The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-11
One of Leavenworth's Wealth
lest Men Badly Wounded.
Crawford Moore Shoots at Him
Four Times.
HIS WIFE THE CAUSE.
Laing's and Mrs. Moore's Names
Unpleasantly Connected.
The Husband Regrets He Did
Not Kill Laing.

LEAvENwoRTH, Kan, Nov. 1L-At
1915 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
Major John NJ. Laing, one of the most
prominent citizens of Leavenworth,
was shot by Crawford Moore, young
married man, and very seriously
wounded
The shooting took place at the en-
trance to Major Laing's Office in the
Laing building on Fourth street, and
was witnessed by a large number of
people. Four shots were fred by
Moore in quick succession. At the
first fire the major started to run up
the stairway leading to his office and
his assailant coolly fired three shots at
his fleeing victim. The third shot
caused the major to fall, but he quick
" recovered himself and continued his
retreat.
Every ball penetrated his clothing,
which, upon examination, disclosed
thirteen separate bullet holes, yet
only one ball struck Major Laing's
body. This one took effect in the rear
and fleshy part of the right thigh, pen
etrating the limb without striking the
bone. It ranged upward and came
out at the right groin. While not nee
essarily fatal wound, it is neverthe-
less very serious one.
Immediately after doing the shoot
ing Moore proceeded, pistol in hand,
to the police station and gave himself
up, with the remark: 81 guess l have
killed man down there. Here is the
gun I die it with. You can lock me
up" He was placed in the city Jail.
The shooting was not wholly a sur
prise, as the names of Major Lang and
Mrs. Moore, wife of the assailant, have
been unpleasantly connected by rumor
for several years.
At the jail Mr.. Moore said:
81 don't care to talk about the af
fair at all. 1 will not say anything.
Isn't he dead?"
When told that his victim was not
dead, he replied; Its not possible
that 1 missed that man. When I draw
gun and turn it loose hit my mark.
The community will stand by me. l
don't see how 1 could fail to kill him.
He is Splinter, you can say that
much, but don't care to talk further
about the case"
He did talk a good deal more about
the case. but refused even to intimate
that the relations between Major
Laing and Mrs. Moore prompted the
shooting. II won't say anything about
that he declared. IF he is killed,
everything will come out; or if he is
hurt, everything will come out at the
trial.
Don't you regret your action?"
1.-The devil a regret l have; l did not
go into this thing to have regrets, but
if l have one, it is the regret that 1
did not kill him outright .
Mrs. Moore refused point blank to
talk about the matter.
Major Laing could not be seen.
Crawford Moore is a machinist by
trade, and is now employed by the
Great Western manufacturing works,
of Leavenworth.
Major J. M. Laing is reputed to be
the wealthiest man in LeavenwOrth.
He is principal stakeholder in the
Home-Riverside coal mines, a director
in the Manufacturers National bank
and perhaps the largest holder of
realty in LeavenwOrth.
At o'clock last evening Dr. James
A. Lane, who dressed the wound of
Major Laing, pronounced it to be a
decidedly dangerous one.
Crawford Moore is about 80 years of
age and the son of Captain Crawford
Moore of TonganOxie, and of highly
respectable family. Mrs. Moore, be-
fore her marriage was the daughter
of farmer named Cheatwood, resid-
ing in Paramount township. She is
about the same age as her husband.
Major Laing stated after the shoot
ing that Moore wanted too much
money