Clackamas-Multnomah County OR Archives News.....Fired Four Shots September 7, 1904 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com April 15, 2008, 10:33 am Morning Oregonian September 7, 1904 Gambler Fatally Wounds Woman In Oregon City Jealousy Is Given As Cause J.W.Lauth Objected To Attention Paid Mrs. Lenore B.Jones By An Engineer From Roseburg And Wanted Ring Returned Oregon City,Or.Sept.6-(Special)- Prompted by jealousy and the refusal of the woman to return hum a valuable diamond ring that he claimed as his own,G.W.Lauth this morning shot four times and probably fatally wounded Mrs.Lenore B.Jones,to whom he had been oaying his attentions for the laast three years.The shooting took place at the home of Mrs.Jons' parents,Mr. and Mrs. J.M.Woods. Lauth was interceoted by the victim's father,jist as he was running form the house,and turned over to Constable Trembath,who lodged the would be murderer in the County Jail. Mrs.Jones waa shot four times and is mortally wounded. She was taken to the Good Samaritan Hospotal at Portland this afternoon. The revolver used was of .38 caliber,and while three of the wounds are flesh wounds,the fourth is believed to have penetrated the abdomen,lacerating the intestines. One bullet entered the right breast just below the nipple and lodged just beneath the skin at the back. Another struck the woman between the hips and ranged upward,and the other lodged in the right loeg just below the knee. In the opinion of the physicians who were called,the abdomen wound will certainly result fatally. Lauth was seen at the County Jail,but refused to make any statement or to give a motive for the murderous assault. Lauth is a young man about 24 years of age while the woman is 28 years old and is the mother of two children. His home is at Sparta,ill., and a brother resides at Aberdeen,Wash. It is said that there he met Mrs.JOnes about three years ago. The two at nce became enamored of each other and have been on intimnate terms until within the last few weeks,when a quarrel was precipitated,it is reported,because of the woman's disposition to receive the attentions of a railroad engineer residing at Roseburg. Lauth has been on the coast about five years,spending the major part of that period at Portland,where he was employed as a "twenty one" dealer at the Portland club. When gambling was suppressed in Portland about a month ago,Lauth came to Oregon City,where he has been following the same vocation.While here he has been making his home at the Woods' and on the return to this city last week of Mrs.Jones,whoo had been spending a few weeks at Rosburg,the quarrel between the two was renewed. The husband of the injured woman is mate on one of the Spaulding Logging Company's Upper Willamette River boats,against whom the woman was about to institute divorce proceedings. While the woman was visiting at Roseburg,Lauth is said to have written her a letter in which he warned her not to receive the attentions of any other man. In the etter he stated that either he or no one else should have the woman,otherwise he would kill her.Mrs.Jones says he destroyed the letter, and the visit to the city a week ago of the engineer; who is said to be responsible for the estrangement bewteen Lauth and the woman, is believed to have hastened today's tragedy. Before being taken to Portland,Mrs.Jones made an ante-mortme statement,reciting the facts relating to the shooting this morning.She says that Lauth came to the house this morning about 9 o'clock and demanded the return of hte ring valued at $250 and which he claimed as his own properrty.She deposes that she was about to give it to him when he seized her by the throat and pushing her against the wall,said: "I will have you for myself or no one else can have you." Saying this,Lauth drew the revolver and fired four bullets into the woman's body in quick succession. He then ran down the hall and started arounf the house,only to run into the arms of J.M.Woods,the woman's father,who had been writing a letter in an adjoining room when the shots were fired. hearing the shooting,Woods ran out of the house to investigate. Lauth offered no resistance and accompanied Woods down town,where he was turned over to the Constable Trembeth,to whom he delivered his gun,saying: "There is only one bullet left,I shot her four times" Lauth is decidedly repentent this afternoon.While he will make no statement about the shooting,he confesses that he is sorry he has done what he did.He expressed much concern as to the woman's condition and, in response to an inquiry,when informed that at last accounts the victim was resting easily,he remarked: " I am glad to hear that" The weapon used was a borrowed one,the property of P.G.Shark.It was taken without the owners knowledge. As another fact that probably suggested the muderous assault,Lauth claims that he recently entrusted the woman with about $600,which she expended. He does not appear to regret the loss of the money,but was desirous of recovering the diamond ring,which was valued at $250. Both claimed the ownership of the ring,each paying a part of the purchase price. It was reported at the Good Samaritan Hospital last night that Mrs.Jones was in a very critical condition and might not live many hors. She had been greatly weakened by the loss of blood and her wounds were acknowledged to be of a very serious nature. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/clackamas/newspapers/firedfou66nnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/orfiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb