New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-16
SHOT DOWN IN HIS OFFICE.
CLINTON G.. REYNOLDS A LAWYER, PROB
ABLY FATALLY WOUNDED.

He WAS COUNSEL IN SUIT AGAINST THE
YOUNG MAN WHO TRIED TO MURDER
HrM-THE WOULD BE ASSASSIN
ARRESTED.
Clinton G. Reynolds a lawyer well known and
highly esteemed by members of the bar in this
city, was shot down in his office at No. 81 Wall
ST., yesterday by hot-tempered young man. who
thought he was being held in too close legal re-
straint. The assassin is Alphonse j. Stephani,
son Of Spanish fruit-dealer who died in New
York about two years ago. Mrs. Josephine
Stephani, the widow, recently engaged Mr.. Rey-
nolds to protect her interests when it was known
that the young man had converted some of the
property into cash and had bought bonds amount
ing to about $50, 1000, which he had placed in
charge of a safe deposit company. The lawyers
interference increased the family quarrel and Al
phonse went to Europe early last month, after
disgracing himself by striking his mother. lie
returned TO the city last week on the White Star
steamship Majestic and was promptly served with
papers in a suit to restrain him from touching
the securities in dispute.
About IL a. m. yesterday he went to the law
yer's office and sat for half an hour talking 10
John l.. Butterfly, the managing clerk Tor Key
nolds & Harrison. Then he admitted 10 Mr
Reynolds's private room, and the two men talkeo
about the suit with closed doors until nearly IL
o'clock Only fragment of their CONVERSE
ton was overheard. Butterfly went into the prl-
yate office to get a check-book and heard Mr..
Reynolds inquire well, how much money DO
you WANT
John F. Cowan, of No. sc Washington-ave..
Newark, n j., was in the outer Office, waiting
to see Mr. Reynolds. lie was talking 10 Butterfly
and another clerk w. c. Scott. when pistol
shot in the private Office startled them oco'o
rushed into his employers room in advance Oh
Butterfly Mr. Reynolds lay on the floor, pressing
his hands to his stomach. Over him bent young
Stephan. who held bulldog revolver IN both
hands and seemed to be cooking it for second
shot.
Scott threw his arms about the assassin anu
dragged him back from the sofa Almost ao 'ne
same moment Butterfly caught hold of the weapon
and took it away from its owner Ihere was
struggle for n few seconds, as Stephani made q
desperate effort to escape. Cowan entered .he
room. and picking up one of the heavy oiice
chairs brought it down on the assassihs heau'
Stephani fell on the floor senselesS.
The clerks went to their employer and asked
him IL he was much hurt. lie said he feared he
was The bullet had entered his left side, just
hollow the heart. and had ranged downward. MI
REYNOLDS kept his composure and did not lose
consciousness lie asked Scott to call physician.
Scott ran to the nearest drugstore. On his way
ont of the building he told an errand boy OF the
shooting. and the Information spread quickly III
the street. Policeman Edwards, of the FIRST RE-
cinct. went to the lawyers office and took charse
of the prisoner who soon recovered MS sehses'
while awaiting for an ambulance Mr. Reynolds
told Butterfly to inform his family in orange
n j., of the shooting, and gave some other oirec-
,iors of a confidential nature. lie also ldentlhea
Stephani as his assailant, and said there had
been no justification for the shooting. Ih9Jwo
mon nresented a marked contrast Mr.. Reynolds
wos nearlv sixty wears old and Of feeble appear
opce Stephani was slender but wiry man OF
twentv-fve wears. with dark features. Upon the
arrival of the ambulance, Mr. Reynolds was placed
in il and was conveyed to the Chambers otree'
Hospital. -,
The prisoner was taken to the Old Slip ponce
station and locked up. In his pockets the poilce
found 81 900, mostly in foreign con certihca'e
showing that he born in Philadelphia III
1868. and receipts for his baggage. which he had
ordered to be sent from the steamship AlaIestc
to the ST. Denis Hotel. To Police captain Sic-
Laughlin the prisoner said he could not remember
ANYTHING about the shooting, and he DehaVeu d,
the station house if he insane or was trying
to appear so. He referred to his family trouoies
and said he was sorry he had not thrown himself
from London Bridge, as he had intended TO do'
Captain Mclaughlin said the young mans
father AiphOnse Stephani. was an importer oi
fruit and wine at No 1876 Cedar-st. and left
property valued at 100000 when he died two
years ago. BY the terms of his will his widow
do oIa rix nd IN the IN
come on the property during her lifetime Upon
her death the property was to 60 to Alphonse
and another son. Mrs. Stephani had let AL
phonse have control of the business after his
fathers death. She employed Mr. Reynolds TO
protect her interests when she learned tnao Al AZ
phonse had converted part of the properly lhto
cash and had placed bonds to the amount oi
$50 900 in the Safe Deposit Company of New
York vaults. at No. lag Broadway. =, A.
After the young man vent to Europe sni, Mf,
Reynolds acting for Mrs Stephan began sun
for an injunction to restrain the safe deposit COM
pany from giving up the securities to Alphonse
and to restrain the young man from taxing tne
bonds Upon lis return to the city, Alphonse
complained that his rights had been tampered
with by the lawyer and 1t was the discussion
Of that matter that led to the shooting.
At Mr.. Reynolds's ohice II was said that ne
had been in active business as lawyer fDr thirty
five years. At one time he was in partnership
with ClarlSson a. Potter. Afterward he was a
member of the law firm Of MacFarland Reynolds
& Lowry. Lately his partner has been Robert
l.. Harrison. Mr.. Reynolds had occupied his Of
flee over BroYn Brothers banking rooms for
number Of yeiNs ,
The surgeons at the hospital said that MI.
Reynolds might possibly recover from his wound,
but the chances for II were slight. He grew
weaker in the afternoon. but was able to make a
statement TO Coroner Levy, in which he gave an
account of the shooting.
Police Captain Mclaughlin took Young Ste phani
10 the Tombs Police Court at p. m. Justice
Mcmahon. after hearing an account OF the shoot
ing rpmandPd StpDhnnl until this morning.
At a late hour last night Mr.. Reynolds was
still alive but the surgeons In attendance SAID
that his death might occur at any time.