The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1931-03-02
SLAIN WOMAN
PREDICTED
REVENGE
Letter Quotes Murder Victim
As Saying She Would Win
VindiCation; 2 Facing Quiz


VindiCation; 2 Facing Quiz
NEW YORK, March miss
Cassie Clayton, of Erie, Pa, was
projected into the spotlight to-
day in the investigation into the
mysterious murder Of beautiful,
red-haired Vivian Gordon, Broad
way "girl about town." who was
found strangled in Van Cortlandt
Park last Thursday.
Miss Clayton was. at one time
o friend and cOnfidante Of the
slain woman. The last letter
written by Miss Gordon few
days before she was taken for
. ride"-was sent to Miss Clay.
ton.
In it Miss Gordon described
the feeling of triumph she was
experiencing cause she was
soon to appear as a witness in
New York's sensational vice in
quiry and tell how she had been
:'framed" by a policeman on a
vice charge eight years ago.
She Predicted Revenge
Vivian wrote Cassie that she
would be "vindicated-if it takes
my last BREATH"
Miss Clayton was to be brought
to New York today under armed
guard to relate her story to
Referee Samuel Seabury, head
of the vice inquiry, or his aide,
Irving B. Cooper. It was Cooper
who talked to Miss Gordon five
days before she was slain. At
that time she promised to be a
witness against New York's "wo-
maintaining" cops.
Significance was attached to
the fact that Miss Clayton was
Questioned in Erie by Edward G.
Perry, a process server attached
to Referee Seabury's staff-and
not by a representative of the
New York police department.
Robbery, Police Say
The police, ever since the muir
der four days ago, have been
"cold" toward the theory that
Miss Gordon was slain to prevent
her from making disclosures con-
corning crooked policemen. Police
have inclined heavily toward the
theory that she was killed for
her $4,000 mink coat and $4,000
diamond ring.
Miss Gordon had claimed that
in March, 1928, she was framed"
BY Policeman Andrew j. Nc
Laughlin and her divorced hus-
band, John E. o. Bischoff, of
washington, D. C. She was ar
rested in company with AL Marks
on a vice charge. She was hailed
into women's court and sentenced
to Bedford Reformatory. Her
child, Bonita, was taken from her
and awarded to the husband.
Mclaughlin and BiSchOff, both
of whom are now in New York,
denied that they had participated
in any "frame-up" such as she
had threatened to reveal.
Marks To Testify
&" Both Patrolman Mclaughlin
and Bischoff, and perhaps other
witnesses, were to be called to
testify today before the March
grand jury in the Bronx. Bischoff
Processes an eagerneSs to help the
authorities in every way he can.
Mclaughlin said he has nothing
to fear" He said he does not
even remember Miss Gordon. He
was in Bermuda on a vacation at
the time the woman was slain.
1T was reported that AL Marks,
the man with whom Miss Gordon
was arrested in 1923, was prepar-
ing to appear at the office OF
District Attorney Mclaughlin
with an alibi as to his where
abOuts on the night of the crime.
Bischoff told reporters he
would not claim the body OF his
former wife. She will be buried
in potter's field unless relatives
claim the body. She is said to
have left $4,000 to $4,000. Bisch-
off declared it was a coincidence
that his divorce was granted on
the day his wife was sentenced to
Bedford Reformatory, on March
IS, 1928, about 10 days after her
arrest.
Two Men Are Held
Patrolman Mclaughlin produced
q letter addressed to him, dated
January 10, 1881, recalling to him
chow you framed Bonita Bischoff
in 1928" and telling him she was
going to tell ALL before the vice
inquiry. The letter was signed
"B. F. B." Mclaughlin insisted
he had no idea who the sender
might be.
Meanwhile, two persons are be-
ing held as material witnesses.
They are John A. Radeloff, law
yer, and one of his clients, Sam
uel Cohen, an ex-convict. Rade-
loft was Miss Gordon's attorney.
The diaries of the slain woman
mentioned RadsIOff and Cohen
frequently, and in one instance
she wrote that there was one
man she feared-RadelOff. She
wrote that she feared RadelOff
might get Cohen cor some of his
henchmen" to do away with her.
Radeloff and Cohen both deny
any knowledge Of the crime. They
are in custody under $4,000 bail
each.
TOWN HAS QUIET YEAR
SANDISFIELD, Mass, March 2
uNSO.-One marriage, eight