The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-21
BROKER SHOT DOWN
CHARLES A. 0ErGER THEN ENDED
 HIS OWN LIFE.
James H. Oliphant ls Dying as . Re- suit sf Ballet Wound Inflicted By Geiger-TFaGedy Caused
 Some Excitement.

phant, senior member of the Stock Exchange firm of James H.sOliphant ~ Co, is dying tonight from 6 bullet wound inflicted at his office this after noon by Charles A. Geiger. customer from Beaufort s. C.. who. after firing upon Oliphant. killed himself.
 The men were closeted in oliphant's private office at the time and all that Is known of what immediately pre- ceded the shooting was learned from the lips of the dying broker. Oliphant said that his refusal to extend further credit to Geiger caused the tragedy. There Is reason to believe, however. that Geiger had become mentally ire sponsibie. A note book found upon his person contained computations by which the writer apparently had figured that he would be worth $3,000,00O by January 1, 1908. He actually possessed, so far. as his personal effects showed. less than $11.
 Geiger owed the oi:phants s5.ooo, ard had been asked for 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 1000 shares of certain stock until a rise in the price should give him profit. His proposition was refused, and the shooting followed.
 The offices of James H. oliphant & Co. are at 20 Broad Street in the cen- ter of the financial district. and the shooting caused a 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 oliphant's 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. revolver was clutched in the right band. Oliphant had slipped from his chair and lay half concealed under his desk. A bullet had entered the stom- ach. The broker was still conscious.
 At the hospital. where the operation of laparotomy was performed, it was found that the bullet had grazed the kidneys and lodged in the back. It was not removed.
 Oliphant's ante-mortem statement the brokers partners, who included oiiphant's son J. Norris Oliphant.
 According to young Oliphant, Geiger was 39 years old, six feet tall. slen- der~ead wore heavy dark mustache, belonged to the class of spectators known in the street as odd lot cus- toner's" those who always have some-
  in ten or twenty share lots, never in- vesting a great amount but frequently risking all they possess.
 Papers found In a room which Geifer occupied last plight in the Holland House. indicate, however, that he had lost no less than S75.000 in dealing in steel common, and that he still owed dicated by the papers. and partially confirmed by acauaintances. that Gel ger had lost all he possessed and that when he went to hte brokers office to- day, it was in the hope of securing credit through which he might recu- perate his fortune. He opened an ac- count with the Oliphants on September 25. 1905, and operated in steel common until September [. 1907. when he left for Beaufort, g. c. At this time his account was secured. but the recent de- pression in the price of securities re- suited in a debit balance against him of $5.000. This he was repeatedly asked to make good. ii9
 On November 30. while stopping al the Piedmont Hotel. Atlanta, Ga., hs | wrote the. .OIiphants, asking them tc | send a check to the Fifth Avenue Bank here for $250 to be charged to his aa- count. The Oliphants replied that tht request could not be granted as E' owed them money. Late yesterday Gei- ger reached New fork Hno reBistorec at the Holland House. This morning he called on Mir. Oliphant and left. il was said, without any unpleasantness. This evening he returned renewed his proposition and upon again being re- fused, suddenly drew a revolver and commenced firing. Oliphant. while sup ported in the arms of his son. was able to say: "eH shot me. I guess the pooI fellows mind was deranged
 tho boapffal to which Mr. OlfDha mi was taken. 1t was late tonight thought that death would come momentarilv. Not on Register.