The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-01
A NEW YORK TRAGEDY.
Tom Davis, a Sporting Man and Alleged
Broker, Shot Dead in His Room.

| NEW YORK, Aug. 31.-About o'clock this
afternoon Tom Davis, otherwise known as VIM.
| Warren, was shot and killed in a room which he
called his Office. at No. 113 Read street. by a
man who gives his name as James L. Holland,
| from Abilene, Kan Davis is well-known
| sporting man. and had occupied the room for
| several years, conducting an alleged brokerage
business in mining and other stocks. The room
| is only about 6xlO feet, lighted by single win
! dow, and is filthy in the extreme The Davis
the brother of the murdered man, was present
at the time of the shooting, and
| tumbled down two flights of stairs in his haste
! to get away. AS Holland was walking rapidly
| away from the scene The Davis pointed him
out to policeman, who arrested him. Holland
was reticeGt about the matter, merely asserting
that the killing was justifable 1t is supposed
the shooting grew out of some transaction in
stocks. When searched at the station heavy
| revolver, $3.50 in money, and two gold watches
were found on him. In the right hand of the
dead man was s. bill, and scattered
value of $500. In his desk was large guam
tity of apparent securities, among. them 500 800
in bonds of the city of Mattoon, ILL.,, signed by
Thomas b. Lane, supervisor and W. O. Ellis.
clerk. The desk also contained blank shares of
the Santa Rita Silver mining Company, of Ne
| vada. and of the Pioneer and Inskeep mines
Davis was shot twice, once through the breast
near the heart, and once in the neck. Little or
nothing is known Of Holland. 1t is said he has
used several names, and came from Colorado
He is about five feet eleven inches in height with
light complexion, and we'll built He has straight
light brown hair and light mustache He
claims to be single
The following additional details of the occur
renee are learned from THE" Davis, the brother
of the murdered man. Holland came to New
York In response to u letter from Thomas Davis.
His visit to the Office was for the purpose of OBJ
tanning tain $4,000 in counterfeit money.
occupied by Thomas Davis, whose
desk stood close by partition. In an adjoining
room, unknown to Holland. Theodore Davis was
| concealed. Davis produced and showed Holland
$4,000 in genuine greenbacks Holland ex-
amined the bills, and handed them back to
Davis, who placed them in black hand
bag on the desk, close to the partition.
He then endeavored to engage the Texan
in conversation, and tried to distract his atten-
tion. At what he thought was the proper mo
ment he gave concerted signal and Theodore
Davis opened 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. AT this moment Holland
CHANGED to glance up from counting his money
and saw the movement In moment he was
on his feet and had drawn his revolver
rob me9 Take that!' and fired. Holland turned
and fired shot through the partition of the
room, in which ''The" Davis was concealed.
Then the Texan walked down the stairs and into
the street, when Theodore Davis followed him.
He has shot my brother" said Theodore
$50 did," retorted Holland; 'he tried to rob
me- and this is the pistol shot him with"
The brother, the murderer and the officer
went back to the Office at Read street, where
Holland pointed to the bag containing spurious
money. saying: Officer, l want you to take
charge of this bag"
Holland was then taken to the station, while
Theodore Davis put on his hat and coat,
and taking the $4,000 in good
money, which had been unnoticed in
the back room, disappeared. When he went to
the station to surrender, he no longer had the
$4,000. In the crowd he saw man whom he
knew as friend of Holland and called upon
the police to arrest him. The man was arrested
and gave his name as John T. Hill.