Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-18
1877 BRANDY
QUARREL ENDS In A TRAGEDY
William O. Turner Sheets Two Men Dead
and Kills Himself.
BLOODY SCENE IN NEW YORK OFFICE
Three Dead Men, Partners in BOttIinE
Works, and TrOubI Arises over
Settlement of Accounts Be-
tween Themselves
BLOODY SCENE IN NEW YORK OFFICE

NEW YORK, Oct. 17.-William C.. Turner
today shot and killed Robert Hamilton Of
Pittsburg and w. J. Mallard in the office Of
the law firm OF Cantor, Adams & Mcintyre
In Broad street and then committed sui
eide.
Turner was at one time treasurer of the
Climax Bottling company, in which the
other two men were interested, and in
which the three met today for a settlement
OF an alleged defalcation on the part or
Turner. A heated argument arose and
Turner, drawing a revolver, killed Hamil-
ton and Mallard and then turning the
weapon upon himself, committed suicide.
Turner came from Mount Vernon, n. Y.
Turner was also president Of the bottling
company and IL is alleged that he was a
defaulter to the sum of IS 5000 in his &C
counts and he met his victims by appoint
ment to effect a settlement. A member Of
the law firm in whose ofices the shooting
occurred said that after the three had been
In conference Turner said: well, here's
a check for SIS, 000." With hat he put his
hand In his pocket. flashed out a revolver,
and fred at Mallard point blank. Hamilton
made q Jump for Turner and grappled with
him, but Turner succeeded in turning his
revolver on Hamilton and killed him. Be-
fore anyone could get into the room, the
murderer killed himself. Another account
said that he called Mallard a vile name.
Threatened with Prosecution
Turner had been told of what the experts
had found in his accounts and was informed
that he would have to settle or be prose-
cuted by law. The matter drifted along
for three or four months and there was
constant wrangling on both sides. Several
..a AAId HA-n 49, NaTy
firm and Turner, in which Mr.. Mcintyre,
who is the ex-assistant district attorney,
took an active part.
Turner at last agreed to pay the money
and a meeting was arranged IN the lawyers
office last night. When Turner arrived last
night he asked for Mcintyre, who was out.
After a short talk Turner said that he had
a check with him, but 1t was not certified,
He then said he would get 1t certified today
and would bring II to the ONCE. Today
there was a long conference, which, II is
believed, was very unpleasant on both sides.
Lawyer LeventTitt, Turner's counsel, who
also was present, finally turned around and
asked Turner for the check. Turner re-
piled that ne would produce 1t, but instead
drew the revolver.
Yes. I'm going to give you the check.
I'm going to kill you, you --"
He then fired two shots.
Willard Killed Instantly.
Mallard jumped UP and ran behind Mr..
Adams, who was on the opposite side of
the table from Turner. but Turner's bullet
took effect, killing Mallard almost in
stantly. His body fell behind Adams and
partly behind a desk. No one who was in
the room could tell how Hamilton was shot.
From the position OF his body It would
appear that he tried to stop Turner's pur-
pose TO kill. He also was shot In the head.
Turner placed the revolver in his right ear
and pulled the trigger, His death was in
Simultaneous.
The men In the room at the time were
John ]. Adams, who was acting for Mr..
Mcintyre; Edgar r. Leventritt. Mr.. Turner,
Mr.. Goodman, who was present as a notary
public; Mr.. Lyman Mallard and Mr.. Ham
ilton.
Borough President Jacob Cantor made the
following statement with reference to the
murder and suicide:
l understand that the man who did the
shooting was the ex-president Of the CT
max BOttling company OF Pittsburg, the
men shot were the president and secretary
Of the company; Ny, partner. MT Meln-
stand that II had been alleged that Turner
was short in his accounts.
Thu three men met in the once OF Mr.,
Mcintyre last night TO try 10 come TO q
settlement. and the eK-president gave a
check for a sun OF money 10 the other two
The check was not certified. and the three
were TO meet again today. When they met
this morning my partner was IN court.
Mr.. Adams informed me he was In HIS
room writing when he heard a shot. fol-
lowed by several other shots. When the
smoke had cleared away he found the three
men dead on the floor.
When persons connected with the Law
ohhces ventured back into the room they
found the three bodies lying close together
On Turner'S body was found al unsigned
telegram, reading.
Telephone message received. VIII accept
s., 100 either from Hamilton or Mallard.
On Turner the coroner found . certified