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Reynolds' Murder Case Burt Moore - 1866 - 1893 |
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Reynolds' Murder Case Burt Moore - 1866 - 1893 |
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A Bold Escapade -- Bert Moore and Cora D. Reynolds came from Great Falls Together, Apparently Traveling as Man and Wife -- the Woman's Husband Follows, and the End is Not Yet. Shortly before Christmas, Bert Moore arrived in Allegan from Great Falls Montana, on a visit to relatives and friends, after an absence of several years. Not having been married it would be naturally supposed that he would come unaccompanied by any female companion, but developments within the last few days have shown pretty clearly that he had a companion and that her name was Cora D. Reynolds, the wife of Albert Reynolds of Great Falls. Mrs. Reynolds was formerly a resident of this township, and had arranged to come home on a visit. So Mr. Reynolds wrote to her father, but the letter arrived before his wife did. her father wrote to Mr. Reynolds that she had not arrived, and he, suspecting something wrong, began to investigate and found sufficient clue to warrant him to follow his wife, who, it appeared, left on the same train with Moore, and was probably carrying out a plan matured weeks before, finding several places where they had stopped and registered at hotels as Bert Moore and wife. He arrived in Allegan Jan. 18, the evening of the firemen's masquerade ball, at which place he found his wife and Moore masked and participating in the dance. He took no action then, but a short time after, it is understood, Mrs. Reynolds confessed to having come with Moore as aforesaid. February 3, Mr. Reynolds made complaint against them and caused their arrest on the charge of adultery. They were taken before Justice Stockdale but waived examination and were bound over to the February term of circuit court for trial, giving bonds for appearance then. Though this is only one of the many like escapedes occuring daily, it seems more like a romance because of its boldness. However, should the trial result in a verdict of guilty and a sentence of one or more years in prison be imposed, the romantic part of it will suddenly disappear. |
A Brief of the Evidence of Two Days -- Court Room Sketches -- the Trial Will Not be Concluded This Week -- Many Witnesses Express Belief in Reynolds' Insanity -- He Appears in Court Weak and Thin -- The Lawyers' Presentation of the Case. A Bold Escapade -- Bert Moore and Cora D. Reynolds came from Great Falls Together, Apparently Traveling as Man and Wife -- the Woman's Husband Follows, and the End is Not Yet. |
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------------------------ I live in Otsego and am a dairy man by occupation; have lived there 38 years; was in Allegan the 27th of last February and was in Whitney's saloon that day. I saw some shooting, but do not know who did it; Lean not now recognize Reynolds as the man who did it; I was with Mr. Sherwood when the shooting was done; was leaning against the south end of the bar and was facing east; I heard a shot fired and turned and saw a second one which took effect in the man's back. I learned that the man who was shot was Bert Moore; saw the third shot fired; Moore was then crawling southeast; it was only and instant between the second and third shots; the man who fired the shots went out; no one interfered with him. The shooting prostrated Moore on the floor, he went down on his hands and knees and then prone upon the floor; some one took hold of Moore to raise him up. I saw no more of Reynolds. |
------------------------ I live in Allegan and have done so about 12 years, and was here on the 27th of February: I tend bar in Whitney's saloon and have been there about one year. I saw Reynolds there in the forenoon of that day, about 10 or 11 o'clock; he was there from three quarters to an hour and in that time drank twice, taking whisky. I saw Moore there; Reynolds I know, he is a brother-in-law of mine; had known Moore many years. Moore had been in the saloon about half an hour before the shooting and was there but once that day. I do not know which came first, Moore or Reynolds. Moore took one or two glasses of beer and talked with the boys. He talked with Willard Burgess and sat with him about twenty minutes on the west side of the saloon. Burgess sat facing east, and Moore was beside him, facing south a little. They were about twenty feet from the stove. Saw Reynolds there, might have been there fifteen or twenty minutes, while Moore and Burgess were sitting together. Reynolds once got up, shook dice, and went back. I asked him for a chew of tobacco, at the same time putting my hand into his pocket, and