Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1903-07-02
AWFULASSASSINATION|
The Taking or Of State Comptroller
DeplOrable Affair.
Is ALSO DEAD
Tae Eplstie That W. 6. Hill Wrote
His Victim and Which the Lat
ter Was Reading When
the Deed Was Done.

Austin. Tex. July Nv. @. Hin. an
ex-attaohe Of the state comptroller's
once. Tuesday morning az a few min
utes past 10 o'clock entered the private
Office Of State Comptroller r. NJ. Love.
shot and fatally wounded him by
means of two well directed bullets.
turned to Zee. was intercepted by chief
Clerk stevens % the department. who
engaged him In a scuffie. durlng which
his revolver was accidentally exploded.
the bullet entering his abdomen. caus-
ing a wound from which he died at
O'Clock that afternoon. three hours
after the death Of the man whose life
he sought.
Thus. ia brief is told the story Of the
boidesi of assassinations. and the FIRST
one ever ohroniclea In the Texas eapl-
tol. The shooting has thrown the town
and state into commotlon. but the
death Of the assassin. az well as his
victim. has closed the story In one
chapter.
A. TO what caused the shooting. none
can explain other than that it was the
act OF mad man. Hill had been EN-
ployed iu the comptroilers ONCE for
ten years preceding Loves term Of
office lie was LEI out hy Mr. Love
when the latter took charge. and II Is
presumed that this fact preyed upon
his mind until he went insane. Tues
day morning he went % the capitol.
entered Mr. Loves private Office. spoke
20 him cheerfully. shook hands. and
handing him letter 10 read. sat down
az the invitation of the comptroller.
40 sooner had Mr. Love begun the
reading ~ the letter than Hlll sprang
10 his feet and fired two shots into the
body Of AIR Love. one taking effect
just above and the other Immediately
below the heart. Mr.. Love screamed.
dropped the letter and sprane half
gasped and fell backward. Hlll seeing
that his fearful desire had been ac-
oomplished. turned 10 make for the
door. bat was intercepted By Clerk
Stevens who grappled with him and
was wrestling with him when Hilrs
pistol was accidentally discharged
the bullet entering Hilrs abdomen. lie
fell a dead weight IN Stevens arms.
and was lowered gently 70 the floor.
where be lay until taken 20 the hos
pital where he died at : o'clock. Love
was given an medical attention possi-
bic. bus died wthin an hour after the
shooting
The letter that provoked 'he shoot
iug. when picked up, was dyed IN
blood. ana read as follows:
Austin. Tex ie08--Colonel r. NJ
Love. State Compiroller-Dcar SIR.
Public office Is a public trust Public
officers are created FOR the service %
the people. and not FOR the aEErandize-
ment " a few individuals. The prac-
tice of barterlng department clerk
ships FOR private gain Il disgrace
90 the public service. and In this ne
farious trlfic you are "a record
breaker" You have robbed the state
employees. and your incompetent adj
minis,ration has prompted others to
rob the state.
The man who. claiming 90 be a
Christian. deprives others % employ
ment without cause. is n base hypo-
critic and a tyrant.
The greatest mind that ever gave
it's wisdom 10 the world. the mind of
all others most capable q "umpiring
the mutiny between right and wrong"
said: You take my life when you do
take from me the means by which I
live"
n that be true. YOU are q murderer
OF the deepest crime or hue.
Although I cannot help myself be-
fore laying life's burden down ! shall
strike biow-fcehle though u he-for
the good of my deserving fellow man.
'For the right. against the wrong,
For the weak. against the strong
Yours truly W. % HiI.L
Mr.. Hiu was a quiet and gentleman
ly person. and was never known to
drink. or had any had habits. AZ the
time of the shooting be was holding a
good position here in the city. so that
dire want could not have instigated
the frenzy that prompted the shooting
II is the opinion 90 all that u was the
act Of an lnsane man. Immediately
after the shooting ana while liiil was
stli lying In the corridor. bottle %
laudanum was taken from his pocket
and. reaching for "a. he said LET
me take that and die easy" This has
led many 20 believe that he couiem-
plated suicide following his shooting
of the comptroller. Both men have
families surviving them. Comptroller
I.oye's remains were shipped 20 his
old home IN Limestone county Tor in-
terment.