Submitted by
Loyd Bishop

An Awful Crime

John A. Moore of Arkansas City shot and killed his wife on a street of that city as she was returning from the morning church service last Sunday. There had been family troubles for years and recently Moore had accused his wife of enticing their only son away from him, and had threatened her life. She in company with another lady were on their way home from church when Moore met them and after speaking pleasantly to both of them asked for a word with his wife. She stopped and her friend walked on a few steps, when she heard Mrs. Moore pleading for her life, followed quickly by three shots; Mrs. Moore had started to run and Moore shot at her three times, two of the bullets taking effect, after she fell he went to her and raising her in his arms kissed her good bye, and then with two drawn revolvers made his escape. Witnesses to the tragedy carried the woman into an adjoining house, where she died soon after and with her last breath uttered words of forgiveness for the husband. Moore successfully escaped in spite of the thorough search of officers and a volunteer posse, but later called at a house and gave himself up on condition that he would be taken out of Arkansas City to be jailed. The officers wisely complied with his request and took him to Wichita and lodged him in the Sedgewick county jail. It was one of the most diabolical crimes in the history of Cowely county, noted for its deeds of crime and assassination, and if the courts of that county don't make shorts work of the murderer then indeed is law in that county a mockery.