Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-13
WOMAN'S NAME LINKED
WITH GORDON SUICIDE
Reported That N. Y. Rector Was
to Have Been Unfrocked tor
lndiscretion.

church and. perhaps. "A woman fos
whom he cared much.
II Il limited. moreover. that he was
about To lao unfrocked because OF
situation that linked his name with
the wife OF n wealthy and influential
business man and a figure prominent
I'm St Bartholomew congregation
The woman. declared 20 be In
piiinble mental condition, II patient
In her home. closely attended by her
husband and children. The body OF
DR.. Gordon IL on the why to savannah
Ga. his birthplace. where II will be
buried.
There wac speculation also as 20
whether the mysterious letter received
by the minister shortly before his
suicide brought tidinss Of hie unfrock-
ing.
Bishop william r. Manning. head of
the Episcopal Diocese IN New YORK.
I'm whose Jurisdiction IL st Bartholo-
news. refused last night to affirm or
deny the report that Dr. Gordon wns
To be stripped 81 &ls ministerial rohee.
The wardens and vestrylnen OF ~.
Bartholomew feemingly had entered
a cabal OF silence. They seemed 20
hope that the bullet which ended the
| life az their minister also would silence
the rumors.
Even the facts surrounding Or. Cor
don's resignation two months ago
were not divulged. although It wac
generally understood the background
was furnished by tho then swiftly
spreading story Of the demonstrative
affection between tho clergyman and
the woman, whose age approximate
/ his. Both have grown children. One
Of Mr.. GordOns sons. George \. Cor
don. ~ Under Secretary OF the Ameri-
can Embassy IN Paris. The clergy
mans wife had been separated from
him several years.
Gossip concerning the clergyman
and the woman psrishoner became
general among their friends and
acquaintance more than a year ago.
when they went 10 Europe on the
Same steamer II II said that Dr
Parks called 20 his assistant. iuplor-
Ing him 10 change his course.
II also IL said Dr. Gordon's son en-
deavured 20 have his father and the
woman sec that only a devastating
scandal could result from their con
tinued compsnionshlp.
The woman returned 20 her family
here. eager 10 win her why hack into
tho hearts 81 her husband and her
! children. Later Mr.. Gordon returned
! and resumed hA duties no assistant
, rector OF ~. Bsrtholomews. His in
fatuatlon for tho woman. however
was so plain that his friends oounseled
: with him. Finally no wns asked n
resign. Il In said. and when ne refused
was told the matter would be placed
before Bishop Manning. Hi. resigna-
ton followed and promptly was ac-
| ccptcd 10y tho vestry
lilo went 10 Europe. but renal ned
. only n few weeks. Returning 10 New
4 York shortly before Christmas he wen
. To the Wolcott and there lived In vir.
g tual solitude until HIS death.
g while his inability 70 communicate
with the woman was believed 20 have
: weighed heavily upon hts mind. IN
II shock that drove DR. Gordon 90 choos'
II death Is believed 20 have been IN
> knowledge that his friendship had be
= come the topic OF such widespread
gossip as - have leaked 20 severa
newspapers. IL also - said ne learn
!. cd 81 a sermon delivered by DR.. Park
last Sunday. in which the rector
- reported TO have referred 20 the Hafl
!. Mills tragedy in New Jersey as a ter
\, rible blow 10 the church. and ye
IT one which might happen in any con
10 gregation. even including 81. BartholC
Ie news.
II DR. Parks. Il is understood accom-
"A panied the body Of DIR. Gordon {
" Savannah
u The Times this morning gives tn
y version OF what is referred TO as N
" dead rector's indiscretion. attrlbutin
his acts to stage Of mental deca
- that had made considerable progress
The suicide Of the Rev DR.. Perc
Gordon. 60 years old, rector of :
m Bartholomew's Church. was enplaine
N yesterday as due TO a series OF event
ST resulting from a mental disorder.
in His troubles We're represented
the outcome OF "A friendship for Mr.
a Catharine Morgan Dix Wheelock, WI
er was said TO he equally lacking in r,
nd sponsibllity for her acts. The frien,
iy ship of the clergyman and Mrs Whe,
IT, lock, who is prominent in the churc
IN vac asserted yesterday TO have bee
he entirely innocent. but so displayed
rs TO cause comment and create an e.
III tremely awkward situation in a
" church.
III Mrs. Wheelock Is a daughter OF Il
- late DIR. Morgan A. Dix, fox. fort
a seven years rector OF Trinity Churc
sr and Is the wife OF William 4. whe
lock, a prominent realty dealer. s.
Is living with her brother. John
Dix. OF l19 East Seventy ninth sire,
and IL under the care OF DR.. ].
Wheelwright OF 20 East Sevent
ry seventh street. She Is said 10
nearly so years old. has been prom
all nent in church affairs and a WON'T
by held generally in high repute. II
or asserted that she. like the clergyma
he suffered from a mental impalrmel
To and that the whole affair was innoce
M and pathetic. though subject 10 1
ee' evitable misconetruction.
'e' The clergyman was a close friel
~ and spiritual adviser OF the wheelo
~ family for many years. Besides /
IN ing assistant rector OF ST. Barthol
,aa news, he was superintendent of I
10 Sunday school. The Wheelock ch
dren attended his Sunday sch,
he classes. lie awarded them prizes
est excellence in memorizing texts a
III other good work in the Sunday scho
see aud he was associated in many act
mt ties OF the church with Mrs. WI,