The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-18
tyre and showed anger when told he would
BULLETS INSTEAD OF CHECK.

BULLETS INSTEAD OF CHECK.
Negotiations for a settlement began at
once. Messrs. Hamilton, Mallard and Good
man and Adams being present besides
Turner and his attorney. The conference
at first was in the firms general offices.
but later Mallard asked to see Mr.. Adams
and Mr.. Hamilton in Adams's private office,
Turner having refused certain propositions
While the conference I'm the private Office
was going on Turner walked in. His law
yer asked him for his check TO be used
in the settlement and Turner said:
Yes, I'll let you have it..
Then Turner closed the door Of the office
He was facing Mr.. Mallard, who had asked
him for the check. An instant after he had
pointing ii at Mallard said:
II will kill you. you d."
Then he fired two shots at Mallard. In
stantly there was wild scramble on the
part of the others in the room. All except
Hamilton dashed for the door. but Hamil-
ton, when Turner fired. sprang at him to
however, and dropping his weapon to a
level with his victims breast, fired. There
Is no witness to what followed. Mr. Lev
entritt, at the first appearance of the re-
volver, rushed out of the room, leaving his
hat behind him. Goodman followed Lew
entritt and Adams jumped to his feet as
soon as Mallard was shot, brushed past
Turner and got out of the office. AS they
left the room more shots were heard fol-
lowed by two heavy falls. There was con-
sternation in the Office. Clerks, boys and
several women employees were for a few
minutes too frightened to do anything.
When persons connected with the law
offices ventured back into the room they
found the three bodies lying close together:
On Turner's body was found an unsigned
telegram reading: Telephone message re-
ceived. VIII accept 81. 700 either from Ham
ilton or Mallard." On Turner's corpse the
coroner also found a certified check for
s2.70O. The latter is regarded as throwing
a peculiar light on the case. for it is
thought to indicate that Turner went to
the offices with the probable intention of
paying the sum OF money which was to
have settled the difficulty. If he did in
tend to pay, it is argued. he changed his
mind suddenly and decided to kill.
Edgar M. Leaventritt. who was Turner'S
counsel in the affairs preceding the trag-
edy, and who was present in the room at
the time the shooting began, made a state
ment tonight in which he defended Turner
against the charge that he was defaulter.
"Mr. Turner" he said, was not default
er. He did not criminally misappropriate
the funds of the Climax Bottling Com
pany." According to Mr.. Leaventritt Turn
er had originally put up 5000 in cash. His
overdrafts amounted to 81, $780, leaving 81 200
practically which remained as the value of
his holdings. Hamilton offered $1,000 for
Turner's share, which cthe latter accepted
and the deal closed. Turner believed
that this transaction relieved him of all
connection with the firm and closed all ac-
counts.
Asked why Turner had been prevailed
upon to agree to giving up a check for
81, 700 to settle with Hamilton and Mallard,
enced by the fact, as 1 am informed, that
he was expecting political appointment,
which would be made impossible If the
least hint of irregularity, however un-
founded, should be made against him.
The body of Turner was tonight taken
to his late home at Mount Vernon.