The Paducah evening sun., 1909-04-07
LAMOORElSAYSlHE
Was THREATENED
and WAS FEARFUL
- ~.--'------~v--vv,S.. ~-.,,.y.,..,..- -
That is Why He Shot and Kill
Debs Masoniat His
Saloon,
Eyewitnesses Observed No
Quarrel In Progress.
ARGUMENTS THIS AFTERNOON

Arguments are being made this
Isfternoon IN the preliminary trial Of
Pat Lamoore, who Is charged with
1.-THE murder of Debs Mason. The de-
fense sought to prove that Lamoore's
life was in danger by previous threats
of Mason, and sought to Justify the
shooting bv the movement Of Mason
to his pocket. The question of bail
is the main question before Police
Judge d. A. Cross.
For the first time Lamoore told his
story this morning. When placed on
the stand he gave detailed story OF
the trouble he and Mason had, and
of the cutting affair about eighteen
months ago. He said that this diff
Guilty had been patched up. and they
had shaken hands aGd agreed to D:
friends. He said that Mason went. to
his saloon, drank, and frequently be-
came boisterous. and on frequent oc-
casions he had ordered him out.
Last Friday, Lamoore said, Mason
was in his saloon several times, and
during the day friends had warned
him to be on the watch, as Mason
was going to get him. Lamoore said
about IL o'clock in the morning he
left the saloon and went to his room
above the bar to avoid trouble with
Mason. About 3 O'Clock he went
down from his room, and he said that
later Mason walked through the sa-
loon without saying anything to any
one.
The last entrance of Mason to the
saloon was about $3.50, O'Clock, and
after walking into The main part OF
the saloon he stood at the bar. La
moore said he asked Mason what be
would have, when an oath was rip
cpd out. and he said "Tll show you
what I'll have" With this, Lamoore
alleges, Mason reached to his pocket.
Without losing a second, Lamoore
grabbed from sink under the bar, a
pistol, that he purchased ten months
ago. and fired three shots in rapid
succession. He said he saw Mason
fall to HIS hands and knees. and then
he ran out behind the bar to see what
had become OF Mason. and to find out
whether the shots had killed him.
After seeing Mason In the alley, he
says, he returned behind the bar.
Cross-Examined.
Lamoore was submitted to a severe
cross-exam:Iation by the attorneys
for the commonwealth. Particular
lly where Lamoore said he left the
saloon to prevent trouble was aired.
Lamoore said he had dronk only a
few drinks that day.
Patrolman Aaron Hurley was in
troduced by the defense, and Hurley
swore that he had heard Mason make
threats on the life OF Lamoore, and
that he had exhibited the knife with
which he cut Lamoore. On cross-ex-
animation Patrolman Hurley admit
ted he never secured a bench warrant
for Mason, and said tho only thing
he did was 10 warn Lamoore. He
said he carried Mason away from La
rnoore's saloon frequently to avoid
any trouble, owing to the bad feel
ling.
Will Shearer was introduced. and
said he saw Mason with pistol and
a bottle of whisky. and that Mason
Threatened TO kill Lamoore. James
lWhitledge testified that he had heard
Mason make threats on the life of
Lamoore.
Lamoore said Mason stabbed him
about fifteen months ago In the sa-
loon, Third and Norton streets, where
the killing took place. At that time
he said he never had trouble with
Mason. who was drunk and broke
Into the general conversation in the
rear, concluding by catching Lamoore
and slashing him In the face, neck
land body.
He said Mason left. but wrote to
him, acknowledging the fault, and
Isaying he was not afraid to return.
lThey patched up peace on Mason's re-
turn and Mason became regular Gus
1 ltomer at the saloon, often helping
himself when drunk TO beer and soup
without offering to pay for them. La
moore said he had requested Mason
to keep out of the place.
u Other Witnesses.
; Deputy Coroner Fred Roth de-
! scrlbed the wounds OF Mason.
n Bernie Augustus and Fred Berger
were in the rear room and heard
} Inothing until the shots. Pete Dunn
! land charles King were standing at
line bar talking and heard no quarrel.
luntil they heard the shots. King had
walked to the door, leading into the
hack room when the shot was fred.
II and less than a minute before had
Ipassed Mason and Lamoore. who were