The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-09-12
Maud Moore, Arrested in Cave,
Admits Killing Man She
Was Riding With
CLAIMS HE ATTACKED HER
Girl Says Harth Dragged Her
From Car By Her Hair and
That She Shot Him With His
Own Pistol.

Knoxville, Tenn, Sept. 11--Maud
Moore, who shot and instantly killed
Leroy Harth, prominent real estate
man and president of motor car
company, on the Kingston Pike nea
Bearden late Monday night, was locat
ed in n cave about two miles from
the end OF the Sewer River Pike car
placed under arrest by city detec-
tives. She confessed to the killing
as soon as she was arrested.
When interviewed in her cell in
the city Jail, Miss Moore discussed
the details of the killing freely and
did not hesitate in saying tha. she
had fired the shot which caused the
death of Mr.. Harth, but stated that
he had attempted to attack her and
it was either his life or her honor.
According to the girls story, she
has known Mr.. Harth for nearly five
years but had never been out with
him before. although he had repeat
edly asked her to go driving with
him.
Il met Mr.. Harth on the street
several days ago and told him that
/ had secured job as a stenographer
with firm in Maryville and intended
to go there Monday afternoon" Miss
Moore stated. "He insisted on driv-
ing me there in his car Monday night
and / told him that i would consider
it and telephone him Monday after
loon.
After checking my baggage Mon
day afternoon, telephoned him that
i would meet him in front of the Y.
w. c. A. at $50 that night, which 1
did. When the car pulled up, there
was a strange man in it and Roy
asked me If could find companion
for him. We drove out to the home
OF Clara Harris. but found that She
had gone to Virginia
Ride Into Country.
From there we drove back to the
Farragut Hotel and the other man got
out OF the car. He and Roy held a
II.
i thought he was going to take mo to
Maryville and return to fill an ap-
pointment with the man we left at the
Farragut Hotel. but when we started
out on the Kingston Pike. l asked for
an explanation. In return he said we
would drive around little first.
II insisted that he turn the car
around and go back or let me out. He
refused to do this, pulled out bottle
OF whiskey from somewhere and
asked me If l wanted a drink. / re-
fused, saying that 1 never drank. He
then took drink from the bottle him
self.
=" We passed through Bearden GO
ing several miles beyond. He turned
the car around and started back to
town. We had gone about half a mile
when he stopped the car and demand
ed that I get out I told him that
would not do II and he threatened
me.
He jumped out OF the car and
snatched me out over the steering
wheel and gear levers by the hair and
one arm" He then knocked me down
and kicked at me. In the scuffle. the
pistol fell out OF his pocket and we
both grabbed for 1t. / reached it first
and fired as he rushed at me. was
getting up from the ground when II
fired
II never heard him scream and am
sure did not. although was excited
and may have done it. He ran down
the road toward town as soon as he
was shot and I did not know I had
killed him until / read the story this
morning"
Tried to Escape.
Following the shooting. Miss Moore
stated that she got into the car and
tried to start II with the intention of i
getting away from the scene as quick
ly as possible. but the self starter
seemed 10 be out of order. She said
that she did not know how badly
hurt the man was. Upon reaching
Knoxville, the girl, who is small of