The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-18
BUSINESS NAN wREAKs|5iA1H Kills Associatzy' and Com
 mitS z lcide.
 -s- AN ALLEGED SHORTAGE Terrible Tragedy in Wall
 Street District. Panic Created by Murder of ". J. Mallard and Robert Hamilton and Suicide of William
 Turner.
AN ALLEGED SHORTAGE


 matic magazine pistol, William Turner, former President and Treasurer of the Climax Bottling Company, today shot and killed w. J. Mallard, secretary and treas urer of the company and Robert Hamil- ton its president and then killed him. self with the same weapon. second revolver, loaded in every chamber. was found in Turner's pocket and 1t ts be- Iieved he planned to take more lives than he did.
 The shooting was caused by quarrel between the three men over an alleged shortage in Turner's accounts for which he was threatened with criminal prosecu- tion.
 The tragedy occurred in the offices of the law firm of Canter, Adams & Mo Intyre in the heart of the Wall Street district, during the busy noon hour. Tur- ner, who was 4s years of age and lived at Mount Vernon. N. Y., a suburb of this city, was a cousin of Governor Odell of this State. The head of the law firm in whose offices the shoting occurred Is President Canter of the Borough of Man haitian.
 Soon after the shots rang out in the office building a wild rumor was started that the borough president had been killed.
 All of the principals In the tragedy were married. Mallard was 36 years of age, a native of Atlanta, Ga, where he was well known in business and social orioles He was president of the Young Mens Democratic Club there. He had been in this city about four years and lived with his wife and two children in an uptown fiat. Mir. Hamilton lived in Pittsburg. where he was president of the J. T.. and A. Hamilton glass factories. He was | about 60 years of age
 He arrived in this city yesterday In response to a telegram from Turner. re- ceivsd at Pittsburg which said Meet me in New York Friday and l will settle with you.''
 Met by Appointment. The three men met in the law offices by appointment to allow Turner to make partial settlement and he was asked for a certified check
 T have it," he said, and then he closed the door of the room.
 An instant later he drew a revolver and began firing. Mallard fell, shot through the heart and Hamilton lived only a few moments. A number of other persons who were in the room, clerks and mem bers of the firm, fled in a panic. After killing Hamilton and Mallard. Turner shot himself In the head. Some moments later. hearing no more shots, the persons who fled returfned back into the room and found three bodies.
 Turner retired as president of the Cli- max Bottling Company last April when he was bought out by Hamilton. After the sale 1t was discovered, in examining the books of the concern, there was shortage of $5, 100 in Turner's accounts. The Climax Company engaged John F. Mcintyre, former Assistant Distdict At torney and M. Goodman. both of the firm in whose office the shooting occurred to- day to effect a settlement with Turner and he engaged Edgar Leventritt to rep resent his interests. Some difhcuity had been met with in the negotiations which followed between the laweyrs. but 1t was finally agreed to accept H.7oo ana give Turner a release in full.
 Last night 1t was agreed that the set clement should take place in the offices of Canter, Adams 6 Mcintyre today at Il o'clock.
 Bore Himself Recklessly.
 Bafors he left the conference last night Turner anxiously asked that MT. McIn- tyre be present at today's meeting and MT. Mcintyre has said since the shooting that he did not like Turner's manner yes terday, as the latter seemed, In his opin- ion to bear himself recklessly ana with the demeanor of a man who might do al- most any desperate act.
 At the appointed hour today Turner with his lawyer. entered the law omces Mir. Goodman ushered Turner and his lawyer into the private office of MT. Ad- ans. Leventritt. it s eaid. told Turner to remain outside. Turner refused saying that he wanted to close the matter at once Turner immediately after entering asked for MT. Mcintyre and showed an ger when told he would not be at the conference.
 Negotiations for a settlement began at once, Messrs Hamilton, Mallard and Goodman and Adams being present, be- sides Turner and his attorney. The con ference was at first in the firms general office but later Mallard asked to see Mir. Adams and MT. Hamilton in Mir. Adamss prive office, Turner having refused cer- tain propositions.
 While the conference in the private of- flee was going on Turner walked In. His lawyer asked him for his check to be used in the settlement and turned said "Yes. I'll let you have it.
 Then Turner closed the door of the of- flee. He was facing MT. Mallard, who had asked him for the check.
 q Will Kill You"
 An insant after he had shut the door, he drew a revolver and pointing it at MallarQ, Sdlu, T VIII klll yOu' you - Then he fired two shots at Mallard.
 Instantly there was a wild scramble on the part of the others in the room.
 All except Hamilton dashed for the door, but Hamilton, when Turner 1reo' sprang at him to grappls. Turner was to quick for him. however. and cropping his weapon to a level of his victim breast fired. There is no witness to what followed.
 Mir. Leventritt at the first appearance of the revolver rushed out of the room leaving his hat behind him. Goodman followed Leventritt and Adams jumped to his feet as soon as Mallard was shot. brushed Turner and got out of the of flee. As they left the room more shots were heard. followed by two heavy falls'
 There was consternation in the ohicc; clerks, boys and several women employss were for a few minutes so frightened they did not know anything. Persons connect