
The Deadly Affair: The Laura Safford Miller Case
In the winter of 1950, a dramatic and tragic tale of love, betrayal, and death unfolded in the quiet town of Hutchinson, Minnesota. At the center of it all was 23-year-old Laura Safford Miller, a young woman whose name would soon be splashed across headlines in a case that captivated the state. Was she a scorned lover pushed to the edge, or an unfortunate victim of circumstance? The truth remains elusive.
A Pregnant Secret and a Desperate Journey
Laura Safford Miller was a Minneapolis stenographer whose life took a fateful turn when she became pregnant by 36-year-old attorney Gordon Jones. Their affair had lasted over a year, but Jones was married—a fact Miller claimed she only discovered later. Faced with an uncertain future, she retrieved a family-owned .38-caliber revolver from a cedar chest, wrapped it in a sugar sack, and, holding her mother’s Bible, boarded a bus to Hutchinson. Her destination: Jones’ law office.
Her plan, she later claimed, was to confront him—perhaps even to threaten her own life if he refused to take responsibility. But what happened next remains a matter of debate.
Shots Fired
On the morning of January 30, 1950, a neighbor in Jones' office building heard a gunshot, followed by the unmistakable sounds of a struggle. A second shot rang out, followed by a woman’s anguished cry: “Gordy, my darling, why did you do it?” Moments later, Jones was found in a pool of blood, a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. Miller was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder.
A Trial That Captivated the Public
The case became a media sensation. Brian Haines, executive director of the McLeod County Historical Society, later noted, “The media circus surrounding the murder turned Laura Miller into a local celebrity.” The courtroom in Glencoe overflowed with spectators, and additional crowds gathered outside, listening to the proceedings via loudspeaker.
Miller’s defense painted her as a naive young woman manipulated by Jones. She testified that he had promised to marry her but later hired a woman to impersonate his wife to scare her away. Feeling trapped and desperate, she went to confront him, not intending to kill him but to plead for his support. She insisted that the gun had gone off during a struggle.
A Stunning Verdict
Judge Joseph Moriarty made a shocking ruling: the first-degree murder charge was dismissed. He cited Miller’s desperate exclamation—“Gordy, my darling, why did you do it?”—as evidence that she had not acted with premeditation. He ruled that Jones died accidentally while trying to prevent Miller from taking her own life.
Laura Safford Miller was acquitted. After the trial, she stated her intention to move to Omaha to live with her brother and raise her child. Whether she found peace remains unknown.
The Lingering Mystery
The case remains a point of intrigue even decades later. Hazel Graven, a McLeod County deputy who served as Miller’s trial matron, later stated that Miller never showed remorse in private. Was she truly innocent, or did she get away with murder?
Sources, photos and video clips used in this podcast:
Find a Grave. (n.d.). Laura Marie Jones. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143622836/laura-marie-jones
Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Archived newspaper clippings on Laura Safford Miller and C. Gordon Jones. Retrieved from:
Star Tribune. (n.d.). Deadly love triangle murder case captivated Minnesota in 1950. Retrieved from https://www.startribune.com/deadly-love-triangle-murder-case-captivated-minnesota-in-1950/600320845
Hutchinson Station. (2024, October 24). Whatever became of Laura Jones? Retrieved from https://www.hutchinsonstation.com/2024/10/24/news/whatever-became-of-laura-jones/
Facebook. (n.d.). Story post on Laura Jones. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=946635617496170&id=100064492217894&_rdr
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DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
All information contained in this video presentation is provided for entertainment purposes only. The authors leave any and all conclusions to individual members of the audience. The author offers no statements of fact beyond those available through diligent private research or through information freely available in the public record. To the extent that pending or settled criminal matters or crime or possible crimes, are discussed in this video presentation. All parties or defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. To the extent that any pending or settle civil matters are discussed in this video presentation, all parties or defendants are presumed not liable unless proven liable in a court of law. Copyright for material incorporated and presented under Fair Use is retained by the original author or copyright holder where applicable. Our cases are researched using open source and archive materials, and the subjects are real crimes and people. We strive to produce each episode with respect to the victims, their families and loved ones. At Hitched 2 Homicide we are committed to always discussing how victims lived, and not just how they died. All podcast information is gleaned from sources given. All opinions in the podcast are solely of Hitched 2 Homicide and are for entertainment purposes only.
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