The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-08
4 Ian ASSASSIN.
Shook Hands With His Victim. Then
Shot Him to Death.
TEXAS COMPTROLLER rs SLAIN
The :assaiiant a. Former Attache,
Who After the Crime, Acct
dentally Kills Himself,
Supposed Wrongs.


ed at Austin, Texas, en- Tuesday
morning of last week. Frenzied by
supposed wrongs. W. G. Hill, an ex-
attache Of the State comptroller's
office, Tuesday morning, a 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 a large
calibre revolver. AS Hill turned to
flee, he was intercepted by Chief
Clerk Stevens Of the department. who
engaged him in scutlle, during which
his revolver was accidentally exploded.
The bullet entered Hills abdomen
causing a wound from which he died
at ; o'clock in the afternoon, three
hours after the death Of the man
whose lie he sought. Thus, in brief,
is told the story of the double tragedy,
the first assassination ever chronicled
in the Texas capital The shooting
has thrown the town and State into
commotion, but the death Of the
assassin, as well 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 tenn OF
office. He was let out by Mr.. Love
when the latter took charge and it is
presumed that this fact preyed upon
his mind until be went insane. This
morning he went to the capitol, en-
tered Mr.. Loves private office, spoke
to him cheerfully, shook hands, and
handing him a 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. Mr.. 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. H was intercepted by
Chief Clerk Stevens who grapped
with him and was wrestling with him
when Hills 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 3 o'clock
this afternoon. Love was given all
medical attention possible bat died
within an hour after the shooting.
The letter that Hill gave to Love
rea Is as follows:
Austin, Tex, Xxx, 1903.
Col. R. M. Love. State Comptroller.
Dear Sir: Public office isa public
trust. Public offices are created for
the service OF the people and not for
the aggrandizement OF few individ-
uals. The practice Of bartering de-
partment clerkships for private gain
is disgrace to the public service,
and in this nefarious traffic you are q
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, depri7es
others of employment without cause,
is a base hypocrite and tyrant. The
greatest mind that ever gave its 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 l
live If that be true, you are a mur-
derer of the deepest crime. Although
I cannot help myself before laying
life's burden down I 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.
Yours truely,
w q IJj11