The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-24
James IL. Olii,hant Victim of Geiger's
Pistol-Geiger Believed to Have
Been Mentally UnbaIanced-IIad
Recently Lost 1000 fn Stock Deal
ing-Refusal of Broker tn Extend
His Credit Followed by Shooting.

iug-RefusaI of Broker tn Extend
His Credit Followed by Shooting.
New York, December 2O.--James II
Oipnant, senior member of the stock
exchange nrm OF James II. Oliphant
& Co, is dying tonight from a bullet
wound inflicted at his office this after
noon by Charles a. Geiger, a customer
from Beaufort, $. c., who after firing
upon C!iphant killed himself.
The men were closeted in Oliphant's
private office at the time, and all that
IS known Of what Immediately preced-
Cd the shooting W&s learned from the
lips of the dying broker. Ouphant
said that his refusal to extend further
credit to Geiger caused the tragedy.
There is reason to believe. however,
that Geiger had become mentally ir-
responsible. A note book found upon
his person contained computations by
which the writer apparently had fig
cred that he would be worth $1,000
900 by January /, 1908. He actually
possessed. 81 far as his personal ef-
fects showed, less than S11.
Geiger OWed the Oliphants $4,000
and had been asked for a settlement
He called at their office today and af-
ter explaining that he could not meet
his obligation asked that the firm ad-
vance him sufficient credit to carry
5000 shares of a certain stock until
a rise in the price should Yield him
q profit. His proposition was refused
and the shooting followed.
The offices of James H Oliphant &
Co., are at 20 Broad street, in the sem
trc of the financial district and the
shooting caused 4 sensation in the
street and temporarily interrupted the
business of the curb traders the scene
of whose activities are overlooked
from the big office building.
Clerks who pushed their way into
O!iphants office when they heard
shots fired. stumbled over Gelger'S
dead BODY. He had shot himself in
the mouth and again in the right tenn
pic i revolver was clutched in the
right hand. Oliphant had slipped
from his chair and lay half concealed
under his desk A bullet had entered
the stomach. The broker was stlll
conscious AT the hospital where the
operation of laparotomy was perform
ed, it was found that the bullet had
grazed the kindeyS an0 lodged in the
back It was not removed.
Mr. Oliphant's ante morten state
ment was supplemented by talk
from the brokers' uartner. who in
cluded ELEPHANTS son Norris Ohphant'
According to young OHphant Ge!ger
who was SO years of age, feet tall,
slender. and wore a heavy dark mus
tache, belonged to the class OF specu-
lators known iE the street as odd lot
customers" Those who always have
something on the board. buying or
selling in ten or twenty share lots,
frequently risking all they possess.
Papers found in a room which
Geiger occupied lastpight in the Hol-
land House indicate, however, that ne
had not less than $4,000 in deal
ing in steel common and that be still
owed the Onphants $4,000. It was
also indicated by the papers, and par
TALLY confirmed by acqua1ntances,
that Geiger had lost all he possessed
and that when he went to the broker s
office today it was in the hope of Sc
curing credit through which he might
recuperate his fortune.
He opened an account with the OH
phant on September 9Th. 1906, and
operated in steel common until Sep
tember 7. 1907, when he left for Beau
fort. g G.. At the time his account
was secured, but the recent deprecla-
ton In the prices of securities resulted
in a debit balance against hlm OF
$1,000. This he was repeatedly asked
to make good On November SVtn,
while stopping at the Piedmont Hotel
Atlanta Ga, he wrote the Ohphants,
asking them to send a check to the
Fifth Avenue Bank, here. for $25O, TO
be charged to his account.
The Olfphants replied that the re
Quest could not be granted as he owed
them money.
Late yesterday Geiger reached New
York and registered at the Holland
House. This morning he called on Mr.
Oliphant and left it was said, without
any unpIeasantness. This afternoon ne
returned. renewed his petition and,
uDon AGAIN being refused, suddenly
drew a. revolver and commenced tlrlng
Onehant while supported in the arms
of hrs son, was able to say:
He shot me. / guess the poor lei
lows mind was deranged. OUTSIDE
of his Wall street trading compara-
lively little is known of G1eger mere.
Oliphant is prominent IN business
and socially He is a director IN the
Lafayette Fire Insurance company
the st. Lawrence River Real Estate
association, trustee in the Title
Guaranty and Trust company, MEM |
Der Of the stock exchange, the chamber
Of commerce, the New York Athletic |
and other clubs. He is 54 years OF |
age and wealthy. The stock exchange |
firm Is made up of Mr. Oliphant, mis- |
SON, J. Norris; Alfred Norris and |
Floyd W. Munday.
BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION