The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-07
DEAD IN His OFFICE.
BENJAMIN WE'LL THE VICTIM
OF A CUSTOMERS RAGE.

james Sullivan says He Had Sold Hin =
Horse AFFLICTED With Chambers and Wa
Trying TO Get Some OF His Money Back
Says He Insulted His Wife, Also.
Benjamin Veil, aged So, who carried on a
horse exchange at PAT North Seventh street,
Williamsburg, and lived with his wife and
n child at 27s Penn. street, was shot and
instantly killed In his Office last evening by
James Sullivan, a horse dealer Of S31 Elev-
enth avenue, Manhattan. Sullivan, who Is
45 years old, had gone to WELLS Office with
his wife to seek reimbursement for the loss
OF a horse sold TO him by WE'LL. The horsei
with three Others was purchased by Sulli-
raj from WELLS exchange three weeks ago.
Sullivan discovered that the animal, for
which he had paid $500, had glanden. The
Department Of Health shot 1t. Sullivan
went to Veil and asked him to reimburse
him for his loss. 1t was alleged that WE'LL
refused to listen to him.
Frequently after that Sullivan called
upon WE'LL and asked fora partial reimburse
ment. WE'LL refused. Sullivan and his
wife went to WELLS exchange last evening
to make another attempt to get back some
Of the money he had paid for the horse.
1tCJ W5li III Ills bILdl DuH lntbS VI
fee talking to his bookkeeper, Benjamin
Levy. WE'LL and Sullivan got talking
about the horse and when Sullivan said to
WE'LL that he ought to be ashamed Of himself
for not returning some OF the money, Mrs.
Sullivan joined in the conversation 1t is
said hat as soon as Mrs. Sullivan began to
speak Veil turned toward her and made a
disdainful remark, which Sullivan looked
upon as an insult.
Quick as a fash he drew a revolver and
without uttering a word he pointed it at
WE'LL, who had turned to run out of the
Office. Sullivan fired three shots, only
one taking effect. 1t struck WE'LL behind
the right ear and he fell forward upon his
face Sullivan made no attempt to run
away, but his wife became frightened and
rushed out Of the place. So did Levy.
The latter shouted for help and presently
a number Of employees appeared and also
Policeman Lloyd of the Bedford avenue
station. Lloyd took the revolver from
Sullivan and then summoned an ambulance
from the Williamsburg Hospital. On the
arrival Of the ambulance surgeon WE'LL
was dead.
Sullivan under a heavy guard was taken
to the police station. To Sergt. Lyons
he admitted the shooting. and said he was
glad he had done it. When the sergeant
told him that whatever he said would be
used against him he replied that he did
not care.
Il bought the revolver" said Sullivan,
'for the purpose Of killing this man.. He
sands Of dollars for horses. He sold me
a horse three weeks ago which he knew
was afflicted with CHAMBERS and when 1
spoke to him about it he would give me
no satisfaction. / called repeatedly to
see him to get back some Of my money,
I.k = $500 NJ ,,a hrN,ohf ~ q Nutfa nr-ar
with me to-day to see II that would tempt
him to reimburse me, but it not only did
not accomplish its purpose, but he had
the effrontary to insult my wife in my pres
ence. That was more than l could stand
and I pulled the revolver. am glad 1
killed him and | am prepared to take the
consequences"
After a charge Of murder had been made
against Sullivan he seemed to appre-
ciate his crime As he was being led to a
cell he appeared IN the verge Of collapse,
Margaret Ann Sullivan, the murderer's
wife, was arrested late last night by de-
t~eotives of the Bedford avenue station and
detained as a witness. They found her
with her four children in her rooms at Ss1
Eleventh avenue.
worked hard and had saved up quite a
little money. Last August he decided
to go into business as a horse dealer and
purchased from WE'LL horses for which he
paid 81 $50 in cash and $3.50 In notes. When
the notes came due my husband couldn't
meet them. WE'LL sued, levied upon and
sold some Of the horses and trucks.
After this my husband became despond-
emit. He felt that Well had wEonged
him, especially because one Of the horses
he bought from WE'LL for $3.50 had the CLAM
ders and nae to be shot. He determined to
90 over and see if WE'LL wouldn't give him
back some Of the money that, he thought,
had been ~wrongfully taken from him. He
insisted on my going along as witness to the
conversation"