The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-22
MURDER SUICIDE.
The Officers Of the Climax Bottling
Company Murdered
BY ITS FORMER PRESIDENT

BY ITS FORMER PRESIDENT.
The Murderer Then Kills Himself:
Called Prepared to Pay Up
= Shortage. But Used
Pistol.
An awful tragedy was enacted in
the heart of the city OF New York on
! last Friday. Using a new automatic
magazine pistol. Wm. c. Turner. for
mer president and treasurer OF the
Climax Hottline company. shot and
killed W. J. Mallard. secretary and
treasurer Of the company and Robert
Hamilton. it's president. and then
killed himself with the same weapon.
4 second revolver. loaded in every
chamber. was found in Turner's
pocket. and it is believed he planned
TO take more lives than he did. Tnc
| shooting was caused by Il quarrel be-
! tween the three men over an alleged
shortage in Turner's accounts. Tor
which lie was threatened with crim;-
nal prosecution. The tragedy occurred
in the offices of the law firm Of Cantor.
Adams & Mcintyre in the heart OF the
Wall street district during the busy
noon hour. Turner. who was Is years
of aye and lived at Mount Vernon. \.
Y, was a cousin Of Gov. odell Of New
York.
All of the principals in the tragedy
were married. Mallard was So years
old. native Of Atlanta. Ga. where
he was well Known in business and
social circles. lie was president OF
the Young Mems Democratic League
there. He had been in New York
about four years and lived with bis
wife and two children in an uptown
fiat. Mr.. Hamilton lived in Pitts
burg, where he was president OF the
J. T. & y. Hamilton glass factories.
He was about 80 years old. He arriv-
ed in New York Thurday in response
to telegram from Turner received at
PittSburg, which said:
Meet me in New York Friday and
l will settle with you"
The three men met in the law Of
fees by appointment to allow Turner
to make a partial settlement and he
was asked for a certified check. i
have it," he said, and then he closed
the door Of the room. An instant
later he drew revolver and began
firing. Mallard fell shot through the
heart and HAMILTON lived only a few
moments. \ number Of other persons
| who were in the room, clerks and
members OF the firm, fled in panic.
After killing Hamilton aud Mallard.
Turner Shct himself in the head. Some
moments later, hearing no more shots,
the persons who fled ventured back
into the room and found the three
| bodies
Turner retired as president Of the
Climax Bottling company last April
when he was bought out by Hamilton.
After the sale it was discovered, in
! examining the books Of the concern
that there was shortage OF s., 100 IN
Turner's accounts. The Climax COM
pany engaged John +. Mcintyre, form
er assistant district attorney, and NJ.
Goodman. both of the firm in whose
offices the shooting occurred, to effect
settlement with Turner and he en-
gagged Edgar Leventritt to represent
his interests. Some difficulty had
! been met with in negotiations which
| followed between the lawyers, but it
was finally agreed to accept 81, 700
and give Turner release in full.
Thursday night it was agreed that
the settlement would take place in
the offices of Cantor. Adams & Nc
Intyre Friday at II o'clock.
Before he left the conference Thurs
day night Turner anxiously asked that
Mr.. Mcintyre be present at Fridays
meeting, and MI. Mcintyre has said
since the Shootig he did not like Tur-
ner'S mannr Thursday, as the latter
seemed, in his opinion, to bear him
self recklessly and with the demeanor
Of a man who might do almost any
desperate act. st the appointed hour
Friday Turner, with his lawyer, enter
ed the law office. Mr.. Goodman usher
ed Turner and his lawyer into the
private office of Mr.. Adams. Leven-
tritt, it is said, told Turner to remain
outside. Turner refused, saying that
he wanted to close the matter at once.
Turner Immediately after entering
asked for Mr.. Mcintyre and showed
anger when told he would not be at
the conference.
Negotiations for settlement began
at once, MeSSrs. Hamilton, Mallard
and Goodman and Adams being pres
ent beside Turner and his attorney.
The conference at first was in the
firms general Office, but later Mallaru
asked to see Mr.. Adams and Mr..
Hamilton in Adams private office,
Turner having refused certain propO-
sitionS. While the conference in the
private Office was going on Turner
walked in. His lawyer asked him for
his check to be used in the settlement
and Turner said: Yes, Ill let you
have it,"
Then Turner closed the door Of the
office. He was facing Mr.. Mallard.
who had asked him for the certified
check. In an instant after he had
shut the door he drew a revolver and
pointing it at Mallard said: IN kill
you. you d" Then he fired two
shots at Mallard. Instantly there was
a wild scramble on the part Of the
others in the room. All except Ham
ilton dashed for the door, bat uamil-
ton when Turner fired, Sprang at him
IL