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VOL II.
THE DAILY COOS BAY TIMES, MARSHFIELD, OREGON, MONDAY, MAY 11, 1908.
No. 262.
I
isTs
. GORDON IS SHOT AN
Coos Bay's "Woman of Mystery" Lies Dying at -General
Hospital While Assailant Is In City Jail Pending Action
Of Grand Jury
E. S. GORDON ARRIVED TODAY
Woman Has Had Meteoric Career and Been Involved in Sen
sational Escapades Very Little Known Here of Early
Career or History.
At the General hospital this
afternoon, it uns stated that
Mrs. Goidon was resting easier.
Little hope is held out for her
recovery. She is conscious and
rational.
Mrs. E. S. Gordon of North Bend,
"Tho woman of mystery on Coos
Bay," was shot and thought to bo
fatally wounded on tho launch Bo
nita, at its moorings nt the O'Kelly
offices, by Holland Anderson, a bar
tender, at midnight Saturday. Mrs.
Gordon Is now at tho General hos
pital hovering between life and
deatli and Anderson is in the city
jail.
Tho entire affair is clouded In
mystery, mystery almost as deep as
that which clothes tho past of tho
woman in the case. Widely differ
ent tales of the shooting and the
causes that lead up to it are told
by Anderson and Mrs. Gordon and
to tho wild rumors that have been
circulated by those who were on
the ground soon after tho affray
thcro is no end.
The strange career of Mrs. Gor
don, Bertha E. Leach or whatever
her name may be, for sho has borne
several, adds to tho interest that
naturally centers in tho tragedy. An
adventuress of a strange type, her
mode of living, her connection with
E. S. Gordon, tho sensations attach
ed to her arrest on tho charge of
counterfeiting in Portland a few
years ago, the denouement of a
mock marriage at Vancouver in
which sho was alleged to have been
a figure and escapades in Marsh
field and North Bend, have served
to make her an extraordinary char
acter. All this has occurred in the
brief space of four or five years dur
ing which sho has been known to
Coos Bay. What marked the thirty
odd years of her life previous to
that, no one hero knows and on it
her lips are sealed even though she
has been apprised that death will
probably soon close them forever.
Humor has it that she is tho daugh
ter of a once prominent and wealthy
Spanish family of or near Oakland,
Cal., but that is mere rumor.
Who is E. S. Gates?
When told that tho injuries she
had received would probably prove
fatal within the course of a com
paratively few hours, she said that
sho supposed that sho might just as
well die now as at any other time.
Tho only wish sho expressed was
that she might livo to see E. S. Gor
don she insists that he is her hus
band and had a telegram sent to E.
S. Gates of San Francisco, appraising
him of her fate. Who E. S. Gates is,
she did not say.
Story of Shooting.
But all these things are but side
lights on the shooting of Saturday
night. About midnight, she and An
derson, who is known to most of
his associates and friends as "Ma
zook" boarded tho Bonita. Al
though together, it was' plain to tho
few who saw them board the little
craft that was soon to part for North
Bend, that they were estranged.
Loud and nngry words confirmed the
only interpretation that could bo
placed upon tho actions of tho two.
Suddenly a shot was fired by Ander
son when about ton feet from tho
woman and sho fell screaming on
tho deck. Anderson sprang from
tho boat and ran back to tho Pull
man saloon where ho had been, em
ployed. Anderson says that ho shot In
self-defone, firing only whon ho saw
that the woman was about to fire
upon him. Mrs. Gordon says that
sho had made no move to shoot, had
merely threatened Anderson and
that the shooting came as a surprise
to her.
But one shot was fired. 3S-callbre
revolver was taken from Anderson.
WOUNDED BY HOLLAND
A 32-calIbro revolver, belonging to
Mrs. Gordon, was picked up on the
deck near where she fell immediately
after the shooting. Whether she had
the weapon in her hand or whether
It fell from her clothes is not known.
Anderson claiming sho had in her
hand and Mrs. Gordon that it was in
her pocket.
Wound is Severe.
Mrs. Gordon was taken at once to
tho General hospital where Dr. E.
