Evening star., 1937-06-12
TENANT KILLS SELF
==AFTER SHOOTING
LANDLORD IN ROW
Jobless Veteran Attacks
House Owner After
Rent Is Raised.
FIRED SHOT AS POLICE
TRIED TO SEIZE HIM
Story Of Encounter Told Officers
by Survivor of Encounter.
His Wounds Slight.

A landlord tenant controversy yes
terday afternoon over an increase in
rent resulted early today in the ten.
ants death, due to self inflicted gun
shot wounds.
An unemployed carpenter and
World War veteran. John w. Moore
81, Of 1921 Schley avenue, Boulevard
Heights, Nd, died in Casualty Hos
pital at Z am. more than IL hours
after he had emptied the charge OF
. 12-gauge shotgun into his chest
police said. as they sought to arrest
him for wounding his landlord,
The landlord, Charles E. Cornwell,
IS, Of 7l3 G street southeast. suffered
only superficial scalp wounds when
Moore fired on him with the shotgun.
Moore had been unemployed for
the last six months. Yesterday he
had been drinking heavily and ap-
parently brooding over his troubles,
according to Prince Georges County
Policeman Elon Tuner.
The day before Justice Of the Peace
Thomas Grifith Of Forestville, agent
for Cornwell. had notified Moore the
monthly rent on the five-room, one
story frame dwelling would be in
creased from $ls to $25.
Landlord Called.
Yesterday, Cornwen went to the
residence next door, which he also
owns, to do some repair work on the
back porch. Moore called him over
to the other house.
The tenant reached for his shot
gun. Cornwell said, exclaiming: I'm
going to kill you today-you raised
my rent"
Eyes" Cornwell said he replied,
"and they've raised my taxes"
The landlord tried to dissuade
Moore from shooting, he said, and then
turned OF leave. Cornwel had walked
about 10 feet down the front steps,
he added, when Moore opened fire.
While Cornwell was being taken to
Casualty Moore hed into the house
and barr:saded himself in the kitchen.
Turner and Richard Pearson of Col
mar Manor. a candidate for q place
on the Prince Georges force, answered
. call to police for help.
Forced Way Into House.
Outside the residence, Turner and
Pearson found Moore's wife. who had
been visiting friends down the street.
Unable to open the front door. Turner
forced entrance through q side window
and admitted Pearson and Mrs
Moore.
Mrs. Moore and I barely opened
the kitchen door," Turner said, and
Moore had the shotgun pointed di-
rectly on y. Why he didn't shoot, !
don't know. II he had, 1t would have
been too bad for both Of us. grabbed
her and ran out Of the house" Pear
son also left the house.
While Turner was In house across
the street, telephoning to Upper Marl-
boro police headquarters to request
Police Supt. Arthur Hepburn to bring
tear-gas bombs, he heard a loud re-
port from the Moore dwelling.
Il waited for the sergeant to arrive, "
Turner related, ''and when he came
We went to the kitchen window, ready
to throw In one Of the bombs. I looked
through the window and saw Moore
on the floor, wounded"
Tell my wife love her I did this
Tor her" Moore muttered to the officer
There was gaping wound in Moore's
chest, but he was able to talk. at the
hospital late yesterday.
According to Turner, the Moore:
have no children. and Mrs Moore hao
been the chief support Of the famil,
since her husband became unemployed
Cornwell was discharged from thu
hospital after receiving treatment 70,
buckShot wounds ON his head.