The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-17
CRIME OF INSANE CASHIER.
KILLED CHIEF BOoKKEEPER AND
COMMITTED SUICIDE.

Cashier j. w. Murphey of the Third
National Bank of Columbus, De-
spondent Over His Physical Condi-
tiOn, shot II. Il. Shutze TO Death,
Then Took His own Ldfe-Was to
Have Been Taken 10 n Sanitarium.
President Jordan's Narrow Escape.
Columbus. Ga. Jan. 16.-The cashiers
private Office at the Third National Bank
was the scene OF one OF the most horrible
tragedies in the history of Columbus this
morning.
A few minutes after 10 O'Clock Cashier
]. w. Murphey fired two shots crashing
through the brain of his chief bookkeeper
and confidential man, Mr.. Z. T. Shutze.
He then placed the point of the pistol in
his mouth and sent a bullet through his
own brain.
The sound of the three shots in rapid
succession startled the clerks at work in
the bank There was a general rush to
the door of the private office. which was
found to be locked on the inside. A tele-
phone message brought President G, Gun
by Jordan to the bank in a few minutes.
When he arrived the police were in
charge of the building, and an immense
crowd had gathered on the outside.
BY means of key to a side door. Presi-
dent Jordan entered the private Office. ac-
companied by several policemen. A terri
BILE sight met their Mortified gaze. Mr..
shutze was sitting upright in chair, his
head thrown back, stone dead From a
CHASTITY wound in his temple blood and
brain slowly oozed down his cheek and
into the chair i'm which he sat.
A few feet away, half lying half crouch
ing, was the llfeless body of Cashier Muir
phey. A few inches from his fight hand
was .3S-callbre Smith Il Wesson pistol
While no one witnessed the tragedy. the
scene told the whole awful story After
firing two shots into Shutzes brain at
range of only two or three feet, Murphey
put the pistol in his mouth and pulled the
trigger. He died as he sank to the floor.
No Trouble Between Them.
There had never been any trouble be-
tween the two men. Each regarded the
other as his dearest and closest personal
friend. Capt Murphey asked Shuttle to
accompany him to his private Office as he
had often done before. Shutze consented
dreaming of the fate'in store for him.
AS Murphey turned the key in the lock,
Shutze sat down at a table containing a
typewriter. He extended his hand to the
drawer of the table to get a sheet of
paper. Just at this moment the first dead
ly shot was fired. Although he probably
died with the fash of the pistol. his body
did not move Murphey fired again, but
the body remained bolt upright He prob
ably satisfied himself that his victim was
dead, aud then turned the pistol OH him
self
Al the inquest. it developed that Presi-
dent Jordan had made all arrangements
to carry Capt. Murphey to Atlanta this
afternoon to place him in a sanltarum.
Murphey had facial paralysis and Brights
disease was developing rapidly few
of his Intimate friends knew he was ex-
tremely morbid about his condition.
Tn coroners investigation decided that
both men came to their deaths by shots
fired by J. w. Murphey in fit of tempor-
airy liberation and that he was not re-
sponsible for his acts.
Murphey Probably Jealous.
1t is said that Capt Murphey got an
idea into his head that after he was dead
and gone Shutze would be selected to fill
his place as cashier at the bank. Presi
dent Jordan himself probably had mar
row escape. Murphey asked him to go
into the private office a few minutes be-
fore the tragedy occurred. While not
thinking anything was wrong he decln-
ed because he. was in a hurry to get to-
his office at the Eagle and Phenix Mills.
Murphey then turned to Shutze and
asked him If he had a sharp pencil, al
the same time telling him to come with
him 10 his office.
Capt Murphey was formerly assistant
state treasurer of Georgia. Twelve years
ago he came to Columbus and organized
the Third National and Columbus Savings
Banks with Mr.. Jordan. He has since
peen cashier of both these institutions.
He also took an active part in state and
local politics He was 60 years old and
leaves a wife and one son. j. W. Muir
phey. Jr. paying teller at the bank.
Mr. Shuttle was a member of the city
Council and chairman of police commit
tee He was IS years old. and leaves
wife and three little children. Both men
were very popular and the awful tragedy