. 1903 North 21st street
since the first week of November. and not
word has been heard from MIN untii
the special above was received from bai-
timore stating that he was heid by tila
police authorities there as suspicious
character.
Every day for the past two months his
aged mother has visited the home OF her
son. Thomas D. Gordon. AT the n"nner
given seeking information of the where
/ abouts of her missing son. The unfortu-
nate fellow was adjudged insane last
June by a commission Of lunacy, and sent
to the Western Asylum at Stanton.
SADLY AFFLICTED
ffIjctsf with CipS0m1nla and
alteration Of the mind. due to excessive
| cigarette smoking. In his dIsofdered
| state of mind Alphonsa Gordon. .ou'.s
man not over twenty-three years OF age
| had gone about the city and secured
goods on the good name of his brothers.
! who are respectable and hard-workins
| men. He was arrested and conllneo III
| the city Jail. An examination of his cor
| for his acts. and he was sent 10 the
| asylum at Stanton. In september ne
| was discharged as cured. and he returned
| to his home in this city
| LEFT WITH COMPANION
After STAYING around his brother nome
! for a month heeIeft the city in company
with young man whose name couid not
be secured. and was last seen COINS o.l,
| the Ninth street road Nothing was heaiu
| of him after that time until last night
| Day after day. his old mother. who has
| been faithful to her son through all his
| erring ways, has gone to the nome 81 her
| son. Thomas, to inquire if any tldlnss
| had been received of the wandering boy,
! whose unsound mental condition had been
| a source of distress to his family tor the
| past two years. He was candy maker
| by trade, and had a steady job until ne
fell in with evil companies who led hlm
| 70 drink and his excess in this direction
| and his abnormal use OF cigarettes. COM
! pletely unbalanced him. and made him
;nfit for any responsible duty;
| HIS DELIBERATIONS
| 1,aI-a lodi
| ,ieye that his brothers have been Killed.
and when arrested in Baltimore, he first
! stated that his brother had been Killed
| while beating his way on a fre.Snt traln.
! His brother + D. Gordon. iVl ny, q. 80, ~
| 1909 Twentv-first street. said last night
| that there was no truth in the statement.
! for all Of his brothers can be accounted
| for His statements to the ponce IN Bal
| tinore bear out what IS known OF MN
| here. that when suffering from dipsoma-
I MIA he imagineS that one of his brothers
| has been killed.
THE MOTHERS INFLUENCE.
| After being discharged from the asylum
| at stanton. young Gordon returned 10
! his home here. but he kept himself IN
/ seclusion most of the time. but would oc-
casionally visit his aged mother. and her
/! affection and comnanionshp would tenn
! porarily restore him to his rational
! senses
/ His brother stated last night that
1 he had not seen him after his return
| from the insane asylum. nor had ~ hearo
one word as to his whereabouts until the
information contained in the dispatch
from Baltimore was brought to hin. by Il
Dispatch reporter.
! SMOKED INCESANTLY.
HE smoked cigarettes all the time,
said his brother last night. land when
| under the influence of tobacco and
| wliskey nc would talk in the most
ramblin sort Of manner. Mr.. Gordon
| said be would write to the chief of police
| in Baltimore. and acquaint him with the
facts Of his brothers intirmity. so that