The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-09
AN OFFICIAL KILLED
State Comptroller of Texas Shot By a
Crazy Man
WHO THEN COMMITTED SUICIDE
Frenzled by His Supposed Wrongs
w. q. Hill, a Former Employe OF
the Official Kills State Comptroller
Love-.
Love-.

Austin. Tex, Special.-Frenzied by
supposed wrongs, W. q. Hill, an eA-
attache of the State Comptroller's OIL
fee. Tuesday morning a few minutes
mast 10 o'clock, entered the private OIL
fee of State Comptroller Love ano
killed him by means Of two well-ai-
rected bullets from a large calibre re-
yolyer. As Hill turned to fee, ne was
intercepted by Chief Clerk stevens o.
the Department, who engaged nm IN
a scuale, during which his reVoivel
was accidentally exploded. The bullet
entered Hills abdomen, causing a
wound from which he died at 8 O'CLOCK
in the afternoon, three hours after the
death of the man whose life he sought:
Thus, in brief, as told, is the story OF
the tragedy, the first assassination ever
c~hronicled in the Texas capital. Inc
shooting has thrown the town and
State in a commotion, but the death OF
the assassin, as we'll as his victim, has
closed the story in one chapter.
AS to what caused the shooting none
can explain, other than that 1t was the
act of a mailman. Hill had been an en-
ploye Of the Comptroller's ONCE 1or
ten years preceding Loves term OF OIL
flee. He was let out by Mr.. Love When
the latter took charge, and 1t Is pre-
sumed that this fact preyed upon his
mind until he went insane. Tuesday
morning. he went TO the capitol, en-
tered Mr.. Loves private office, spoke
tn him cheerfully, shook hands, ano'
| handing him a letter to read, sat down
at the invitation Of the Comptroller.
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
the other Immediately below the heart.
MIR. Love screamed, dropped the letter
and sank to the floor.
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 pistol was accidentally discharg-
| cd. 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 hos
pital. He died at 3 o'clock.
Love was given all immediate atten-
ton possible, but died within an hour
after the shooting.
The letter that Hill gave to Love
reads as follows:
Austin, Texas, -, 1903.
"Col. R. NJ. Love. State Comptroller:
Dear Sir: Public office is a public
trust. Public officers are created for
the service of the people and not for
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of a few indiyidu-
ais. The practice Of bartering Depart
ment clerkships 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 admin
istration has prompted others to rob
the State. The man who, claiming TO
be a Christian, deprives others OF en-
ployment without cause, is a base hyp-
ccrite and a tyrant. The greatest mind
that ever gave its wisdom to the
world; the mind, Of all others. most
capable Of 'umpiring the mutiny be-
tween right and wrong said, You
take my life when you do take from me
the means by which / live II that
be true, you are a murderer OF the
deepest crime. Although I cannot help
myself, before laying life's burdens
down, l shall strike a blovT-feeble
though 1t be-for the good Of my de-
serving fellowmen.
"For the right against the wrong.
"For the weak against the strong.
yours truly,
(Signed) "W. G. HILL"
Mr.. Hill was q quiet and gentleman
" 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 insti-
gated the frenzy that prompted the
shooting. 1t Is the opinion OF all that
It was the act of an insane a I'm
mediately after the shooting and while
Hill was still lying in the corridor. a
bottle Of laudanum was taken from his
rocket. and, reaching for 1t, he said:
Let me take that and die easy"
This has led many to believe that
he contemplated suicide, following his
shooting Of the Comptroller. Both men
| have families surviving them. Comp
troller Loves remains were shipped to
his old home in Limestone county Tor
irterment and Hills remains will DO