The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-04-19
SUSPECTED SUICIDE
HAD OVER $500 CASH
Nothing Seen of Gordon or His Money
Since Finding Private Papers on
Bellows Falls Bridge.
Especial to The Reformer.)


1t has been learned by the police author
tiles and the officials of Cheshire county
that Robert Gordon, whom it is believed
jumped off the old Tucker toll bridge
across the Connecticut river Friday after
noon, had between $500 and 5000 in his
possession that morning, but they do not
know whether he kept the money in his
pocket or whether he left it with the pile
of books and papers which he left on the
bridge. The man and the money have
disappeared and there remains only Cor
don's suit case and the little pile of things
found on the bridge
1t has been learned by Chief-of-Police
w. S. Severance and Officer Angus Nc
Kinnon, who have been working on the
case with Chief Patrick lyman of North
Walpole, that Gordon left Worcester,
Mass, Monday and that he was nervous
and apparently in poor health He has
been separated from his wife several
years and has a son employed by the Bos-
ton & Maine Railroad company. He was
intensely religious. Some time ago he mis-
placed watch and accused friend of
stealing it. short time ago he found it
in a. drawer in his dresser and he believed
that the man whom he had accused
would she him for SANDER. This, it Is be
lieved, is what caused the mention of
never being disgraced in court" written
on the fiv-leaf of his diary He was a
blacksmith and in his suit case were
found blacksmith's tools and few arti-
cles of clothing and few letters.
County Solicitor Faulkner of Keene and
Sheriff Lord of Keene were here Saturday
and investigated the case They learned
that Gordon had big roll of bills, but
that IS about all that was new They
I ID L Il I
over the books and things which he found
on the bridge, and others who had seen
and talked with Gordon
Gordon arrived in town Thursday and
registered at the Hotel Rockinham. That
evening he attended the prayer meeting in
the Baptist church and there attracted at
tention to himself by his talk About 10
o'clock that evening, at his request, Viii
| lage Trustee Henry c. Bacon, who is en-
ployed by w. I'll. Bodine & Co, plumbers,
and Z. w. Trask. letter carrier, placed
roll containing between 5000 and 500
in the safe in the store in which Mr..
Bacon is employed Gordon met these
two men at the prayer meeting. On FRI
| day morning he called for the money and
! it was given him Later he called at the
| Baptist parsonage and his actions were
tpeeuiTur; according to Rev j. Wallace
Chesbro
| The police are trying to determine what
happened to Gordon's money. 1t is pos
sible that some person crossed the bridge
previous to the finding of the books and
papers by McNogue and took the money
and left the rest of Gordon's things where
they were; or Gordon may have been a
victim of foul play and the things may
have been left on the bridge as a blind,
although this is not believed probable
The entry on the fy-leaf of the diary was
in pencil and the writing under the various
dates was in ink
| The water in the river is high and is
thick with whirlpools and runs like a
millrace under the bridge. 1t is a drop
of more than 10 feet from the bridge to
the turbulent stream, and even to man
in his normal sense there is great attrac-
ton in leaning over the railing of the
bridge and watching the water below
Huge rocks show their jagged edges fol
brief moments as the rushing waters rise
and fall and a jump from the bridge
would mean almost certain death Cor
dons mind evidently was not normal, anc
it is believed that, anticipating a damage
suit and being in a nervous condition, h5
!, made the jump.