The Omaha morning bee., 1924-03-17
Slayer of
Wife,, Son,
Shot Dead
Casper Real Estate Man, For
mer Nebrakan, Opens Fire
on Officer When Cor.
nered in Hotel.
Body Of Wife Recovered

and insurance agent, was shot to
death in a duel with Sheriff Albert
Peyton of Converse county at Doug
las. Wyo.. at 2:30 this morning. The
officer had entered hotel. where Van
Gorden had taken a room, to arrest
him on charges Of Staying his wife
and son, Arthur, IL.
The body OF Mrs. Pearl Van Cor
den, the wife. prominent society
woman. was found floating In Dump
Bridge creek. The sons body has
not been recovered.
Van Gorden had become involved in
financial difficulties and. according to
friends, was being threatened with
arrest by his creditors on a charge OF
forgery and embezzlement.
Police believe that some time after
4:30 or last night Van Gorden shot
and killed his wife and his son in the
Van Gorden home. in the city's best
residential district. Then, police be-
lieve. he wrapped both bodies in
sheets and smuggled them directly
into the garage built onto the house.
There he placed them in the rear seat
Of large touring car.
Kills Dog.
Fearing the barking OF his dog
might attract the attention of his
neighbors. Van Gorden shot and
killed the animal near the front door
of his house. Then, leaving the home
and garage locked up TO make things
appear all right % neighbors. police
believe Van Gorden started for Doug
las, so miles east of here. after dark.
1t Is believed he dumped both bodies
in the first stream he reached.
Arriving in Douglas about midnight.
he went to the La Bonte hotel. Sheriff
Peyton. on tip from Casper officers,
took a room across the hall from the
room occupied by Van Gorden. About
z:3o this morning Van Gorden left hin
room and started down the hallway.
Sheriff Peyton called TO him to halt.
Van Gorden sought shelter In a curve
in the hallway and opened fire on the
sheriff. The sheriff declared Van
Gorden fired twice. Then the sheriff
killed him. three shots taking effect.
Van Gorden lived 10 minutes, but
would make no statement.
The automobile belonging to Van
Gorden was found in a Dauglas gar
age. The rear seat was bloodstained.
BIoodstained Knife.
The body Of Mrs. Van Gorden re-
covered from the stream was fully
clothed. She was garbed i'm a party
dress. the same one she wore to an
afternoon church function here YES
terday. Police believe she was shot to
death by her husband as she drove the
car into the garage OF her home.
| Evidence gathered by the sheriff in
dicates that the boy may have been
stabbed to death. because blood
stained knife and evidences Of a strug-
gle inside the house were found 1t
is believed the lad was Killed when
Van Gorden returned for dinner ana
before the arrival Of Mrs. sNan Cor
den.
According TO officials, Van Gorsien
who was a former member OF the Cas-
per city council. was IN bad financial
straits. Officials declare he had
forged the name OF II. J. Fuchs. a
business man here. on notes aInount-
ing TO $500. The Thomas Daily In
surance company OF Denver sent an
agent here last week to investigates
Van Gorden in connection with an
accounting for $500 due from insur-
anee policies handled for that COM
pany by Van Gorden.
Instead OF meeting Joseph Dinhaurt
1 rhA -
ternoon. Van Gorden sent a specia,
letter saying he would have to close
the agency and that he was unable TO
raise the money. The hank Van
Gorden was doing business with also
was pressing him. according TO police.
Letter First Clue.
| Friends believe that worry over
/ financial troubles caused Van Cor.
den's action.
A special delivery letter to Attorney
/ w. f. Cobb. a personal friend. about
last night gave the first clue to the
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 the police, who made
an examination OF the Van Gorden
home. The Van Gorien watchdog
was found slain near the house. but
the first Investigation did not reveal
anything indicating eurder. Abour
midnight, after = search in Casper had
failed 10 locate the Van Gorden's. 20
lice entered the home and discovered
evidence Of the crime. Posses then
began a search OF the roads between
here snd Douglas. .
Van Gorden had been a resident OF
Casper FOR seven Years. coming here
from Nebraska. His mother II said