Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-16
A MANAGES MAD ACT.
he First Shoots Three Companions
and Then Kills Himself.
ONE OF HIS VICTIMS WILL DIE.
The Greatest Excitement Prevails Where
the Tragedy Occurred.
BUSINESS Is ALMOST SUSPENDED.

rPEcIAL TELEaRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.l
TIFFIN, o., March ia terrible tragedy
took place here to-day, and has been the
talk of the town, business being almost
suspended, and great crowds packing the
streets in the vicinity of the crime. Wal
ter A. Snyder is the confidential clerk in j.
M. Naylor & Go. IS hardware store, and one
OF the most popular and wealthy young
men of this little city. At 8 o'clock this
morning, while engaged in friendly con-
versation in the store with two of his en-
ployers, Edward T. Naylor and Burton w.
Crowbaugh, without word of warning, he
suddenly drew a large revolver. from his
hip pocket and began firing at them. Two
balls passed through MAYORS body and
Crowbaugh was struck in the back.
Hearing the shooting, Thomas W. Dow
ney, fellow clerk, attempted to save his
employers by interfering, when Snyder
turned on him and shot Downey three
times. People came running in from all
directions, as the scene of the tragedy is on
the principal street of the city, but before
anyone could lay hands on the murderer he
ran upstairs and shot himself through the
heart, dying instantly.
Many Things Caused the Trouble.
E. T. Naylor, half brother of the pro-
prietor, Crowbaugh and Snyder have been
employed in the store for years, and have
been like brothers A short time ago the
senior Mr.. Naylor announced his inten-
tion to retire from business, and a change
of the firm would be necessary. Although
Snyder, the murderer and suicide, was
worth $2O, 900, it was tied up in real estate
n hat ho nof
it, and this so preyed on his mind that it
produced temporary insanity. Snyder had
been troubled for the past two weeks with
grip, also, and the worry and disease made
him mad man, no doubt.
The parties are all we'll and favorably
known, and the affair has created profound
sensation in Northern Ohio. Within five
minutes the story of the tragedy had spread
all over the city and the crowd became so
dense in front of the door, which is located
in the principal business portion of the
city, that it was necessary for the police to
clear the street. Physicians were hurriedly
summoned and the wounded men given
every attention.
Snyder died instantly, and his imperfect
aim may possibly save the lives of his in
tended victims, though there is little hope
for Downey, whose injuries are supposed to
be of a fatal nature.
All the Men Prominent.
Few men in Tifin enjoyed the public con-
fdence more than those implicated in the
tragedy. Snyder, the cause of the sad af-
fair, was very popular, though occupying a
clerical position. Ever since the Forty
ninth Regiment, of which he was member,
was mustered out at the close of the late
war, he had been successful in his invest
ments and accumulated competency.
Crowbaugh and Naylor stand high in bust
ness, social and political circles, and
Downey is highly esteemed by all. All
save Snyder are men of families. Naylor
was also a soldier in the late war, being a
member of the famous Eighth Ohio Regi-
ment.
Business in the city is paralyzed, and the
scene of the bloody deed is still surrounded
by hundreds of citizens all anxious to learn
the details of the tragedy For years Sny.
der has regarded himself as the heir of an
aunt, Mrs Eva Weeks, who owns a 200
plantation at Surrounded Hills, Ark.
Lately Mrs. Weeks, who is 66 years old,
was married secretly, and this also worried
Snyder. About 80 minutes before commit
ting the crime it is learned that the hon1i-
eide took three large drinks of whisky.
Tonight all the victims of the shooting
are alive, but Downey is rapidly sinking.
He is shot through the head, the arm. and
one ball is lodged in his side. Doctors say
he will die before daylight. Crowbaugh is
worse injured than at first supposed. The
ball entered his right side, but cannot be
located. Naylor is resting easy and may
recover.