The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-17
ALLEGED SLAYER OF SON AND WIFE
 KILLED IN DUEL
Bodies Of Victims Are Found Floating
 In Creek

CASPER, Wyo., March 16.-Fred Van Gorden, 42, Casper real estate and insurance agent, was shot to death in duel with Sheriff Albert Peyton of Converse county at Douglas, Wyo., at 80 o'clock this morning when the officer entered a hotel, where Van Gorden had taken a room to arrest him on charges of having slain his wife ] and 12-year-son son, Arthur.
 The body of Mrs. Pearl Van Gortlen, the wife, socially prominent, was found 1 floating in Dump Bridge creek, two miles of Casper, at noon today. Ar thurs body was recovered tonight iron the waters of the creek near where thu body, of his mother was found. The la6 had been shot twice.
 Van Gorden had become involved in financial difficulties, and accord ing to friends was being threatened with arrest by his creditors on charge of forgery and embezzlement. Police believe that some time after 4 80 or 5 o'clock last night, Van Cor den shot and killed his wife and his son in the Van Gorden home, in the city's best residential district. Then, police believed, he wrapped both bodies in sheets and smuggled them directly into the garage built on to the house. There he placed them in the rear seat of large touring car.
 Police believe Van Gorden started for Douglas, 90 miles east of here, after dark. It is believed he dumped both bodies in the first stream he reached.
 Killed By Sheriff
 Arriving in Douglas about midnight, he went to the Dabonte hotel. Sheriff Peyton, on information from Casper officers, took room across the hall from the room occupied by Van Gorden. About 2:30 o'clock this morning as Van Gorden was proceeding down the hotel hallway, Peyton called to him to halt. Van Gorden sought shelter in a curve in the hallway and opened fire. The sheriff declared Van Gorden fired twice. Then the sheriff killed him, three shots taking effect. Van Gorden lived ten minutes.
 The automobile belonging to Van Gorden was found in Douglas garage,
 The body of Mrs. Van Gorden when recovered from the stream was fully clothed. She was garbed in party dress, the same one she had worn to an afternoon church function here yes terday. Police believe she was shot to death by her husband as soon as she drove the car into the garage of her home.
 In Financial Difficulties
 According to officials, Van Gorden had forged the name of R. J. Fuchs, n business man here, on notes amount ing to $6, 100. The Thomas Daly Insur- ance company of Denver, sent an agent here last week to investigate Van Cor den in connection with an accounting for S2,5O0 due from insurance policies handled for that company by Van Cor den. Friends believe that worry over financial trouble caused Van GOrden's action.
 A special delivery letter to Attorney w. B. Cobb, a personal friend, about 2 o'clock last night gave the first clue to police that something was wrong. In this Van Gorden said:
 Cant stand the gaff any longer. Please settle my affairs the best you can"
 Cobb notified police, who made an examination of the Van Gorden home. The Van Gorden watch dog was found slain near the house, but the first in vestigation did not reveal anything in dicating murder. About midnight, after a search in Casper had failed to locate the Van Gordens, police entered the home and discovered evidence of the crime. Posses then began a search of the roads between here and Douglas.