Murder of Jack LaRay

On October 10, 1899, Hoape mayor Jack LaRay was fatally shot five times in front of an alleyway next to the Clifton Textile Mill in Hoape, Hasbana. A four-year long investigation was launched, however, police were ultimately unable to identify the murderer(s). The case remains unsolved to this day, and has become a large part of popular culture as one of Hasbana's 'greatest mysteries'. =Background=

Jonathan James LaRay (March 11, 1856 - October 10, 1899), commonly nicknamed Jack or JJ LaRay, was a Hasbin banker and politician who breifly served as the 4th mayor of the City of Hoape. The only son of poor farmers Roger and Beasley LaRay to survive past infancy, Jack grew up during a time of mass migration to his home of Hoape as it quickly became a hub of the industrial revolution. LaRay fully embraced these changes, and even attended the new city's incorporation ceremony in 1870.

At 17, LaRay found work as a banker in Hoape, and worked his way up, eventually owning and presiding over one of the local banks. Though regarded by many who knew him as an honest and plain-spoken man, crime was high in the early days of Hoape, and today it is known that LaRay had dealings with at least one organized crime syndicate. It is thought that he agreed to hold money for known criminals by opening unnamed, hidden accounts (nicknamed red accounts) which only he had access to, in exchange for earnings.

LaRay was an outspoken and well known community member and ran for mayor of Hoape in 1898. After vigorous campaigning, he won by a narrow margin, becoming the fourth mayor in the city's history. During his brief time in office, LaRay had found that he was a "more powerful banker than ever a mayor", struggling to hold any sort of power on the city's policies or people. This might of also arose from a conflict of interest, as he refused to fight crime within the city. His disposition to law enforcement would catch up to him, ironically.

=Murder=

LaRay mostly viewed his time as mayor as an easy paycheck, and often could be found walking the town or at a local bar instead of in his office. One such occasion was the night of October 10, 1899. LaRay entered the Ockefa Street Pub at around 7:00 pm. There, he met with his friend and advisor, Andrew Woodrow (whom would later be questioned by police). Woodrow recalled that the two talked for some time, until LaRay spied some "associates" and moved seats to talk with them. Woodrow then ordered a few more drinks, before realizing his friend would not be returning to him that night, and Woodrow left the bar a little after 10:00 pm.

At approximately 10:45 pm, residents of nearby apartments heard gunshots ring out. Police arrived to find LaRay face down on the ground in a pool of blood, at the entrance to an alleyway next to the Clifton Textile Mill, mere yards down the street from the entrance to the bar. He had a total of five gunshot wounds and was dead on the scene.