Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-22
SHOT IN HIS OFFICE
Auditor Morris Assassinated by
Samuel Macdonald.
WAS FORMERLY DISBURSING CLERK
Macdonald Then Attempted Sui
eide and Cannot Live.
s FORMERLY DISBURSING CLERK
DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY


shoot himself and cut his throat with
knife. On his way out of the building he
attempted to assault everybody who tried
to stop him.
When he reached the front of the building
he sat on a bag of cement and cut his
throat. Sergt. Sullivan and Policeman
Evans of the third precinct came along af-
terward and placed him under arrest. He
was then suffering from the wounds he had
inflicted and he was sent to the Emergency
Hospital When the officers approached
him he remarked. Il did it, and will go.'
He had pistol in ore hand and a knife
in the other. Policeman Evans disarmed
him. and after the prisoner was sent to the
hospital turned the weapons in to Lieut..
Boyle.
Mr.. Morris was about fifty years old, and
formerly lived in Cleveland, Ohio. He lived
at the Westminster flats with his family.
Prior to year ago he was auditor for the
Navy Department. Since his transfer to
the War Department he has had his office
in the Wirder building
Fired Six shots.
At the time the shooting occurred Mr..
Morris in his office. which adjoins the
office IF the law board. A lady clerk was
IN the room AT the time. Macdonald who
had apparently been drinking, entered the
room and had few words with the aud
itor. whom he thought was responsible for
the loss of his tMacDonald'sD position. SIX
shots Were fired. one of the bullets in its
course passed through Mr.. Morris neart.
Mr. H. +. Weaver, clerk who was in
room on the opposite side of the hall
rushed over to the room and found Mr..
Morris and his assailant engaged in a
struggle. Mr.. Morris fell about the time
tir. Weaver entered the room. Mr.. Weaver
started in pursuit of Macdonald. but the
latter managed to get out of the building
before he could apprehend him.
Reports OF the pistol shots attracted the
clerks from all parts OF the building, as
vel as pedestrians on the street. Several
physicians We're summoned to the room hut
were unable to do anything for Mr.. Morris
as the bullets had done effective work.
Fired ut Macdonald.
While this was being done the police
who Were upon the scene almost immedl-
ately after the shooting occurred were
guarding Macdonald on the outside
Watchman Cusick who was on duty at
the door fired one shot at Macdonald as
ne left the building, but the bullet did not
hit him.
While seated on the bag of cement in
front OF the building Macdonald told the
people who gathered about him that he
had killed Morris and had also shot him
self. After the shooting occurred a number
of officials visited the room, hoping they
would he able 10 assist the victim of the
former dfsbursing clerk. One of the clerks
in the department. an intimate friend Of
Mr. Morris. was sent to the Westminst =
flats to notify his wife Of what had oc-
Cured.
Coroner hewitt was also notified of the
affair. He visited the building later in the
afternoon and will probably hold an in
'fIest Monday morning
MacDonnId's Condition.
An examination of Macdonald at the
Emergency Hospital showed a pistol wound
in his stomach and cash from a knife on
his hip. 1t is not thought he will die this
afternoon. but there is little hope that he
will recover. He Is conscious but refuses
TO make any statement.
Macdonald left the inspecting division of
the sixth auditors office located in the new
city post office building, today at l1:4O
seclock. He remarked to a fellow clerk:
Il am going out now for little while
and may not be back this afternoon
The clerk replied:
We'll, Sam. 1 hope you Will have a merry
Christmas
To this Macdonald replied:
''Old man, there is nothing in it,
In leaving the office Macdonald spoke to
lady employed in the office. He in
earnest conversation with her "A few min
. uteS.
Macdonald is a veteran Of the civil war
and has always since being mustered out
% service been called Captain by his
friends ana associates. His home is in
StoUbenville. Ohio. During the he was
shot through his right hand, and that
member was partially crippled.
SiEce his reduction To a c,erkship he has
been fretting. and said he felt humilia ted.
Macdonald i 4 man of fine physique.
4 Long-Standing DificuIty
There is little doubt but that the tragedy
was the outcome Of trouble that MacDon-
aid had early this year. Owing to charges
~agGipst Macdonald, he was reduced from
his position of disbursinS officer of the Of
fee of the auditor for the WaE Department
to the position of a clerk at s.. 400 a year
in the office of the auditor for the Post Of
flee Department.
This occurred in February. and ever since
then Macdonald has been on the treasury
rolls In this office. The belief of MacDonal Id
and some of his friends has always been
1t is said, that Mr. Morris responsible
For the degradat tion of Mr. Macdonald. At
the treasury this afternoon it was stated by
Assistant Secretary Nanderlip that 1t was
unfortunate that such a belief had existed
as Mr.. Morris had nothing to do at all with
the charges that were preferred and the OUT
come. 1t is stated that Il committee from
the office OF the controller Of the treasury,
. while investigating McDonalds accounts
as disbursinS officer. discovered that ne
was 81 900 short. This led To an investiga-
ton as to his management of his affairs.
The investigation did not reveal anyt hing
d!screditable To the honesty or honor of
>McDonald, but it did show that his meth
uds of business were exceedingly slack. Nc
Donald, in making an explanation of the
shortage, said that it had been stolen from
his safe. The money was made good by
Mcdonald but IL was ascertaiIed that Me-
Donald drank freely and that he was care
less in his conduct of his office to such an
extent as TO have left his safe open for a
long time. when it could have been easily
robbed This was not commendable in the
ewes of the treasury officials. and they re-
duced Mcdonald from s. 90 a year 10
S1,4GU. stated.
Macdonald first entered the treasury serv-
ice August II, 1860. and to the posi-
ton of chief of a division in the office of
the old commissioner of customs. He left
the service for some time. but re-entered II
February II. 1890. soon becoming dsburs-
ing officer of the Office Mr. Morris was
over.
MIR. Morris Career.
- Frank ii. Morris was from Cleveland
Ohio. and was a personal friend OF Senator
Hanna and President Cleveland. He waa