The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-10
CUNMAN shot DEAD
AS CAMERAS CLICK
AT ASSASSINATION
Consplrator in Proposed Murder
Of Wealthy Man 'SqueaIs'
and Trap Is Laid
ESTRANGED WIFE PL0TTER
Intended Victim Shoots Attack.
Or Dead; Two Other Gang
sters Captured Later

Detroit, Jan. 1O-(AP)-A crime
that cameras captured was commit
ted in suburban Wyandotte last
night when q gunman was slain and
an officer critically wounded during
. spectacular, but unsuccessful, at
tempt to assassinate Ralph A. Wood,
head Of the Wood Construction Com
pany.
Newspapermen and photographers,
informed with police that an ef-
fort was to be made upon Woods
life, were hidden with officers about
the construction company chiefs Of
flee when the attempted assault took
place. They saw . man advance up
on Wood with appraised blackjack
and they saw Wood and one Of the
officers fire almost simultaneously
dropping the attacker.
Less than m hour later Woods
estranged wife, Grace, 48 years old,
was arrested. She was found i'll in
bed at her home and was taken to
the city detention hospital. OFF,
GERS sought to question her concern
ing the story Of one Of the plotters
that she had instigated the attempt
upon her husbands life SO that she
might inherit his estate, said to be
large, and become beneficiary Of a
100000 life insurance policy.
Early today Taylor Pierce and
William Thompson, each 22 years
old, were arrested % the two who
escaped during the. gun fight. be.
tween police and the Wood assail-
ants. Shortly afterward their auto
mobile was found, marked with many
bullet .,holes. ..S' ,a IL
i They said the dead man was AM
bross Hsesefty.
Coaspirator Squeals. i
Police learned Of the plot through
Cecil Hoh,. one Of the sconspirators
who told Roy Smith, chief Of police
Of Riverview,.a Detroit suburb, that
Mrs. Wood had paid = premium on
his $126, 900 insurance policy in re-
turn for his, promise to assist in the
plot. 3. t rs
The plan, Holt said, was. to lure
Wood to the doorway of his office,
beat him unconscious, carry him to
an isolated spot to be- killed, and
leave the body with narcotics stuffed
in his pockets 80 police, when they
found it, might think Wood had been
killed as the. result Of dope feud.
Police Of Detroit, Riverview and
Wyandotte, deputy sheriffs, state
police and newspapermen surrounded
the isolated frame structure which
houses the construction company Of
(ices late yesterday afternoon to
await the coming Of the conspira-
lors..
At 10 o'clock two men crept |
through the heavy shrubbery in front |
of the office building. One, Hag-
gerty, hid behind IN ornamental urn
beside the office door. The other |
was Holt who in accordance with the
plot, stepped to the door and called
Wood.
Attacker Shot Dead.
AS Wood stepped onto the porch |
The concealed man leaped toward |
him with lifted blackjack. At the
same instant Wood, who has but one
arm, fired. Haggerty fell dead. Al
The shot sounded q car, occupied by |
TWO men, drove to the walk leading |
10 the office and its occupants |
opened fire upon the group on the |
porch. : |
immediately q fusillade of shots
BURST from the shadowy shrubbsry |
Ind the car, with windshield shat
;ered, sped away.
Mrs. Wood was in bed when state
,olice entered her home. She said |
he was ill with influenza but she
vas almost completely dressed and
he officers took her to tho hospital
or examination.
Wood had filed suit for divorce
,ut Tuesday ordered the suit with
lrAWn.
Police said he had settled $50, 900
ash, two large houses and 12 other
,isces Of city property on Mrs.
Wood pending outcome Of the d.
'orce action.