The Semi-weekly leader., 1921-12-31
ROBT. D. MORETON IS
KILLED AT QUENTIN
Shot Down by Engineer at Ear
ly Morning HOur-Slay-
er Makes Escape.

This community was profoundly
shocked early last Saturday morning
the day before Christmas upon
receiving the news of the death OF
Mr.. Robert d. Moreton. who had
spent his entire life in this commun-
ity. Mr.. Moreton had left his Brook
haven home with his wife and others
in his car only the day before, his
little family intending to return for
him to bring him back home for the
Christmas holidays on the day he
died.
Before leaving, Mr.. Moreton in an
ticipation of the joyous Yale-tide,
had brought in Christmas trees and
holly not only for his own household
but for tiny relatives who lived near,
and also for the parental home on
South Jackson-one of the land
marks of our community-where
Capt. A. e. Moreton, the honored
father, now 81 years of age, had just
begun to give assurance of recovery
from a long and critical detection
from his usual health which had been
source of anxiety to every member
of his family. This grateful fact
caused the devoted son, who so sud
denly passed, to say in his happiest
mood among his loved ones here,
more than once, and again only a
few moments before the death-deal-
ing weapon struck him down.:
We're going to have the happiest
Christmas we've ever had"
With this joyous thought upper
most last Saturday morning Mr..
Moreton was leisurely occupying a
rocking chair on the verandah of the
hotel at Quentin, talking with Supt
A. w. Hart Of the big mill, at about
six o'clock, unmindful of everything
in life but it's happiness and its
prospects. Suddenly and without
warning the joyous anticipation ex-
pressed was changed with the awful
shock that came like a thunderbolt
out of a clear sky-the lips that had
smiled the moment before at thought
of fathers return to health and the
beloved home-circle, said only
"Buck, I'm shot through and through
tell my wife-tell SAM"
Mr.. Moreton was among the finest
representatives of physical manhood
anywhere-ruddy and erect he ex-
pressed vigor and strength in every
movement. Death and the grave
seemed far removed in the presence
of man so full of the joy of living.
He was in the prime Of life-just AZ
and was the good right arm Of his
brother, Mr.. s. q. Mo1ssans the Eell
known Iumbernlan,
The elder brother 81 bn aead
manager who wax a sS 5t.e l usf0ent
of the Central Lumbsf Co, with ev-
cry detail Of the big lumber business
over which he had control, so that
when the death message reached the
bereft homes here, Mr.. Moreton
mourned not only the going of be-
loved brother but that of an intimate
business associate upon whom he
leaned strongly in his large affairs.
Mr.. R. D. Moreton was general
manager of the branch mill of the
Central Lumber Co., located at Quen-
tin, about ten miles west of Brook
haven and had gone out to attend
to business as was his custom. He
had had some trouble the day before
with John Beavers, an engineer, a.
bout his work. Beavers is reported
to have drawn his pistol at the time
Mr.. Moreton Immediately covering
him. Later the two with other men
met and drank coca-cola together in
the Quentin drug store and the mat
ter was thought to be ended. How
(Continuad ON Hrd. nage.)