The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-07-10
a MA an ASS ASSIN.
sfdoA 1ands WITH His Victim; Theft
Shot Hin to Death. 81 4.
TEXAS coMPrRoI1ER is SLAIN
The !assniiant Former Attache,
who After tho Crime. Aooi-
den.al,y Kills Himself,

a
dentaliy Kills HlmselE; 'i
Supposed Wrongs.
There was terrible tragedy enact
ed at Austin, Texas, on Tuesday
morning Of last week Frenzicd by
supposed wrongs, w. G. Hill. an ex-
attache Of the State comptroller's
Office, Tuesday morning, few
minutes past 10 O'clock, entered the
private Office OF State Comptroller r.
NJ. Love and killed him by means Of
two well-directed shots from large
caltbre revolver. AS Hill turned to
flee, he was intercepted by Chief
Clerk Stevens Of the department., who
engaged him in scufile, during which
his revolver was accidentally exploded.
The bullet entered Hill's abdomen
causing a wound from which he died
at 3 o'clock In the 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 chronlcled
in the Texas capital. The shooting
has thrown the town and State into
commotion, but the death Of the
assassin, rs we'll as 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 madman. Hill had been
an employe Of the comptroller's office
for 10 years preceding Loves term Of
office. He was let out by MIR. Love
when the latter took charge and it is
presumed that this fact preyed upon
his mind until he went insane. This
morning be went to the capitol, en-
tered Mr.. Loves private office, spoke
to him cheerfully, shook hands, and
handing him letter to read, sat down
at the invitation Of the comptroller.
No sooner had Mr.. Love began to read
the letter than Hill Sprang to his feet
and fired two shot into the body OF
Mr. Love, one taking effect just above,
and the other Immediately below, the
heart MIR. Love screamed, dropped
the letter and sprang half forward to-
wards his assassin, then gasped and
fell backward.
Hill, seeing that his purpose had
been accomplished, turned to make
for the door. He was intercepted by
Chief Clerk Stevens who grapped
with him and was wrestling with him
when HIPS pistol was accidentally
discharged the bullet entering Hills
abdomen. He fell 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 attention possible but died
within an hour after the shooting.
The letter that Hill gave to Love
rea Is as follows:
Austin, Tex, XXX, 1908.
Col. r. M. Love, State Comptroller.
| Dear Sir: Public Office is a public
trust. Public Offices are created for
Gna' service OF the people and not for
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of few in1ivid-
uals. The practice Of bartering de-
partment clerkships for private gain
Is 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, deprlves
others Of employment without cause,
Is a base hypocrite and q tyrant. The
greatest mind that ever gave it's wis
dom 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
live If that be true, you are mur-
derer Of the deepest crime. Although
I cannot help myself before laying
life'S burden down 1 shall strike
blow-feeble though it be-for the
good Of my deserving fellowmen.
For the right against the wrong.
For the weak against the strong.
Yours truely,
w. G.. Hill.
Mr. Hill was a quiet and gentleman
ly person and was never known to
have been addicted to any bad habits.
At the time Of the shooting he was
holding good position in the city, so
that dire want could not have in
stigated the frenzy that prompted the
shooting. 1t is the opinion of all that
1t was the act Of an insane man. I'm
mediatcly after the shooting and willie
Hill was still lying in the corridor, a
BOTTLE Of lautanum was taken from
his pocket, and reaching for it, he
said: Let me take that and die easy"
This had led many to believe that he
contemplated suicide following his
shooting OF the comptroller Both
men have families surviving them.
Comptroller Loves remains were ship