The morning news., 1894-02-06
SCANDAL ENDS IN SHOTS.
A Banker Kills a Man Suspected Of
Intimacy With His Wife.

An Elevator at Chattanooga the
Scene of the Tragedy-The Banker
Claims That He Thought His Victim
was About to Draw a Weapon-The
Accused Denied the Alleged Init
macy.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Feb. 5.-George N.
Henson, president of the Citizens Bank
and Trust Company, and one of the most
prominent men in Chattanooga S financial
and commercial circles, this afternoon
shot and killed J. B. Vert well known
insurance man, the father of a large
family and with connections throughout
this section of the country. The city to-
night is agog with excitement in conse-
quence of the sensational tragedy
The shooting occurred shortly after
o'clock. The killing was done in one of
the passenger elevators of the Richardson
block, the largest office building in the
city Some three months ago Mr.. Henson
sued his wife for divorce, naming Mr.
Vert as correspondent. On occount of
the prominence of all the parties con-
cerned, the suit awakened the liveliest
interest, and engendered the most bitter
feelings.
VERT DENIED THE CHARGE.
Mr.. Henson stoutly maintained that
Mr.. Vert had been unduly intimate with
Mrs. Henson, and Mr.. Vert as stoutly de-
MED it. Following the filing of the bill
for divorce. MIR. Vert printed a card in
the newspapers denouncing MIR. Henson
as a liar and calumniator Mr.. Henson
replied, reiterating the charges. Through
mutual friends of the husband and wife
the divorce proceedings were Withdrawn,
the husband agreeing to maintain his
wife and children and paying the costs in
the divorce suit.
VERT CLAIMED ENUMERATION.
Mr.. Wert's friends claimed this exone-
rated him, but Mr.. Henson continued to
contend that he was guilty of the undue
intimacy. Some few weeks ago the Cen
tenary Methodist church, of which Mr..
Vert was a prominent member, placed
him on trial before jury of seven of the
church members. Five of the jury voted
for his conviction on the charge of
adultery and two voted for his acquittal
He was accordingly expelled from the
church.
THE FATAL MEETING.
To-day the tragical chapter of the un-
fortunate affair was enacted. Both men
of the consequences of a meeting This
afternoon Mr.. Henson had business with
the banks attorneys on the fourth floor
of the Richardson block, and, after finish
ing his business, started down to
make his exit from the build
ing AS he reached the second
floor below, MIR. Vert, in company with
young attorney, entered the elevator.
Thus the men met face to face for the
Eref ncin fhan oh twin Dot
the first floor and the ground the shooting
occurred. Mr.. Henson says he intended
leaving the elevator as soon as he recog-
nized the new passenger, but his exit
was interfered with by the men entering
HENsoN's EXCUSE.
He further claims that in the descent he
thought he detected Mr.. Vert reaching
for a weapon. However that may be, be-
fore the elevator reached the ground,
Mr.. Henson began to shoot, firing two
bullets while the elevator was in motion.
The last shot was fired just as the eleva-
tor boy reached the ground floor with the
car. One of the shots entered Mr..
Wert's right breast, passed through the
fifth rib, ranging to the left and
passed through the edge of
the right lung and through
the base of the heart The second shot
struck LAWN Thomas, the young attorney,
inGicting flesh wound on the arm Mr.
Vert died fifteen minutes after he was
shot.
WILD EXCITEMENT.
The widest excitement prevailed, and
in less than ten minutes thousands sur
rounded the building. The banker, after
he had done the shooting, fed in wild ex-
citement back up the stairs to the attor-
ney's office, where later he waived pre-
liminary hearing He is in the office of
the jail tonight, and will proba-
bly, be given a preliminary hear
ing tomorrow. Mr.. Wert's clothes
gave evidence of the fearful mistake
under which Mr.. Henson was laboring
The only character of a weapon on the
dead man was an insignificant penknife,
and it was unopened. The victim leaves
wife and six children, was about 80
years old, and has lived in CHATTANOOGA