The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-14
shoots DIVORCED
/ W|FE'S FRIEND;
/ KILLS SELF
prrin Groat Meets Former Spouse
and A. J. Mcleod On Street and
Opens Fire, Then Sends Bullet
Into His Own Brain.
Woman Escapes BY Running Into
Store, But Her Companion Is
Seriously Wounded.

Jealousy and revenge were the mo
Ives behind an attempted double muir
Ter and suicide at No. 40S1a Crane
Siver-ave.. about $50 o'clock, Tues
lay night. Orrin Groat, a piano agen
rom Port Huron. who did all thu
nooting. IL dead as q result OF a self
nhicted bullet wound through the
Prain. A. j. Mcleod "a boarder In
Mrs. Greats home at the Grand River
i've. address, is In st. Mays Hospital
with serious wound in his left breast
which narrowly missed his heart, but
he house surgeons say his chances
FOR recovery are good.
Groat also shot at the woman as
ne fed into a nearby meat market
but missed her. Groat and his wife
bad been divorced since last June.
Mrs. Groat and Mcleod were wholly
hnprepared for the attack. Groai
fame from Port Huron late Tuesday
afternoon, and at once started ont e
Ind his former wife. He learned that
he was living somewhere on Crane
2iver-ave. He started 10 walk out
hat thoroughfare and in front of NO
JOSH. found his 7-year-old son. Law
renee, sitting on the steps. The boy
led the way TO the apartments up
stairs. Two elder sons, Arthur and
Vivian, returned from work present
y. and the father chatted with then
or some time while awaiting the ar
Fival or Mrs. Groat.
Shortly before the shooting. Groa,
vent downstairs and waited on the
|idewalk outside the building Pres
bntly he saw his former wife and Nc
cod coming down the street and as
hey drew near he pulled his revolver
Ind opened fire on the pair without
he slightest warning. One bullet
razed McLeod's scalp. The second
pierced his chest, and he dropped tc
he ground. After firing at his wife
Ind missing her. Groat placed the
weapon to his right temple and fired
man passing In an auto rushed hin
toward st. Mary's hospital, but Groat
was dead when the institution was
reached.
Mcleod was hurried AWAY i'm ~
ambulance and. at his request, Mrs
3roat accompanied him. All her SYM
Dathies were for the wounded man
There were no tears for the dead hus
band.
HE wrecked my life" said Mrs
3roat. "He left the support OF my
four boys entirely TO me aud on tor
BIZ that abused me shamefully.
ktod all this until he sank so low
n the moral scale that | was com
bAiled to leave him for decency',
lake. NV eldest boy, Earl. who IL
H. IL
money to secure divorce. and hat
ho difficuIty In getting decree. viii
The custody OF the children.
"Mr. Mcleod was simply boarde'
n my home. He Is married mar
Ind think his wife lives in Sault Ste
Marie. think a great deal OF him
but only as a friend. He has beer
very kind to me and my boys. II
Port Huron he bought shoes for TIE
children and coal to keep us warm
but Il was with my husbands con
sent. Mr.. Groat had no excuse FOL
3hooting him"
While his wounds were helms
dressed in the hospital Mcleod re
erred to Groat as the first HUSBAND
u nv wife" Later he denied that ht
md Mrs. Groat were married, but sait
they expected to be soon. According
% advices from Port Huron. Mcleod
llready had been divorced from his
wife. He Is a tailor. Groat, IL is sale
h Port Huron. had been brooding ovei
Ifs family troubles for some Anne.
The Greats are well-known In Por'
huron and Memphis, Mich. Both Mr.
Ind Mrs. Groat were born I'm the lat
er place and Groat had been living
With his mother there since his wife
obtained her divorce. Groat and his
bows were all unsteady inclined. They
bnce had an orchestra known as THE
3roat Family"
Two of the sons, Arthur and Vivian
we're witnesses to part OF the tragedy
they heard the first shots and rar
downstairs to see. what the trouble
vas. They arrived just in time tc
lee their father place the revolver t
IFS head and pull the trigger.