The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-01
FOR FANCIED WRONG
HILL ASSASSINATED TEXAS CON
TROLLER GENERAL.
IN A STRUGGLE TO ESCAPE
HE WAS KILLED IMMEDIATELY by
HIS OWN PISTOL.

HILL Formerly EmpIOye of Con-
trOller's ONCE, Called on Con-
trOller Love, and Sat as the Com
trOIler Started to Read a Criti-
cism of His Office Hill Submitted.
Then Hill Fired Twfce-Turning to
Hun, He Was GrappIed With-Ac-
cidental Discharge Killed Him.
Austin, Tex, June 3O.-Frenzied by
supposed wrongs, W. G. Hill, an ex-
attache of the state controllers office,
this morning, few minutes past 10
O'Clock, entered the private office of
State Controller R. M. Love and killed
him by two well-directed bullets from
a large cahbre revolver.
AS Hill turned to flee, he was inter-
cepted by Chief Clerk Stevens, of the
department, who engaged him in a
scuft1e, during which his revolver was
accidently exploded. The bullet en-
tered Hills abdomen, causing wound
from which he died at o'clock this
afternoon, three hours after the death
of the man whose life he took.
Thus, in brief, is told the story Of
the double tragedy, the first assassina-
ton ever chronicled in the Texas cap
ital The shooting has thrown the
town and state into a connection but
the death of the assassin, as well as
that of his victim, has closed the story
in one chapter.
As to what caused the shooting none
can explain, other than that it was the
act of a mailman. Hill had been an
employe of the controllers office for
ten years preceding Loves term of Of
flee. He was let out by Mr.. Love when
the latter took charge, and it is pre-
sumed that this fact preyed upon his
mind until he went insane.
As He Read a. Letter.
This morning he went to the Capitol,
entered Mr.. Loves private office, spoke
to him cheerfully, shook hands, and
handing him a letter to read, sat down
at the invitation of the controller.
No sooner had Mr.. Love begun to read
the letter than Hill sprang to his feet
and fired two shots into the body of
Mr.. Love, one taking effect just above,
and the other Immediately below the
heart. Mr.. Love screamed, dropped
the letter, sprang half forward to-
wards his assassin, then gasped and
fell backward.
Hill, seeing that his purpose had
abeen 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 pistol was accidentally discharg-
ed, the bullet entering Hills abdomen.
He fell a dead weight in Stevens
arms, and was lowered gently to the
floor, where he lay until taken to the
hospital. He died at o'clock this
afternoon.
Love was given all medical atten-
ton possible, but died within an hour
after the shooting.
Arraignment of Love.
The letter that Hill gave to Love,
reads as follows:
Austin, Tex. -, 1903.
"Col. r. M. Love, State Controller.
Dear Sir: Public office is public
trust Public officers are created for
the service of the people, and not for
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of a few individ
uals. The practice of bartering depart
ment clerkship for private gain is a
disgrace to the public service, and in
this nefarious traffic you are a record
breaker.
You have robbed the state employees
and your incompetent administration
has prompted others to rob the state.
"The man who, claiming to be
Christian. deprives others of employ
ment without cause, is base hypo-
critic and a tyrant.
1.-The greatest mind that ever gave
it's wisdom to the world; the mind of
all others most capable of umpiring
the mutiny between right and wrong
said you take my life when you do
take from me the means by which l
live If that be true, you are muir
derer of the deepest crime. Although
l cannot help myself before laying
lifes burden down, l shall strike a
blow-feeble though it be-for the good
of my deserving fellowmen.
For the right against the wrong
For the Weak against the strong.
1signed) w. C. HILL"
Had Means for Suicide.
Mr.. Hill was quiet and gentleman
Nv person. and was never known to
have been addicted to any bad habits.
At the time of the shooting he was
holding a good position here in the
city so that dire want could not have
instigated the frenzy that prompted
the shooting. 1t is the opinion of all
that it was the act of an insane man.
Immediately after the shooting, and
while Hill was still lying in the corri-
dor. a bottle of laudanum was taken
from his pocket, and reaching for it he
said 'let me take that and die easy"
This has led many to believe that he
contemplated suicide following his
shooting of the controller.
Both men have families surviving
them. Controller Loves remains were
shipped tonight to his old home in
Limestone county for interment, and
! HIPS remains will be buried here to-