The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-07-05
IS SLAIN BY AN ASSASSIN
Mayor Balbirnie, of Muskegon, Is
Shot Dead in His Store
Doorway.
A FORMER CITY OFFICIAL HIS SLAYER.
John w. layer, Disappointed mt Not
Being Reappointed City Poor d.
rector, Commits the Awful Crime,
and Follows Ii by Taking His own
Life.

Muskegon, June 3O.-Mayor James
Balbirnie was murdered in Western
avenue, the main business street in
this city, at noon Friday. His slayer,
who committed suicide Immediately
after the murder was John w. layer,
eX-city poor director
The murder and suicide occurred
within a few seconds time and all was
over before the bystanders in the vicin-
ity fully realized what had happened.
Mayor Balbirnie, who was engaged in
the furniture and undertaking bust
ness, had been away from his store and
office during the greater part of the
morning, and had returned few mo-
ments before the shooting. He de-
scended from his living rooms over the
store and walked TO the edge of the
sidewalk to unite his horse, when layer
approached him with the words: Mr..
Balbirnie, / want to see you"
The mayor left his horse, walked to
the front of the store and seated him
self in rocking chair. layer stood i'm
mediately in front of him, and before
any words had passed between the two
layer pulled a revolver from his pocket
and discharged it, the ball entering the
mayors body in the left breast. The
mayor rose TO his feet and walked to the
center of the sidewalk, crying, MY
God, I'm shot! Go for DOCTOR" He
then turned and staggered up the stair
way, falling into the arms of his sister
in-law, Mrs. Sarah Balbirnie, and sink
ing to the floor unconscious. He was
taken TO his room, where he expired
few moments later.
Murderer Kills Himself.
The murderer, after he had commit
ted the deed, stepped back few steps,
entered the doorway of the Balbirnie
store, and swallowed the contents of
bottle containing carbolic acid. He
then stepped toward the street and
turned his weapon upon himself, in
fiicting wound almost identical with
that he had given the mayor He then
staggered, and finally sank TO the
ground He was removed to the city
hall, and died about 40 minutes after
shooting.
a Premeditatcd Affair.
was premeditated, as layer was fully
armed for his bloody work and had
been walking up and down in front of
the store for two hours before the
shooting. He had seemed to be under
a strain for several days and had acted
strangely. He had served two years as
poor director and was a candidate last
ir,fy hut no
mayor did not reappoint him and the
disappointment weighed heavily on
him. 1t is said that charges had been
made that he had not been faithful in
all official matters.
Mrs. Balbirnie, wife of the murdered
victim, is Frustrated and the tragedy
may cause her death. She has been
sick for some time with cancer of the
stomach and was confined to her bed
at the time of the murder.
Miss Maude Balbirnie, the only
daughter of the unfortunate man. was
driving and learned the sad news from a
street urchin, who recognized her and
called out that her father had been
shot. She whipped up her horse and
dashed down the street, drawing up in
front of the store, where she fell from
the carriage and was picked up and
carried to a neighbours.
Ola Resident of Muskegon.
Mayor Balbirnie was the pioneer resi-
dent of this city, having lived here since
1865. He was born in Ontario, April 21
1888, and later lived i'm Ottawa. When he
came TO Muskegon he embarked in
the furniture and undertaking business
and had acquired comfortable for
tune. He was for three years member
of the board of public works, and in 1898
was elected mayor as a republican, be-
ing reelected this spring. He was
prominent i'm fraternal organizations.
layer had been resident of this
city for about 25 years. He leaves a
wife, but no children. He was MEM
Der of Phil Kearney post, G.. A. r., hav-
ing served in the civil war i'm company
X, Thirty-eighth Ohio infantry. 1t was
understood that he had been suffering
from a slight brain trouble, but he was
not thought TO be dangerous.