The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-01
MURDER
in STATE
CAPITOL
Texas Comptroller Killed
byFormer Employe.
THOUGHT THAT ACT
WAS OF A MADMAN
Murderer Himself Killed in
Struggle with Clerk.
CRIME SEEMS TO HAVE
BEEN PREMEDlTATED
Gave Victim Letter to Read, and
While He Was Not Looking Fired
Two Fatal Shots With Re.
Bottle Containing
Laudanum on His
Person.
Murderer Himself Killed in
Struggle with Clerk.
CRIME SEEMS TO HAVE
BEEN PREMEDlTATED

(By Associa ted Press.o
AUSTIN, TEXAS, juno 30.-Frenzied
by supposed wrongs, w. G. Hill. an e1-
attache OF the State Comptrolers office.
this morning, a few minutes past 10
O'clock. entered the private office OF
stae Comptroller r. n. Love and killed
him by means of two well -directed bullets
from large calibre revolver. AS Hill
turned to flee he was intercepted by
Chief Clerk Stevens. OF the department.
who engaged him in scuffle. during
which Hills revolver was accidentally
discharged. The bullet entered HIS
abdomen, causing wound from which
he died at 3 O'clock this afternoon, three
hours after the death Of the man whose
life he sought. Thus. in brief, Is told
the story Of the double tragedy. the first
assassination ever chronicled In the Texas
capitol. The shooting has thrown the
town and State into a commotion. but the
death of the assassin, as we'll as his
victim, has closed the story In ore chap
ter.
AS to what caused the shooting no one
can explain other than 1t was the act of
a mailman. Hill had been an employe
OF the comptrol1er's Office for ten years
preceding Loves term of Office. lie was
let out by Mr.. Love when the latter took
charge, and 1t Is presumed that this
fact preyed on his mind until he went
insane. This morning he vent to the
CAPITOL entered Mr.. Loves private office
spoke to him cfeerfuly. shook hands
and handing him q letter to reas.. sat
down at the invitation of the comptroller.
No sooner had Mr.. Love begun to read
tho letter than Hill sprang to his feet
and fired two shots into the body OF MIR.
Love. one taking effect just above and
the other Immediately below the heart.
Mr.. Love screamed, dropped the letter
and sprang half way forward towards
his assassin then gasped and fell back
ward.
Hill, seeing that his purpose had been
accomplished. turned to make for the
door He was intercepted by Chief Clerk
Stevens. who grappled with him. and
was wrestling with him when Hills pis-
tol was accidentally discharged, the bullet
entering Hills abdomen.
He fell In Stevens arms and was low
cred to the floor. where he lay until taken
to the hospital. He died at O'Clock this
afternoon. Love was given all medical
attention possible. but died within an
hour after the shooting.
THE LETTER.
The letter that Hill gave Love reads
4 austin, Texas, -. 1903.
E"Colonel r. NJ. Love, State Controller:
.Deir sir,-Public Office is a public
trust. Public officers are created for the
seryic1 os the people. and not for tho
aggraalzement of few individuals The
practids of bartering department clerk
shIps ftr private gain is disgrace to the
public lerv!ce, and in this nefarious traf-
fic youl are a record-breaker.
,.You have robbed tho State employees
aid yofr Incompetent administration has
prompt9d others to rob the State.
aTbe man, who. claiming to- be Chris
tim. debriyes others of employment with
t.r. sauase, is hase hypocrite and a
tyrant.