Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-21
STOCK BROKER FATALLY
WOUNDED BY CUSTOMER
James H. OINphant Receives Nor
taI Hurt at Hands Of 6. A.
GsIgsr Of Beaufort.
GE'GER THEN TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
Had Been Customer of the ELEPHANTS
and Upon Being Refused the Loan
of $1,000 sho. to kiIl-would be
Murderer and Suicide Mentally Ir-
responsible.

(By Associated Press)
NEW YORK. Dec. 21-Olliphant
died at 1903 o'clock this, Saturday,
morning.
NEW YORK. Dec. z0-James ii .
Oliiphant, ) senior member of the
Stock Exchange firm OF James Fl /.
Olliphant & Co., Is dying tonight
from bullet wound inflicted at his
Office this afternoon by CHARLES a.
Geiger customer from Beaufort, S.
c., who after firing upon Ollipnanr.
killed himself
The men were closeted in Olli-
plants private Office ut the time and
all that is known of what immedi-
atcly preceded the shooting, was
learned from the lips of the dying
broker.
Olliphant said that his refusal to
extend further credit to Geiger caus-
ed the tragedy. There is reason to
believe. however, that Gsiger had
become mentally irresponsible. a
mole book found upon hts person, con-
tanned computations by which the
writer apparently had figured that
he would be worth SO 100000 by
January /, 1908. He actually possess
ed. so far rs his personal effects
showed, less than S11.
Geiger owed the ELEPHANTS $4,000
and had been asked for settlement.
He called Mt their office today and
nffo,. tYfn ht,k H.
meet his obligation asked that the
firm advance him sufficient creGrt
to carry 5000 shares of certain
stock until rise IN the price should
yield a profit.
His proposition was refused, and
the shooting followed.
The offices of James II. Olliphant
G Co. are at 2 Broad street, in the
center of the financial district and
the shooting caused sensation in
the street and temporarily interrupt
cd the business of the curb traders,
the scene of whose activities is over
looked from the big office building.
Clerks. who pushed their way into
ELEPHANTS Office when they heard
shots fired, stumbled over Geiger's
dead body. He had shot himself in
the mouth and again in the right
temple. A revolver was clutched in
the right hand.
Olliphant had slipped from his chair
and lay half concealed under his desk
Bullet Entered His Stomach.
bullet had entered the stomach.
The broker was still conscious. AT
the hospital, where the operation OF
lapatrotomy was performed. it was
found that the bullet had grazed the
kidneys and lodged in the back. 1t
was not removed
ELEPHANTS ante-mortem statement
was supplemented by n statement
from the brokers' partners, who in
cluded ELEPHANTS son, j. Norris OIL
plant.
According to young Olliphant Gel
ger, who was 80 years Of age, SIX
feet tall, slender and wore heavy
dark mustache. belonged to the class
of spectators known in the street
as odd lot customers" those VINO
always have something on the board
buying orders in 20 share lots. never
Investing a great amount. but FIRE
qrently risking all they possess.
Papers found in n room, which
G%ger occupied last night in the
Holland House. indicate that he had
lost no less than $4,000 in dealings
liz steel common, and that he still
owed the ELEPHANTS $4,000
II was also indicated bv the papers
anu partially confirmed 75y .Jduaint-
ances that Gefger had lost all he
possessed and that when he went to
the brokers' office today 1t was in the
hope of securing credit through
which he might recuperate his for
tune.
Lost Considerable Money.
He opened an account with the OIL
phanIs on September %. 1905 and
operated in stool common until Sep
temher Z, 1"o7, when ne left rt-
eBaufort. s. C.
AT this time mis- account was Sc
cured, but the recent depreciation in