The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-09
His AsSailant Then Promptly
Committed Suicide.
BULLET IN STOMACH
Victim of the Attack Has a
Chance to Recover.
Author cf Shooting a StenOg-
rapher Nam ed Mackey.

New York Nov. 9.-Postmaster Ed
ward NJ Morgan of this city, was shot
down in the street as he was leaving
his house in One Hundred and Four
teenth street for the postoffice this
morning by Eric H. B. Mackey, a
stenographer employed by a down
town firm who then shot and killed
himself. The single bullet which struck
Mr. Morgan entered at the right side
of the abdomen and passed out at the
left side without penetrating the walls.
There was no internal bleeding and
there is every likelihood that the
wounded man will recover.
The only excuse known for the shoot
ing was that Mackey had complained
to the authorities at the postoffice in
Washington that his mail had been
tampered with and that some one
turned out an electric light when he
was reading by it in the corridor of
the pOstOffiCe.
Mackey had received 81 reply that
there was no evidence of tamperins
with his mail, and that the incident of
the electric light was an accident
Mackey's employers, the firm of Hunt,
Hill & Belts, declared they could
account for the tragedy only on the
theory that Mackey was insane. Be
sides a revolver, it was found that
Mackey carried a dagger and a slung-
shot. Mackey was an Englishman 81
yaers of age and he formerly was en-
ployed in Boston.
The shooting took place in the pres
ence of Miss Dorothy Morgan, the IA
year-old daughter of the postmaster
who was accompanying him to the sub
way station on her way to school.
Mackey had been pacing up AMI
down the sidewalk near the corner or
Broadway and One Hundred and
Forty-sfxth street for two hours before
the shooting. When Mr.. Morgan and
BIS daughter left their home and walk
%~f toward Broadway Mackey turned
A@wn the side street and met them. Evil
1Sntly he had never seen them before,
FOr he met Mr.. Morgan he asked:
Are you Postmaster MOrgan?" At
Mr.. MOrgan's affirmative reply Mackey
drew his revolver and fired one shot
into the poStmaSter's abdomen. The
wounded man fell to the sidewalk and
as two of the witnesses of the shooting
came running up, Mackey lay down on
the sidewalk, opened his vest and sent
one bullet into his head and another
entered his heart. He was dead when
the first man reached him.
Mr.. Morgan was carried into his own
home, physicians were hastily sum-
moned and it was found that the bullet
had merely passed through the f1eshy
portion of the abdomen for eight
Inches, infiicting superficial wound
Mr.. Morgan declared that he did noG
know Mackey and never saw him be-
fore the shooting. 1t was learned that
the man answering Mackey's descrip-
ton had called at Mr.. Morgan's home
three times during the past 10 days.
Mr.. Morgan had LETT his home in
West 146th street for his office and
had just reached the corner at Broad
way When the man stepped in front of
MIN Ihere We're several persons with
In a few feet of the two men, but none
Of them heard a word spoken and the
first intimation they had of trouble
was when shot rang out and Mr..
Morgan fell to the ground with a bull
let through his stomach. He lost con-
sciOusness Immediately.
For an instant after the shot had
been fired the assailant stood looking
down upon his victim. Then he raised
the still smoking revolver and press
ing 1t against his forehead, pulled the
trigger The bullet did not cause a
fatal wound and once more and then
a third time. the man sent a bullet
crashing against his skull. The third
pail penetrated the brain and the man
fell dead. AS he lay there with the
revolver still clenched in his hand,
several persons who had witnessed the
double shooting rushed up to the as
s1stance of Mr.. Morgan, whom some
of them had recognized. A physician
was called from a house nearby and
was with the wounded man within a
few moments after the first shot had
been hred. He was unable to do any,
thing to relieve the wounded man at
the moment, but had Mr.. Morgan re-
moved to his residence, only a few
doors from the corner It was found
that the bullet had passed directly
through the stomach, and the doctors
held out little hope for Mr.. Morgan's
recovery Hurried preparations were
made, however. to perform an OPERA
ton.
While the surgeons were working
over Mr. Morgan at his home in an
effort to save his life the bodv of +be
man who fired the shot and then
Killed himself was lying on the side
walk where he had fallen. a gres+
crowd had gathered at the scene 6ut a
detail of policemen who had haar
rushed to the place immedjateIv aftar
the shooting stood over the bOdy Tho,
were directed to guard it and nreven+
us removal until the arrival of a coro-
ner.
Mr.. Morgan has been connected
with the postal service in New Yorlr
for more than quarter of centrrv
He began his career as a letter arrisr
thirty-one years ago and worked bis
way to the top. Last year he was nrns ri1s
NOTED from assistant postmaster To tha
position of postmaster. to succeed VII
liam R. Wilcox, who became a puhIic
service commissioner. Mr.. Morgan is
the Republican leader in the Washino-
ton Heights assembly district
When the physicians made a closer
examination they found that Mr.. Nor
gan's wound was not so serious as a
first supposed. It is now believed that
the walls of the stomach were not
penetrated by the ball and that the
postmaster has chance for recovery.
Mr.. Morgan regained consciousness
While the physicians were working over
him. He said he never saw his assail
ant until he confronted him this morn
ING. he knows of no reason for the
attack he said
Mackay, the assailant had been in
She employ of Hunt, Hin & Re+ts