The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-24
WILD SCENE AT A HOTEL
Miss Buckley's Two Escorts Wounded
Her Dress Pierced.
BULLETS FOLLOWED AToRRENT OF ABUSE
Moulton Overpowered and Arrested Was He
Jealous or Simply Crazad by Morphine?
He Has If Late Eeen Living
by SwindIing.
(By the Associated Press. }


tional shooting took place early this
morning in the Rathskellar of the Pabst
Hotel, corner Broadway and And street.
Robert Haden Moulton, young ex-stu-
dent of architecture and more recently
a man about town, wanted by the police
for the passing of bogus checks, was the
assailant, young women now playing in
the melo-drama, THE Price of Peace at
the Broadway Theatre was the target at
which he shot and Alexander Dingwall,
manager OF that theatre was the victim.
Dingwall is now in the Roosevelt Hospi-
tai with bullet in his back. His wound
is not a dangerous one.
The accounts of the affair vary to a
considerable degree. The most accredi-
ted version was that Miss May Buckley
with Mr.. Dingwall, John D. Leffingwell
and Miss Buckleys aunt were sitting in
a booth, known to the frequenters Of the
cellar as the Officers quarters" when
Moulton, who had been drinking or par
taking of morphine, or both, appeared
before them and began to abuse the
party and to use profane language, his
insults being irected largely toward the
actress.
His words were resented, and he whip
ped out a 32-calbre revolver and began
to discharge it. He fired five shots in ALL
only four of which took effect in any
quarter. Only one did any damage, the
shot which pierced Mr.. Dingwall's back.
The cellar was in an uproar in mo-
ment. Guests and walters ran toward
Moulton, women screamed, and the man
ager and the detective of the hotel soon
overpowered the Infatuated man.
OF the five shots fired by Moulton, the
first penetrated the sleeve of Mr.. LET
fingwell's coat, just grazing his left fore
arm. The skin was not broken. The
second shot passed along the front Of
Mr. Dingwall's vest, cutting the cloth
for an inch or two. The third shot
struck Dingwall in the feshy part of the
back on the left side as he rose from
his chair. The fourth shot passed through
Miss Buckleys dress, being DETECTED from
it's intended course by blow from Mr..
Leffngwell in an effort to knock the re-
volver out of the would-De assassn's
hand The last shot went wild.
The motive for the shooting is not very
clear 1t was believed at first the Moul-
ton was suffering a bad case OF infatua-
ton and jealousy either for Miss Buck
lev or for Miss Minnie Seligman, of the
same company, and that he mistook Miss
Buckley for Miss Selgman when he saw
her in the Rathskeller. subsequently
when the testimony of numerous wit
nesses could be secured il became appar-
ent that Moultcn was suffering so badly
from drugs or alcoholic stimulation, or
both that he had no fixed idea in firing
the shots
On Thursday night Moulton occupied a
box at the Broadway Theatre, purchas-
ing six tickets, only one of which he used.
His actions at the theatre attracted at
tention both in the audience and on the
stage.
After leaving the theatre, Moulton was
seen to take number of drinks in Car
| by's saloon. When he was arrested Il lot
| tie partly filled with half grain sulphate
| of morphine tablets and bottle nearly
! full of LIQUID solution of morphine were
| found in his pockets. While waiting to
| be arraigned in the West Side court. he
1 SIdl0u ludt lie Hdu par CchSn II66ly VI
| these drugs and gave this as an excuse
| for his conduct.
Moulton said that his home was in
| Springfield Tennessee, and that he had
| been for three years student of archi-
| lecture at Columbia College. He said that
| he remembered going to the theatre, but
| recalled nothing after the curtain rose
| on the second act He denied having
| known Miss Seligman He was held in
| $1,000 bail and his examination was set
| for Monday.
Dingwall's friends who saw him at the
hospital tonight said his condition was not
| serious and that he would be out in a
| few days.
After Moulton had been locked up, De-
tective Traynor said he had been looking
! for Moulton since February 9Th. On that
| date, he said, Moulton called upon DR.
| James E. Newcomb, of this city and had
! him cash a check for $50. DR.. Newcomb
| Detective Traynor said, has received a
| number of letters from Chicago, Sing Sing
| Elmira, Boston and Buffalo, saying that
| Moulton had engaged in swindling opera
/ lions in the cities named where he had
secured sums ranging from $50 to S175
| The detective said he would arrest Moul-
| ton on these charges if he should free
| himself of his present trouble. 1t is
! claimed by the police that Moulton has