Mlngus and several others worked
over her for several hours. She soon
regained consciousness, but as the bul
let had passed through the kidney,
liver and buried Itself 'in her body,
the physicians felt that the end must
bo near at hand and sent for Pro
secuting Attorney L. A. Llljeqvlst to
take her ante-mortem statement or
dying declaration. No tears, no ex
pressions of remorse or regret pass
ed the woman's lips when told what
her fate would probably be. Dis
playing a nerve and cool stoicism,
except as to a willingness to tell of
the affray, she was marvelled at
by those present.
Mrs. Gordon's Statement.
As near as can be gathered from
those present, the gist of her ante
mortem statement was as follows:
"I came to Marshfleld from North
Bond tills evening to meet Holland
Anderson who was to accompany me
to North Bend. Ho had 'rolled'
(robbed) me of $75 and I wanted
tho money back. I sent word to the
Pullman Bar and told him that he
had to pay back tho $75 he had
stolen from me and must come to
North Bend. We went to the boat
together. I made threats against
him in order to make him do the
right thing, but I did not make any
move to injure or kill him. When
on the deck of the Bonita and about
ten feet from me, he suddenly pulled
out u revolver and shot. I don't
know what made him do it as at
the time I did not make move to
wards him."
In addition to this, she told of her
acquaintance with Anderson and
some details of how she alleged he
had robbed and beaten her but the
details of her statements in this
connection are not obtainable.
Grand Jury Acts.
Her declarations concerning the
shooting were taken by a steno
grapher with Deputy District Attor
ney Llljeqvlst questioning her, but
Mr. Llljeqvlst would not give any
information concerning it until after
it has been presented to tho grand
jury or courts. The grand jury will
take it up today at Coquille.
Very shortly after the shooting,
Marshal J. W. Carter and Night
Watchman Walter Condron found
Anderson at tho Pullman bar and
placed him under arrest. Ho was
taken to the city jail where he re
mains pending the preliminary hear
ing. Tho full moment of tho situation
had scarcely dawned upon Anderson
late yesterday when seen by a Times
reporter. IIo appeared sort of dazed
by what had happened and told the
story as follows:
Anderson's Story.
"I don't know just how it hap
pened tho only clear recollection I
have of tho shooting is that I thought
sho was going to kill mo and I pull
ed the revolver which I always car
ry and shot. I turned and fled, fear
ing my shot went astray and that
sho might still got mo.
"I had been told by several that
Mrs. Gordon had threatened to kill
me, but I did not beliove it as I did
not know of any reason why she
should want to harm me. I barely
knew her and knew practically no
thing about hor. My acquaintance
dates from about a week ago when
an order came in from the dock for
two lemonades with 'sticks' In them.
I made the drinks took thom out.
ANDERSON HERE
i:. s. Gordon reaches
WOMAN'S BEDSIDE.
E. S. Gordon, whom Mrs. Gor
don claims to be her husband,
unexpectedly arrived in Miirsh
lield on tho steamship Alliance
from Portland this morning.
He was not aware of tho shoot
ing of Saturday night until ap
praised of it nt North Bend when
Tom James, who knew him,
told him of it.
Ho immediately went to tho
General hospital where he was
long In conference with tho dy
ing woman. What transpired is
not known. Sho had expressed
a hope to live to seo him.
Mr. Gordon could not be
readied by a Times represen
tative today nnd whether ho
could shed any light on the un
usual affair or wished to make
any statement concerning the
matter could not he ascertained.
Two women took them. One was
Mrs. Gordon to whom I was intro
duced. Tho next time I saw her was
when on May Gth, another fellow
and myself happened down around
the city hall and saw her in Jail.
She wanted to get out and go home.
The jailer told her that sho probably
would be allowed to go in the after
noon. I later learned that she had
been arrested for intoxication. That
afternoon, I got on a boat for North
Bend. Mrs. Gordon camo out and
got aboard. She was still under the
influence of liquor. She owed me $5
for drinks and Francis Gatens, who
runs one of the O'Kelly boats, $5 for
boat hire. She announced that she
was going to pay us and after u
search of her person found only a
$10 bill. We took it, Gatens and I
dividing tho money. When wo got
to North Bend, sho seemed more
under tho Influence of liquor than
when we started. I thought she might
get into trouble and offered to see
that she got home all right. She
agreed and we started for her home.
