The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1922-03-11
DEPLORABLE TRAGEDY ACROSS
BAY FROM BAY ST. LOUIS.

Killing Back OF Pass Christian
-Ruddock Charges Mooi With
Sending Black Hand Letter.
News reached Bay st. Louis Thurs
5ay morning that a killing had oc-
Cured across bay st. Louis. 1t was
learned that man named Mooi. the
.eeper of the Irby place, at the
mouth of Wolfe river, had been shot
and killed by a man named Ruddock.
The Pass Christian Beacon of to-
days date gives the following ac-
count of the tragedy, deplorable in
the extreme. 1t says:
ga deplorable tragedy occurred
just north of the city limits on We'd
nesday evening last about 6 o'clock,
when Nick Mooi entered the gate of
the home of Ruddock on Clark ST.,
carrying in one hand an jar of milk
and in the other can of syrup,
which he was bringing to the Rud-
dock family, as he had on numerous
occasions brought milk and other
gifts to the house. so it is generally
stated. Mooi drove up in his auto
truck to the gate and proceeded in
the Ruddock yard and with both
hands engaged in carrying the milk
and syrup Ruddock was in the
house and from behind screen door
in the front of the house he shot
Mooi without warning, using dou-
BILE barrel shot gun, loaded with tur-
key shot, striking his victim with the
full load about the mouth and neck,
tearing away large portion of the
mans face. Mooi falling forward
dead almost instantly.
Immediately after the killing Rud-
dock came to town and gave him
self up admitting the killing,
and apparently feeling justified in
his act.
He was taken to the county Jail
at Gulfport to await preliminary
trial.
Ruddock. it is reported, suspected
Mooi Of being the author Of an al
legged Klu Klux letter, which he
claims to have received a few days
ago, in which he (Ruddock) was
warned to leave this vicinity under
threat of dire punishment. On Tues
day RRddock filed charges against
Mooi for the alleged threat, but the
papers had never been served, and
it is said Mooi was not aware that
any papers had been served, and it
is said Mooi was not aware that any
papers had been issued, nor had any
reason to suspect an attack. as he
and his family and the Ruddock fam
lily were apparently close friends and
frequent visitors to each others
homes.
The Ruddock family has been
residents of this city for the past Is
years and Ruddock has never been
in any serious trouble. He has a
wife and five small children and ap-
peared to be an industrious man.
Nick Mooi came to Pass Christian
about Is years ago also. He was a
hard working, industrious man, and
for a long number of years he was
in the employ of DR.. Parham, and
for the past five years has been in
charge of W. R. Irby's place on Wolf
River. His wife died about a year
ago leaving an infant baby and five
other small children. By all who
knew Mooi he was regarded as a
good man; never in any trouble, and
had splendid reputation for homes
ty. Since the tragedy there are
many rumors for its cause, the au-
thenticity of which remains to be
established in the trial. C. B. Adam
has been retained by Ruddock to de-
fend him, but no time has been as
yet fixed for the preliminary exam
ination.
Mr.. Mooi's funeral took place from
the Methodist church on Thursday
afternoon at $3.50, the services being
conducted by the Rev. Mr.. Roberts
and the remains were inferred in
Live Oak Cemetery.