Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-06-23
Bookkeeper For Superior
Supply Company Takes
His Life by Pistol
Route
Shortage in His Accounts
Drives Him to the
Rash Act

keeper for the Superior supply Co..
committed suicide in room No. y nc
evening at 3;20, using a. death
Instrument ~ g: calibrc smith and
Wcsson revolver.
MIR. Patterson. who for some time
has been employed by the Superior
Supply Company. in the capacity OF
bookkeeping and who originally
halls from New York, has been
known to number OF our people
and they were. much shocked last
evening when they learned that he
had committed the rashact.
Mr.. Patterson was, few days ago.
suspended from his position bS the
company, pending an Investigation
OF his books. which they had reasons
tobelieve were not in proper shape.
B. B. Harding. an expert bookkeep-
or and accountant, of Graham. Va.
was employed by the company to au-
dit the accounts and see IL all the
reports and time slips OF the company
were correct.
II is "A known fact that MIR. Patter-
son has been indulgineN in stroG drink
since his suspension and it/is the be
lief that while under the influence
of intoNicants he committed the act.
MIR. Patterson Il seems, on account
of the fact that his wife contemplated
trip TO New York, and was TO
leave for that city last nlgjr engag-
ed a room "a, the Altamont Hotel
and WAS assigned To room No. =.
Last evening gbout 3 O'Clock y.
Howard smith, tSenMpl Manager OF
the Superior Supply Company. with
j. X. billiard, attorney for the Com
pany. were looking for Mr.. Patter-
son to converse with him on some
business matters. and learning that
he had engaged room at the Alta
mont went to the hotel and ascer-
tanning the number of the room went
to seek him
II seems from reports that Mr..
Patterson had learned that these
gentlemen were hunting him and he
proceeded then toJfis room took on
his hat coat and shoes
Messrs smith and billiard upon
arriving at Mr.. Pattersons SOON.
knocked on thc door. Mr.. Patterson
asked them who was there and they
told him lie then approached the
door and fumblcd with the knob as
though he vas going to admit them.
The next instant they were startled
by the report Of revolver close to the
door and suspocting the nature OF the
shot FASTENED TO the street to give
tho alarm
when officers and spectators en-
tered iho room they found Mr.. pat
terson cold in death. lying on the
uoor, with "a wound in the head be
hind the ear, made by % caIlbre
Smith and Wesson revolver which
was stIll clutched i'm his hand.
The proper authorities were at
once notified but they deemed it un-
necessary to hold an inquest and his
remains we're removed to the under
taking establishment Of w S. Crock
EFT whore they were prepared for
burial
when interviewed last evening by
q representative Of the Daily Leader.
representatives Of the Company re-
fused to make any statement as 10
the amount Of the shortage Of Mr..
Patterson
Mr. Patterson and his wife origl-
nally came from New York. the first
position occupied by him fro this sec
tion being General Manager Of the
Russell Creek Coal Co. at Virginia
/ city va,which position he resigned
about two years ago.
Ho leaves wife. but no children.
Mrs Patterson has the sympathy of
@ largo circle Of friends ln This city.
re was thorough business man and
was held in high esteem by those
who knew him.
After the remains Of Mr. Patterson
we're prepared for burial. they we're
loft at The undertaking establish
ment Of W s Crockett until O'Clock
last night, when they were removed