En route, she kept insisting that we
go to a restaurant and get some
thing to eat or that I take her to
a telephone ofllce so that she could
telephone to Portland. On account
of her condition, I wouldn't permit
her to do either. On reaching her
homo, we went around to tho back
door and she opened it. Then I left
her, she just stepping inside when I
turned away.
"I didn't seo her again until last
night. I was called to the back door
of the Pullman saloon. As I reach
ed It, a woman pushed a gun in my
face and said ' , I am going
to kill you.' I was surprised but
began to parley for time. 'Come
with me or I'll kill you here, she
said. 'Let me change my clothes and
I'll go with you, said I. 'No come
as you are.' She still held the gun
in my face and there was nothing
for me to do but go. We went over
to the boat and got aboard, she con
stantly holding tho gun on mo.
Aboard the boat, sho stepped over to
speak to someone. Sho suddenly
stopped talking and made a move
ment as thought she was going to
shoot, I grabbed my gun and shot
and fled.
"I nearly always carry a gun and
have had this one for sometime. I
regret it very much and realize the
awful position It puts mo in, but I
couldn't help It."
Anderson is about twenty-eight or
thirty years old. IIo has been in and
around Marshfleld for a year or two,
coming from Coquille where ho has
a couple of brothers.
Defendant in Suit.
Marshal J, W. Carter Saturday
served notice on Mrs. Gordon of a
civil action begun at San Francisco
for $G00.
The action was begun on an old
claim. Mrs. Gordon laughed whon
tho notice was read to hor.
E. S. Gordon.
E. S. Gordon's connection with tho
woman in tho case Is naturally
brought up again by tho develop
ments, Gordon who Is nbout sixty years
old now camo to Coos Bay in 1890
or 1891. He appeared to bo a man
of considerable money and was a
contractor. Ho bought somo prop
erty horo and soon aftorwards orect
ed the building on Front street, near
0," now known as tho Garfield hptel
block. Soon afterwards, ho loft.
Nothing was heard of him for years
but suddenly lu 1903, ho appeared
hero again. Tho woman who was
shot Saturday night was with him
and the public understood that they
were man and wife. After a short
stay hero, he began to invest In
North Bend property and soon nfter
wards had tho block on Sherman
avenue in North Bend, now partly
occupied by the North Bend club,
erected. Again he and the woman
went away. Soon afterwards, tho
San Francisco papers contained sen
sational stories of E. S. Gordon hav
ing charged a woman thero with
forging his name to checks or notes.
Following the charge, came the de
claration from Gordon that ho had
never married lidr and that she was
not his wife. She maintained that
she was.
The Mysterious Wedding.
The hearing dragged and soon
afterwards came the announcement
that E. S. Gordon and Bertha E.
Leach were married by a minister in
Vancouver. It came as a surprise
and Gordon's declaration that ho was
not the E. S. Gordon who had mar
ried Bertha E. Leach at Vancouver
caused a sensation, but was not a
surprise. Finally the minister who
had married the couple at Vancouver
was called in as a witness. Ho tes
tified that the E. S. Gordon ho had
married was not the E. S. Gordon of
Coos Bay and San Francisco.
Time sped on and again E. S. Gor
don and the woman in the case ap
peared on Coos Bay. Their career
here was rather stormy and when
the announcement came that Bertha
Leach-Gordon had obtained a divorce
from E. S. Gordon at Oregon City, it
was no surprise. About the same
time, Gordon became Involved In
trouble with North Bend men and
left this section.
Along about this time, came news
from Portland that Mrs. E. S. Gor
don or Bertha Leach had been ar
rested there on the charge of for
gery, United States secret service
men finding plates and paraphernalia
for making bogus coins In her pos
session. Sensational stories of her
connection with bad money men fol
lowed but at the trial, she was ac
quitted. Afterwards, she returned to North
Bend and has been residing there
practically continuously.
