The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-15
'Man of Mystery" of Highland
Park Was Murdered2
Revolver Near Body, but Shot
Indicates a Crime.
KNOWN TO have PLENTY MONEY
Lived by Himself in a Barn
With His Horse.
Sold Property Few Days Ago to
C. J. Bressler of Topeka.

Harry Gordon, SO, Highland Parks
man of mystery" is dead. With
bullet hole thru his head, blood
smearing his bed clothes and fully
dressed. Harry Gordon was found dead
in his bed in a little room attached to
the barn which he has used for
home for the last three years. At
hour this afternoon Bob Miller. un-
dersheriff. had not determined wheth-
er Gordon had committed suicide or
was murdered between o'clock this
morning and 8 o'clock when the body
was discovered.
Gordon was known to be the posses
sor of considerable wealth. His bank
book found in the little bedroom in.
dicated that up until two weeks ago
he had more than $4,000 cash in the
bank The balance taken August %
indicated that the balance had dwin-
died down to 1921. He sold the twen-
ty-nine lots he owned near Twenty
seventh and Iowa streets a few days
ago to c. J. Bressler. 1885 Lime street,
for $500 cash, and it is presumed
this money was turned over to owners
of a tract of land near Shorey which
1t is known Gordon contemplated pur-
chasing.
Rusty Gun Near Body.
A rusty IA caliber revolver was
found by his side. The position of
his body when it was discovered by
Bressler this morning. together with
the peculiar position that the revolver
was found in caused the first suspicion
of foul play. The bullet plowed thru
the right temple and out the left.
| Gordon's hands were folded across his
abdomen. The revolver was tucked,
barrel down, under his left arm pit
1t was known that Sunday night
| Gordon sold a colt to L. E. Kidney,
who lives near Twenty-sixth street and
California avenue, probably block
from the Gordon barn. Kidney was
working at the Tom Doran farm a
mile distant.
Loved His Mare.
| When Kidney was interviewed, he
stated that Gordon had offered to give
him the colt If he would kill mare
which Gordon owned and which he
seemed to be very fond of and wished
to have killed before he moved Kid
ney said he shot the mare about
! o'clock Sunday night and buried II
half a block from Gordon's barn.
After 1 killed the mare, Gordon
lay down by her head for fully fifteen
minutes" said Kidney. Then after
we dug a pit to bury the animal in It
and the animal rolled into the pit
Gordon crawled down there and lay
by the animals head"
What gun did you use?" Miller
asked Kidney.
Il borrowed a gun from Abe Coff-
man, a deputy sheriff. who went down
with me to kill the mare" said Kidney
Kidney stated that Coffman .left
early and he and Gordon worked un-
til o'clock in the morning burying
the mare. Neighbors all stated thai
Gordon had grieved over being Obliged
to part with the mare which he said
his father had given him eighteen
years ago and had been his companion
ever since.
Miller drove to the home of Abe
Coffman on Belvoir street. Coffmar
absolutely denied that Kidney used hi:
revolver in shooting the mare.
/ HE did not use my gun," said Coff-
man, He asked me for it and 1 re-
fused to give it to him. Gordon ther
pulled his gun out of his pocket. L
was OLD and rusty. Kidney shot the
mare with Gordon's gun"
The revolver found by Gordons side
this morning tallies in every way witt
the description of the revolver giyer
by Coffman. The revolver wher
found this morning had only one ex.
His Room in Order.
Search of the little room which
Gordon used as living and sleepinl
quarters revealed everything in order
There was $40 and some small
change in purse in his pocket Sew,
eral letters written to him in the las
year by brother, w. E. Gordon, 160(
Vassar street. Canton, o.. were founC
on a table. There were bread and rip'
tomatoes and other groceries piled OF
the little table.
Bressler stated that Gordon planned
to leave the premises this morning
The mans good clothes were found OIL
the foot of the bed. He wore an OLE
suit of overalls.
Coroner Narcotic stated that an in
|, quest will be held IN a few days afte
, a more thoro investigation is made.
! A Man of Mystery and Means.
Three years ago Gordon came t.
Topeka. He was about 35 years o
age. He purchased twentynine lot
in Highland Park and built a barn
. In one section of the barn his horse
, a mare, was stabbed. In the other sec
ton he fitted out bedroom for him
self.
He became a favorite with TIL
! neighbors and the neighborhood chill
dren imme ediately after his arrival. Al
ways good natured. ever agreeabl
and accommodating. he became
friend of everyone in Highland Park
But he would say nothing abou
himself. He told nothing of his pas
or his relatives or his home previou
: to his arrival in Topeka. He wa
known as THE Man of Mystery" Tn
neighbors did know, however, that n
/ dS " eli Al8c0 ne WI ne
! as day laborer when he felt inclined
5 The rest of the time he would spen
around his humble home.
, Sold His Property.
A few days ago he sold his twenty
! nine lots to C. J. Bressler, 1885 Lin
street The sale brought a good sun
: He had planned, the neighbors say, t
! buy tract near Shorey. where he ex
. pected to make his future home.
: