New Britain herald., 1930-04-12
Murder From Sage Involves Comedian and | lis Sun Bonnet
Public Murder

e "'Round Town" was one of the more elaborate musical comedy pro auctions.
 While not as fantastic, scenically, as a revue, it had moro realistic sets. Take, for example, the third floor room in a Ninth Avenue tene- ment with tho windows opening on tho elevatcd-that was realistic enough for anyone with the lighted elevated trains passing the windows and the terrific and peculiar roar that these trains make, reproduced with accuracy.
 It was during this scene that inc so-called public murder took place. Some reporter was responsible for that phrase. and it stuck.
 Donald Gordon was what one might call d "butter-and- egg man. He had wealth and q pcnChant for very young girl friends. He was q generous spender but no easy mark for the professional gold-diggcr.
 He liked front seats at the girl shows.
 Gordon had been out of town for some weeks and had missed the opening of "'Round Town" He went to the show with his partner, Will liam Martin and Mrs. Martin. Cord on and Martin were successful com mission merchants. Gordon lived alone in elaborate apartments al- though he had, it was learned, wife out West who wouldn't live with him.
 On this night Gordon and his partner and wife went to see the 2 show. It was during the scene where the elevated train whizzes thunder ously past the tenement room win dows that Gordon suddenly saggcd :. over against Mrs. Martin. She thought he had fallen asleep. She knew he wasn't drunk. She tried to awaken him and turned to look at him.
 Her shrill scream was heard above the stage noise of the train because she saw 8 red spot growing on Gordon's white shirt front.
 Ushers came down, a top-coat was put over NIOlubil anu llS " Nlo tli | u out. The disturbance vas quioted and the play went on. Gordon was taken to the smoking room and found to be dead. A bullet in tho heart had killed him instantly, the doctor declared.
 Shot From Stage
 No shot was heard.
 l. I,i, i,- ,5- rtty of the terrific stage noise made to resemble the rumble of the elevated
 Detective Ames and two assist ants got over to the thcater 15 min -utes after the doctor got there and reported that Gordon had been shot.
 The play still had 70 minutes 10 run when Detective Ames got there. He went back stage and from the wings studied the front row, still filled except for the three seats that had been occupied by Gordon, . Martin and Mrs Martin. It was evil dent that none of the musicians could have turned and shot Gordon without being seen. The fatal shot came from the stage. a If anyone in the big audience had seen someone on the stage fire the shot that person would have un- doubtedly reported it. for the thing got whispered around so much that the last 20 minutes of the show got a poor audience.
 Detective Amcs learned that no one in that scene knew Gordon cX- cept perhaps by reading of him.
 Dirk Masters, one of the como dians, was seen to have passed back of the set at about that time, wear ing his gaudy blue dressing room , robe over his Nanny" costume. He , did a black k-face. Three stage hands noticed the robe and the sun bonnet and said he stopped about middle of the back drop and pcercd through a peephole.
 Detective Ames promptly went 10 Masters dressing room. Down the little alley to this room the detective found the blue robe and the sun bonnet.
 Masters, when Detective Amcs stepped in. was bawlng his dresser - out for losing his robe and sun-bon- net. Detective Ames said. They're out in the hall, where you dropped them after you shot Gordon!" Why, he hasn't been out Of this room in half an hour. he goes on in two minutes, mister the dresser said.
 Back stage they learned tho truth,