The sun., 1904-05-05
DOUBLE MURDER IN ALMOND.
JOHN VAN GORDER AND HIS HALF
SISTER STABBED TO DEATH.
italian Railroad LAborers Believed 10
Have Committed the Crime--An Old
Iron Safe Pried Open and Rined. and
Beds, Bureaus and Trunks Ransacked.

Iron Safe Pried Open and Rined. and
Beds, Bureaus and Trunks Ransacked.
ANGELICA. N. v, May 4.-John Van
Gorder. a farmer, So years old, and his half
sister. Miss Anna Farnani. ~ years OF age.
were murdered at their home, Ave miles
northeast OF here. in the town of West
Almond, last night and the house was
ransacked for booty. They were stabbed
to DEATH and 1t is believed that the crime
was committed by Italians employed on
the construction work of the Pittsburg.
Shawmut and Northern Railroad.
Charles A. Rice. neighbor, was the first
to discover the crime. He went to the
Van Gorder farmhouse this morning to
borrow a grain drill and found the front
door partly open and the bodies OF Van
Gorder and his sister lying on the kitchen
floor. There were ten or twelve knife
wounds about the head and chest Of each
body and several stabs made with three
cornered file. The heads of both victims
were battered with heavy monkey wrench.
The wrench was found in the room and the
file in the front yard. The Coroner's
autopsy showed that the body of Miss
Famam had been ravished
Mr. Van Gorder was n well known farmer
and nu rserymnn. His half sister had lived
with him for many years as his house,
keeper He was a brother Of former State
Senator Greenleaf Van Gortlcr of Buffalo.
The victims were last seen alive yesterday
afternoon by Charles A. Rice. who worked
on the highway with Mr.. Van Gorder. Al
10 o'clock last night William Lyon, neigh
Dor, saw light burning in the Van Gorder
house.
At Camp Burk. TWO miles from the scene
of the murder about 200 Italians are EN-
ployed in construction work, and for many
weeks they have made Il practice of buving
cider, butter eggs and apples Of the farmers
in that neighborhood. At about dark last
evening two Italians were seen by James
Coker on their way toward the Van Gorder
house, where the worknien often went to
purchase supplies.
Van Gorder occupied large white house
located OH the summit of hill. and the near
est neighbor lives about quarter Of mile
away. SO far as is known neither OF the VIC
Tins had an enemy III the world. Mr. Van
Gorder was not a strong man physically,
but Miss Farnam was woman OF unusual
strength. The room in which the double
fearful struggle. The body of Miss fanam
had been dragged across the room into
closet that adjoined the kitchen. There were
many clots OF blood Oh the floor. The body,
or Mr.. Van (iOrder lay III unOtneT coIHcI VI
the room. His broken pipe lay on the moor
and the rocking chair in which he was evil
IDENTIFY sitting was badly broken.
1t is believed that the crime was com
mtted late in the evening, as MIR. Van liorder
had placed his boots III corner, put ON his
slippers and hung up his coat as though
making ready to retire. On table IN the
room was cider pitcher partly full and four
empty glasses. 1t Is believed tnat the ltaiial.s
went to the house TO purchase some cider.
drank it and then suddenly turned OIL the
victims and killed them.
An old fashioned iron safe which stood
in the kite hen was pried open and I1fed.
and every bureau drawer. trunk and grip
sack in the house was ripped open and the
contents scattered over the floors. The
beds were turned upside down in search OF
booty, and there were marks Of bloody
hands on the sheets and pillows. Inc
murderers did not get much money, Tor Mr.
Van Gorder did not make practice OF
keeping money in his house.
The news Of the crime spread rapidly.
and all day long there were many visitors
at the house inspecting the ghastly scene.
The District Attorney and Sheriff were no,
titled this morning and every effort will
be made to hunt down the murderers
Three Italians left Camp Burk by train
this morning and suspicion points strongly
toward two of them Officers are now on
their trail. A report reached here to-nie mt
that the suspected Italians were arrested
at Olean this afternoon. but it cannot be
verified. The Coroner will hold an inquest
tomorrow.