The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-16
BANK PRESIDENT SHOT
ROBBER DEMANDS $4,000 FROM
GEORGE wICKoFF, OF NEW YORK.
Being Refused, He Sends a Bullet Into
His own Body-Both May Die.

NEW YORK, June 15-President George
H. wickoff, of the Bank Of New Amster-
dam. was shot In the abdomen as he sat
at his desk In the bank Office to-day by
man who Is said to be George f. Clark.
The would-be assassin then turned the pis-
tol on himself and fired two shots, both of
which took effect. Both men are perhaps
fatally injured.
The Bank of New Amsterdam is i'm the
Metropolitan Opera House. at Broadway
and Thirty-eighth street Mr.. Wickoff was
alone in his Office when Clark entered. He
walked into the front of the bank, turned
down the corridor, and, passing the clerks
behind the wicket without a word, went
straight up to the Presidents door. The
door Was ajar. He passed through and
closed ii behind him. Advancing politely
to Mr.. Wickoffs desk he laid a letter be-
fore the president 1t was a demand for
$1,000. Mr.. Wickoff refused to comply and
Clark drew a pistol. Mr.. Wickoff jumped
to disarm the man. who fired before Wick
off took two steps. The ball entered Mr..
Wickoffs abdomen. Before the startled
clerks could enter the presidents room
Clark turned the pistol and fired two bui-
let's into his own body and fell to the floor.
President Wickoff staggered into the cor
ridor, told the clerks to send for his wife
and his friend Mr.. Tilford, who is vice
president of the bank. and fell. Both men
were taken to the hospital. where Mr..
Wickon made an ante-mortem statement
in substance as here told. Clark absolute
would not give his name and address or
his occupation. He said that he needed
the money and had been out of employ
ment for one week. He claimed that he
had no particular motive other than that
OF getting money for the support of his
wife and boy. He said:
Il had never seen the bank president be-
fore. and did not know him. He had never
done me nor any member OF my family
any wrong. / did not mean to harm him,
made meant to commit suicide. 1 hope
that he may recover. If my wife should
identify me 1 will not be laid in potters
field 1 have been here about fifteen years
l was born in the West. There can be no
defamatory statements against this man.
as he is of too high a standing. believe
I wanted to take. and that is mine
The letter presented by Clark was found
on Mr.. Wickon,s desk. 1t was written on
note paper Of the Hotel Marlborough and
read as follows:
1--WE want $1,000, five $1,000 bills. ten one
hundred-dollar bills. l will shoot. you If
you make a. false move, So be careful. Nv
partner outside has you covered. III you
alarm within three minutes after / have
left he will throw stick of dynamite
-
an envelope Don't talk
There was no signature. Whether there
was really an accomplice or not is not
known. The police do not know Clark
Neither had any of the bank employees ever
seen him about the bank. His real identity
Is a mystery and every effort is being made
TO identify him. The accepted theory is
that he was crazy.
The shooting created great excitement on
Broadway. In a few minutes all Wall
street, n mile and half away. knew IT.
and wild rumors were afioat there. One
was that the would-be assassin was a bank
officer, but this was quickly denied.
The attempt OF Norcross 10 kin Russell
Sage was recalled and intensified the ex-
citement- The bank officers were quickly
on the scene, and i'm a short while every
arrangement was perfected for any emer-
gency-
President Wickoff has apartments i'm the
Chelsea flats and also a home in Mont
Clair. n. J.. where his wife and two mar
ried daughters live. One is the wife OF w
r. Brinkerhoff. of the New York County
Bank.