Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-01
MURDERED IN HIS OFFICE.
TOM DAVIS DEAD AMONG A
PILE OF STOCKS AND BONDS.

NEW I DIRK, Aug. 3l,--A little before 2
O'Clock to-day "Tom" DAVIS, or as he was
also known, William Warren, was shot
through the heart and killed In a room
which he called his office, ON the third
/ floor at No. 1l3 Reade street. The man
who shot Davis gives the name of James
t. Holland, and is understood to be
Texan. For several years Davis, who
has been well-known sporting man, oc-
cupied room IN No 1l3 Reade street.
He was sitting at desk in his office when
shot.
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER.
The room fronts on West Broadway, is
| about 10 feet long by feet wide and ap-
pears not to have been cleaned or cared
for IN years. A single window supplies
uncertain light in the daytime. The floor
IS covered by a mating. Cheap paper
covers the wall. Soiled and musUy maps
dangle from rusty nails, while an old
oaken desk, with two chairs, and an emp
ty box constituted the furniture. Here
Davis, as he is best known, was supposed
to conduct a brokerage business and
mining speculation. Besides himselfand
his brother, Theodore, better known as
'The" Davis, no one is known to have
frequented the Office. AS Davis regularly
paid his rental of $l5 per month to the
landlord, VINO keeps aliquor saloon on the
first floor, no one questioned him or inter-
fered with his business.
THE ALARM GIVEN BY THE BROTHER.
The first news of the murder was given
by the dead mans brother 'The" Davis.
He was present at the time of the shoot
ing and fell down two flights of stairs.
After the murder the brother hailed an
officer and pointed out Holland, who was
walking rapidly down West Broadway
towards Chambers street Holland was
stopped by the officer and went with him
to the police station without resistance
or objection. He there was reticent, but
stated that the killing was justifiable.
When searched heavy Colts revolver
was suspended from the waistband Of his
trousers.
$1,000 IN HIS POSSESSION.
He had also in his possession 81, 800 in
bank notes and two gold watches. OF the
cause OF the murder Holland would say
nothing. He stated that he was Texan,
SO years old, and had come from Abilene.
Meantime an ambulance mad arrived, but
Davis was dead. He lay at full leaSth
upon the floor, with his head towards the
door. In his right hand was SIS bill,
and scattered about were bonds, the face
of which represented $500. A pool of
blood that had flowed from the bullet
instantaneous. The wall was smeared
with blood, as was also the door casing
and desk.
SHOT TWICE. I.
An examination ah0wed that Davis had
been shot twice, the Irst taking effect In
the left breast, an inch above the heart,
and the second in the back under the
right shoulder blade. Appearances
would indicate that when the first shot
firaG Ia vic co a hia daat~ Wi 0l
land standing or sitting at his left side.
After being shot once Davis evidently
sprang toward the door, probably TO op-
pose the exit OF MS murderer, and while
doing so was shot in the back.
CAUSE OF THE MURDER.
Though nothing is known as to the
cause of the shooting, it is supposed that
Holland had been enticed to Davis office
to be made the purchaser of bonds and
mining stock shares, of which Davis
desk contained quantity, One bundle
contained $780, worth of these apparent
securities. They were presumably issued
by the city of Mattoon, III. Blank shares
OF the Santa Rita Silver Mining Company,
Of Nevada, and of the Pioneer and Inskip
Mill and Mining Company, were found in
one Of the desk drawers. In the dead
mans pocket was found $554 in United
States bank notes and $42 in Canadian
bills, r gold open-faced watch, ticket TO
Pee6skill over the Hudson River railroad,
paper containing lock of hair, and
bunch Of keys.
HOLLANDS IDENTITY.
Little or nothing is known Of Holland.
1t is said that he has used several names
and that he comes from Colorado. He is
about feet II inches high, hight COM
plexiOned and we'll built. He has a
straight, light brown hair and light NOUS
tache. He claims to be single man.
CAME TO BUY COUNTERFEIT MONEY.
The folio wing statement las tonight
been made by Theodore DAVIS, brother of
the murdered man: James .. Holland
came to New York from Abilene, Tex, In
response to letter from Thomas Davis
to buy cOunterfei8m0ney. He stopped at
the Merchants hotel in COurtlandt street.
His visit TO the Office was for the purpose
of obtaining $4,000 in counterfeit money.
On his arrival he entered the room occu-
pied by Thomas Davis, whose desk stood
close by partition dividing the room in
two parts.
A PANNEL HOUSE SCHEME.
In the second room, unknown tn Hol-
and, Theodore DAVIS the narrator }, was
concealed. Apparently the rooms were
distinct. Davis produced and showed
Holland $40 600 in genuine green backs.
HOllanu examiner the Bltib anu HaHutQ
hem back TO Davis, who placed
hem in n black hand bag on his
iesk close to the partition. He then
endeav0red TO engage the Texan in con-
yersation and tried 70 distract his atten-
lion al what he thought was proper. lie
rave a concerted signal and Theodore
Davis opened a trap door in the partition
and removed the bag, intending TO replace
it with one similar in appearance, but
containing only quantity OF paper done
up in packages looking like bank notes.
SEEN BY HOLLAND.
At this moment Holland chanced to
glance 10 from counting his money, and /
saw the movement. In a moment he was
on his het and had drawn his pistol. |
~You 1872 he cried, ''you are trying /
IN rob me take that" and fred. When
Thomas Davis saw Hollands motion |
he iumpd backward toward the door /
Leading lno the hall, but the bullet struck /
him. passing through the ffth rib and his /
heart. ID went entirely through the /
body. and after striking the ninth rib de- /
aacied somewhat upward and came outat |
tbe back andentered tue partition, which /
separated Davis office from the room oc- |
c,Ipied by th Alderney Caramel Com |
pany
AS cool AS CUCUMBER.
Davis fell dead upon the floor, and then /
Holland turael and fred shot through /
the partition u the room IN which Iheo-