The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-19
SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY
DORA ARNOLD SHOOTS l.. R. BECK
LEY, A NEW YORK LAWYER.
Latter May Recover, but the Woman
the Victim and His AssaiIant.

NEW YORK, March 1S.-Lafayette r.
Beckley, a lawyer, was shot in the stomach
and seriously wounded to-day by Dora Arm
old. The shooting took place in the office
of Mr.. Beckley Mrs. Arnold, who is about
thirty years of age, is a divorced woman,
and came to this city from the West nine
years ago. She alleges that Beckley, who
has a family, with whom he lives in Brook
Ign, has been supporting her since she came
to this city. Latterly, according to Mrs.
Arnold's statement Reckley has refused to
contribute to her support and this fact she
assigns as Der reason for shooting him.
Mrs. Arnold was arrested. Beckleys recov-
cry is probable.
William ]. Morgan, who occupied the
office with Beckley, had gone into an adj
joining room when Mrs. Arnold entered. He
heard Mrs. Arnold and Beckley quarreling
and then q pistol shot, after which Beck
ley threw open the door between the two
rooms and gasped: She's killed me. Catch
her. She got away down the elevator"
Morgan assisted Beckley to a lounge, and
telling the office boy to summon ambu-
lance, started after the woman. Mrs. Ar
mold had already succeeded in reaching the
street Morgan caught sight of the woman,
and calling policeman caused her arrest
She. was taken back to the Office where
had been taken away Mr.. Beckley told his
partner Of the shooting, but said nothing of
the causes that led up to it.
When / heard Mrs Arnold wanted to see
me- he said Il sent away the other woman
who had been in my office and sent the
office boy out of the room. Mrs. Arnold took
a chair facing me. She had fur boa around
her neck and carried a muff in her hand.
These prevented me seeing what she was
doing with her hands. have had trouble
with her for months, and she has threatened
me before, but when she in to-day she
was very quiet and seemed to have no idea
OF harmlng me. certainly had no idea my
life was in danger. We had been talking for
a few minutes, when she became excited
and began TO threaten me. AT the same
right hand in her muff. This action seemed
suspicious to me, and L wondered what she
was up to. Just then 1 heard a faint click
like the cooking of a revolver inside her
mufi.
What have you got there?' asked.
"As | said this she got up and stood in
front of me and drew a revolver from her
muff. Before 1 could get out of my chair
or move TO defend myself she bad pushed
the muzZle of the weapon against my adj
domen and fired. 1 felt the bullet strike
me, but j saw that she was trying to Shoot
again, and decided to try and prevent it
at all hazards. So 1 caught her by the
shoulder and tried to take the weapon
away from her Before L could do this she
had succeeded in cooking the revolver and
had fired again. This second shot struck
me in the shoulder AS she raised her hand
to fire this shot L seized the revolver, and
before she could cock the weapon again l
had wrenched it from her hand"
Al the police station to which Mrs. Ar
mold was taken after the shooting the
woman said: My name is Dora Eagleson,
but | have been known as Dora Arnold.
hope l have killed him. l was born in Buff
falo thirty years ago., she continued.
My parents came from Devonshire, Eng
land l support myself by keeping board
erS."
what made you shoot him?" asked the
sergeant.
because that man ruined me body and
SOUL" she replied. HE robbed me of my
money, he robbed me of my husband. After
nine years l found out the other day that
this man Beckley had married another
woman. l went up there and asked him
what he intended to do. He said nothing,
and l told him he would regret it. So to-
day I went there and shot him. He was
cruel" she continued. Il hope he is dead:
Nine years ago my husband and myself
lived in Michigan We decided to move
here, and 1 came on while he stayed be-
hind to dispose of some property. To sup
port myself 1 opened a boarding house and
Beckley took room. We gradually became
friendly. He was married a year ago. but
he kept me in ignorance of it right along.
heard only by accident that he was mar
ried for he never intended l should know"
The womans principal anxiety was to
discover whether the man was dead, and
she frequently expressed hope that he
was.