New-York tribune., 1907-12-21

JAMES II. OL1PHANI-
Shot and mortally wounded In his once yesterday
lost over $4,000 through speculation in stocks
within the last ten months. turned the re-
yolver on himself and died instantly.
Mr.. Oliphant died in the Hudson Street Hos
pital at 2:o3 o'clock this morning He was con-
scious until after midnight, but no hope OF ms
recovery was entertained after the doctors ex-
animation.
The shooting took place about 2-1O p m. in
a private room connected with the offices OF
Mr.. OIiphants firm. No other members OF the
firm were in the office at the time A~clerk who
rushed to the room the shots were
heard found Mr.. Oliphant perfectly conscious
lying backward on the table in the centre of the
room while DR.. Geiger. with a bullet through
his head, was dead on the floor AS soon as an
ambulance could be summoned Mr. Ohpnanr
was taken to the Hudson Street Hospital, where
he was found to be in critical condition
To Patrolman Taylor who rushed to the scene
from Broad street, Mr. Oliphant said of the
shooting: This owed some money.
gave him time to pay it, He wanted me 10
carry him along further. I refused, and ne
shot me-.
DIR. Geiger was staying at the Holland House.
Coroner AcrfteIli. who took charge of the case
soon after the shooting. found in the dead mans
pocket letter from Mr. Oliphant saying that
the doctor owed the firm $1,000 Through the
papers I'm his bag at the Holland House the cor
oner discovered that he had lost $4,000 or more
in speculation since the first of the year. and
that all but Sc 80 had been withdrawn from an
account in the Fifth Avenue Bank No sign.
however of a previous determination TO commit
suicide could be found
Coroner AeritelIi inclined to account for
the presence In the bag of complete outfit for
49,. z-s< hat
the title OF "Dr." the envelopes of all his pri-
vate letters meant that he a practising
physician
According TO statement issued at the Offices
of the brokerage firm yesterday afternoon.
Creiger had traded with the firm IN a small way
from time to time since September 25- 1905 On
account of depreciation in value of securities of
his which the firm heli there has been debit
balance of several thousand dollars for several
weeks This Geiger was requested several
times to make up
MR. OLIPHANT TELLS OF SHOOTING
At the Hudson Street Hospital yesterday
afternoon MIR. Oliphant was able to tell Coroner
AcriteIn what he knew of the shooting Ac-
cording to the Coroner his statement was sub
stantially follows:
This man came to me about 1880 this
morning and talked with me about two hours.
there no money left to his account, but that he
owed the firm $4,000. Then I went out to lunch
When came back about O'Clock Geiger was
waiting for in the hallway We talked about
five minutes He asked me again to buy more
stock for him without his putting up any nore
collateral I refused. and told him the best +
could do was to give him thirty days to settle
up his account
"Geiger jumped up then suddenly from his
chair. Jamming his right hand In his pocket
AS he got up he said In a very matter of fact
voice:
rs that all you're going to do for me?'
II thought he leaving. and rose and
said. Yes. that's all.' when he suddenly drew
the pistol and shot me.
Il fell backward on the table, there was
seconds blur before my eyes, and then heard
another shot and Geiger fall to the floor"
During the seconds blur before Mr.. Oliphant's
eyes Geiger had shot the first time at himself.
His hand was shaking, however. and the shot.
instead of passing through his head. grazed his
mouth. cutting OF his lips. At his second
attempt his hand was steadier and a shot lust
behind his right killed him instantly.
Drs. L. A Dessauer and H N Baruch. retired
physicians who were In the offices of A A.
Hausman. on the same floor of the building a.
the time and were personal trends of Mr.. oil.
phant, rushed across the hall as they
heard of the tragedy and did everything possible
for the injured until the arrival of the
ambulance. The news of the shooting spread
RAPIDLY through the financial district j. Nor
ris Oliphant, the only son of the wounded man,
was on the floor of the Stock Exchange at the
time executing orders for the firm when he
heard his father had been shot. He rushed to
the second floor of the adjoining building. where
he found his father still conscious but suffering
intense pain
Mrs Olphant was told soon afterward that
her husband had been shot and she hastened to
his side at the hospital She with her hus-
band throughout the evening Dr. Louis A.
Stimson, the head surgeon. operated on Mr.. OIL
phant but was unable TO find the bullet.
Meanwhile the body Of the doctor had been
moved to the Old Slip police station He
seemed to have been man about thirty-eight
years old In his pockets were found s1f in
cash, a gold watch, few memorandum slips
and letter from Mr.. Oliphant. dated Decem-
AFTER ALL. uSHER'S THE ScoTcH