GUN WAS FEHRY"S.
According to authentic statements
today, the gun used by "Mnzook"
Anderson in shooting Mrs. Gordon
Saturday night belongs to Mr. Fer
ry of Herron and Ferry, proprietors
of the Pullman Bar. Owing to the
state officials, who will prosecute
Anderson for the offense, having In
structed all who are in any way In
connected with the affair to keep
silent until they tell their stories to
the grand jury, which will probably
take up the case today at Coquille,
the details of It cannot be learned.
It Is understood, however, that Mr.
Ferry states that ho took tho gun
to the Pullman Bar Saturday, it to
bo kept there as a safeguard against
troublo or holdups.
As Anderson stated that the gun
he used was his own and that he
always carried, tho story about tho
gun being Ferry's varies with it. It
was a 38-callbre weapon.
While tho grand jury will hoar the
evidence in tho case today, It 13 not
likely that an indictment will bo re
turned for a few days until Mrs.
Gordon's condition is known. The
charge In tho Indictment will na
turally be different if sho dies than if
she should recover.
Owing to the likelihood of any
early action by the grand jury, An
derson will probably not be arraign
ed before a justice of the peace.
TOM COOK DIES AT
NORTH BEND TODAY.
Well-Known Mini Succumbs Suddenly
at Mercy Hospital to Pneumonia.
Came From Napa, Cal.
Tom Cook, a well-known North
Bend man and proprietor of Cook's
saloon, died at Mercy hospital this
morning of pneumonia. Ho had been
ill about ten days. First It was
thought that his Illness was but n
severo case of the grip but pnou
monla developed and his condition
becamo critical two days ago.
Mr. Cook camo to Coos Bay from
Napa, Cal., about four years ago. Ho
was unmarried and about 33 years
old. His relatives at Napa have been
telegraphed concerning his death
and no funoral arrangements will bo
mado until they aro heard from.
Men's Rehearsal. Tho raon of tho
Messiah Chorus will meet at 8 o'clock
this evening at tho studio of Elmer
A. Todd for a rehearsal.
SERIES OF TORNADOES WIPE
n t rr rn nii aiinsas m u i n
UU DLVtHHL U LH1U H Ui
GOVERNMENT
II ON CASE
United Stales Deputy Marshal
Said to Have Visited Mrs-
Gordon Saturday.
Coupled with the Gordon-Anderson
shooting affair of Saturday night,
other matters havo developed which
may havo considerable bearing on
tho case, but which aro likewise
shrouded in mystery. Tho latter
story all hinges around tho fact that
United States secret servico men
havo had Mrs. Gordon under sur
veillance for sometimo and that Sat
urday, a deputy United States mar
shal visited her and had a long con
ference with tho woman.
Who the deputy marshal is, what
his mission was, and what was dev
eloped cannot bo discovered, author
ities, who know, refusing to discu&s
the matter other than admitting that
thero has been a deputy United
States marshal on Coos Bay within
the last few days and that ho did
have a conference with Mrs. Gordon.
Naturally, many conjectures havo
been made on tho possible interest
United States secret servico men
have in the case.
Investigate Counterfeiting.
According to unsubstantiated
statements, there havo been many
counterfeit $5 gold pieces placed in
circulation around Coos Bay during
recent months. No arrests havo been
made here for such an offense, and
It Is naturally presumed that, if
bogus coins wero in circulation hero,
that government men havo been
working on tho case.
Whether or not Mrs. Gordon's ac
quittal in Portland on the counter
feiting charge was satisfactory to tho
government official Is not known and
this perhaps may explain tho visit
of tho deputy United States marshal.
Owner of Building That Col
lapsed Explains His Connec
tion With It.
Marshfleld, Ore., May 9, 08.
Editor Coos Bay Times:
I regret that it becomes necessary
for mo to refer to tho unfortunate
collapse of tho building that was be
ing built for mo at tho corner of
Broadway and Washington streets,
but feel It my duty in answer to a
report that has been circulated to
the effect that I changed tho specifi
cations In a way that had a tendency
to weaken the structure. This re
port is absolutely untrue. I let the
contract for tho building to bo com
pleted according to certain specifica
tions furnished by tho contractor
and had no power to chango tho
building In any particular.