I felt a revolver there. The shooting that was done there was done by Reynolds. I first saw Moore, after the shooting, in Mr. Burgess' lap, and I saw Reynolds shoot twice afterward. I was startled by the first shot, and thought Bidwell's gun had exploded (Bidwell had come in with his gun and I had set it up in front). Reynolds was between Moore and the stove at the time of the second shot. It was but a very short time between the shots. Moore was on Burgess' lap when the second shot was fired; do not know if the second shot was directed at Moore. He was on the floor at the third shot. I went out from behind the bar and took Reynolds' arm, but said nothing to him. The doctors came in and held an inquest. Cross-Examination.--I heard no words between Moore and Reynolds. |
------------------------ I live in Berlamont and was in Allegan on the 27th day of last February, and was in Whitney's saloon on that date. I saw and heard shooting, but am not acquainted with the person who did the firing, and the respondent is that person. I heard the first shot, and the second I saw. I was standing at the stove, between it and the wall, facing the stove. I looked around and saw Reynolds in the act of moving toward Moore. He fired the second shot when near Moore and over him, and at the last shot Moore was on the floor. I first noticed Reynolds getting up, and I saw the last two shots fired but not the first one. Moore was fallen and struggling at the time of the second shot. I followed Reynolds out and ran after him toward the court-house, but stopped between the court-house and the street corner. A man called to Reynolds to stop, but he kept on, replying, "John, this is all right; I'm going right up to jail." Other men were in pursuit. |
------------------------ I reside in Allegan, and have lived here for 22 years; knew Moore 20 years, lived in same neighborhood; was in the Whitney saloon on the 27th of February last; saw Bert Moore there and talked with him, were sitting on the west side and being there about 20 minutes; were there only at one time. I can not say how long Moore was there, but he was there when I went in; after, could not say how long. I saw shooting done by Reynolds. Moore sat by me at the time, I facing east, Moore the same, but a little more south. Reynolds sat 4 or 5 feet beyond Moore. I can not say who made the first shot. I only heard it. I threw my head back and saw Reynolds with a revolver pointed toward Moore, Reynolds being on his feet. Moore fell on my knees and then to the floor, two or three feet in front of me. Moore shuffled on his elbows and knees across the room. Blood flowed from the wound in Moore's head and he died in a few minutes. I did not follow Reynolds. Cross-Examination.--I had heard no talk between Moore and Reynolds nor talked with Moore about Reynolds; heard nothing about their troubles, except from outsiders; was intimately acquainted with Moore many years; was brought up with him; it was not unusual to meet Moore or Reynolds at Whitney's. |
------------------------ I live in Trowbridge and have done so thirty-odd years; was in Whitney's saloon on the 27th of last February --can not tell the day, exactly, but when some shooting was done; have known Albert Reynolds 12 or 13 years; saw him in Whitney's that day, also saw Moore there, a few minutes; saw him sitting. I did not notice Moore there when I entered but did see Reynolds there, on the safe or near the safe; saw him drink once, drank whiskey I suppose. I saw Moore and Burgess sitting on the west side of the room also; Reynolds drank alone when I saw him. I heard the shooting; it was near the stove when the first of it was done, 2 or 3 feet awasy; me, my back being to him; heard report and turned and saw Moore staggering over Burgess' lap; next saw Burgess risse up throwing Moore off, who staggered across the room. I saw Reynolds fire twice; one of these shots went under Moore's right shoulder-blade; did not see where the other entered. Moore stayed on the floor; Reynolds went out; I did not follow; Moore died on the floor; doctors were summoned. |
------------------------ I have resided fifteen years in Allegan township, am a farmer working by the month; was in Whitney's saloon on the 27th of February last. I did not notice Reynolds there but saw Moore; I knew him; did not know Reynolds; I do not know who fired the shots, but heard some fired, three of them. At this time, I was in the south end of the saloon, outside the screen, looking out the south window at the east side; saw Moore and Burges sitting there, saw them when I turned around after the first shot. I saw Moore fall from Burgess' lap; saw a man shoot twice and go out; I went out immediately afterward. |
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