Notes List Gunman's Motives -- Dispute, Depression Had Role In Murder/Suicide

KENT - "J. Gooding brought what is about to happen on himself."

Thus began a note written by Timothy Ledford, who shot and killed his landlord, lawyer James Gooding, Tuesday evening, before turning the gun on himself.

Yesterday, Ledford's girlfriend found two handwritten letters in an envelope in the couple's Kent home. One letter was a photocopy addressed "To whom," outlining how Ledford believed Gooding had cheated him on the rent after Ledford had upgraded the residence. The other letter, addressed "To my family," was essentially a suicide note in which Ledford indicated he was "depressed all the time," according to Kent police.

Ledford and his girlfriend lived across the street from Gooding's law office in downtown Kent. Shortly before 5 p.m., police said, Ledford took his 9mm semiautomatic weapon and entered Gooding's office, handed a secretary an envelope and told her, "If you know what's good for you, you'll get out of here."

Seconds later, shots rang out. Gooding, 60, was found seated in a chair in his office, with seven gunshot wounds. Ledford had shot himself in the head.

The secretary, who had run to a neighboring business to call 911, unwittingly dropped the envelope while dialing. The envelope contained the original of Ledford's "To whom" note.

The letter said Gooding had spoken to the couple two days before Christmas, demanding $2,200 in back rent and late fees for the tiny, ramshackle house. Ledford's girlfriend had moved into the house in August, Ledford in September. In the letter, Ledford said Gooding had demanded the money be paid by Monday - "or else" - and had threatened Ledford's girlfriend. Police said they didn't know what Ledford meant by a threat or whether the alleged threat was verbal or physical.

According to Kent police, Gooding served a three-day eviction notice on Ledford and his girlfriend Oct. 18, but police said they do not know what happened to enable the couple to remain. On Monday, police said, Gooding again began court proceedings to remove Ledford.

Ledford, who police said had been having financial trouble, also wrote in his note that he and Gooding had an agreement that Ledford's rent would be reduced in exchange for Ledford's upgrading the house. Ledford's letter specified that he had done two weeks of painting and spent 10 hours installing linoleum.

Ledford, 33, had no criminal record in Washington but was convicted of robbery as a teenager in Minnesota, and, in 1983, of receiving stolen property. Relatives in Minnesota said that, growing up, Ledford was handsome, articulate and loving but that he often got into trouble and never lived up to his potential.

In the note to family, he opened by saying, "I love all of you and will miss you," and closed the letter with, "I'll truly be happier where I'm going, and I'll see all of you there."

Gooding owned 20 pieces of property, including a waterfront home on Mercer Island assessed at more than $1.1 million. He was alternately described as generous and ruthless, but by all accounts he was a complex character.

Richard Siers, a client for eight years, said Gooding had a "very caring side" and that Gooding had once told him he'd routinely provide lunch money to the child of a tenant who couldn't afford food.

One relative described Gooding as a kind, outgoing person who focused on his business to the exclusion of almost everything else. Gooding had grown up poor in Edmonton, Alberta, and swore that one day he'd be rich. Once he got his law degree, Gooding worked 12 hours a day, often seven days a week, and would often go down to the city jail and hand out business cards to everyone being booked.

In fact, it was Gooding's practice of handing out cards indiscriminately that added an unusual chapter in his life. Gooding was investigated, and eliminated, as a suspect in the Green River killings. Police were suspicious of him in part because prostitutes told detectives he routinely handed them his business card while they were working on Highway 99.