Thero was absolutely no changes
mado In tho plan or specifications
that would In any way affect tho
building. I know nothing myself
about tho construction of a building
but havo to depend entirely on tho
j judgment and honesty of tho con
tractor. I considered Mr. Cayou an
honest and capable man and paid but
little nttentlon to tho work, being
out of town tho most of tho time
during construction of tho building.
I havo no opinion to oxpress public
ly at this time as to tho causo of
tho collapse of tho building. I know
absolutely that I am not to blamo in
any pnrtlcular as I am prepared to
prove, whon tho proper tlmo comes,
that every foot of material provided
for In this building was approved
not only by the contractor but by
othor architects and contractors who
aro exports of wido experience. I
think ono Is almost dostltuto of fair
noss or charity who will form and
oxpross an opinion on tho basis of
rumors nnd street-talk without first
gottlng tho facts from somo reliable
sorrco,
I. H. SMITH.
10
Severe Storms Sweep Over
Southwestern Counties Near
Woodard.
SEVERAL KILLED
AND MANY HURT.
Villages Struck are Off Rail
road and Details of Disaster
Are Not Obtainable.
(By Associated Press.)
WOODWARD, Okla., May 11. A
succession of tornadoes swept over a
district lying twenty-five miles south
west, south and southeast of Wood
ward last night. Seven small isolated
villages oft tho railroad, and without
telegraphic communication, aro re
ported to havo been destroyed.
Many were Injured and several aro
reported killed.
The tornado covered four counties
and traversed 75 miles.
Tho towns damaged include Grand,
Arnett, Vici, Mutual, Collis, Little
Robe, Cestos, Nashville. Some of tho
towns mentioned are reported prac
tically wiped out and tho others
greatly damaged.
Marshfield Victor in Good
Game Sunday May Play
Here Next Week.
Marshfleld won from North Bend
yesterday afternoon on tho North
Bend grounds by a score of G to 3.
The game was one of tho best that
has been seen on tho North Bend
grounds In a long time, both teams
playing good, snappy ball. Tho
weather was a little chilly but a good
work out previous to tho regular
game got tho players in good condi
tion. Gaffney pitched for Marshfleld
with Lyons and Bryan playing be
hind tho bat. Wilson and Fielder,
was North Bend's battery. Gaffney
hold down North Bend to about threo
clean hits while tho Marshfifld ag
gregation found Wilson for seven
clean hits. Thero wero a few errors
but none of them wero very expen
sive, Thero was a fairly good turnout
despite tho Bandon excursion -
GRAND JURY' RETURNS TWO
MORE INDICTMENTS AGAINST
NORTH REND MAX OTHER
DOINGS IN COURT AT CO
QUILLE. COQUILLE, Ore, May 11. Tho
grand jury mado another report to
Judge Hamilton In tho circuit court
Saturday night. Two moro bills wero
returned against J. C. Wilcox, tho
North Bend danco hall proprietor.
Permitting gambling and selling
liquor to a minor are tho now char
ges. Other truo bills wero also re
turned but as tho parties aro not In
custody, tho Indlctmonts aro not
given out.
Judgo Hamilton reversed the deci
sion of tho lower court In tho caso
of Clias, II. Bruschko vs. Eugone
O'Connell for a real estato commis
sion. Tho lowor court decided In
Bruschko's favor.
Tho Jury In tho enso of Contractor
Small vs. tho Coos Bay, Roseburg and
Eastern Railway decided In favor cf
tho defendant. Tho suit was tho out
growth of allogod breach of contract
covering puymont for grading and
altorlng the railway lino.
NEWS, seo Goodrum's nd.
We are now prepared to storo
your goods. Bay Side Paint Co.,
North Bend.
DEFEAT NORTH
BEND 6 TO 3
t n a 1 1 I 9 nil ID I l 0 I A
B SULSJ uflLJUA
ON CRARGES