The sun., 1908-12-20
BROKER 4. B. SUYDAN SHOT
ATTACKED IN HIS OFFICE By
INVENTOR LUMSDEN.
Wounded Twice and May Die-The Two
we're In n Massage Machine Company
-Lumsden Was After Msney-Brass
knuckies and Dagser in his Trunk,


We're In Massage Machine C0mpan,
-Lumsden was After Msaey-Bras
knuckles and Dagser in His Trunk
Harry b. Suydam. one of the best
known and most popular curb brokers
was shot In his office. overlooking tn,
curb AS the market was about to oper
yesterday morning. He Is at the HudsoI
street hospital in critical condition, bu,
with good chance of life IL no complica
tions arise. His assailant was John c
Lunsden. an inventor Of electric appli.
ances and an associate OF Suydam in /,
company organized to exploit one o
Lumsden's inventions.
Just before the shooting the men hae
had dispute over money matters con,
nected with the affairs of the company
Lumsden told the police he shot in self.
defence. According to the statements ol
suydsm and three eyewitnesses the
aszressor was Lumsden.
The various accounts agree that Lums.
den went to Suydams office to collect
$3.50 alleged to be due him for advances ia
the Electric Vibrotator Company. the
concern organized to float an electrical
massage machine invented by Lumsden.
He asked for Suydam. and when the la tier
saw him was greeted pleasantly.
Good morning. said Suydam. "have a
hair
i think will stand" replied Lumsden,
and, according to one Of the men in the
room. m.added that he wanted to see Suy dam
privately, preferably out in the hall.
The men walked close to one of the
front windows and began their talk.
while the others in the room. William H..
Collins, the agent of the building; George
Downs clerk, and Arthur Meyer. Office
boy, remained in the rear. Lumsden
seemed much excited. and those in the
rear Of the office could tell from the tone
Of his voice that Suydam's explanations
failed to satisfy him. They had no
thought Of any serious happening. how
ever. until In few minutes Suydam
-uddenly called to Downs:
George, get his gun! He's going to
shoot mel
At the same time Suydam grappled
With Lumsden. but was unable to re-
train him, and before Downs could reach
hom Lumsden had shot twice. Both
hats took effect. one bullet entering the
light side and passing just above the
upper lobe of the liver and the other
pieroing the body on the left side below
the heart. Suydam fell to the aonr badly
wounded, but conscious.
Collins and Downs were almost on top of
Lumsden when the second shot was fired
Downs. who Ii accounted one OF the best
boxers ON the curb and one of the handest
men In q fight. grappled with Iumsden.
bat found the inventor as powerful and
sctiyeSas himself The two men wrestled
around the room. Downs shouting that
lie meant to throw Lumsden out of the
window apd gradually working his man
toward it. But Lumsden kept a tight
hold. with the result that they fell against
the window together. Collins then Joined
n and the two got Lumsden under con-
trol. Just then Policeman Corooran. who
had been called by excited brokers on
the curb below, came in on the run and
took charge OF Limsden
Corcoran raised Suydam's head and
asked who had shot him. "Lumsden."
Suydam replied family, and in response
10 another question said that he himself
was unarmed. He asked for whiskey,
which they gave him, and as he was being
AIKEN to an ambulance which drew up
from the Hudson street hospital inquired;
How badly did he get me?"
AZ first Lumsden would only remark
10 the police that he did it in self-defenes'
But in the John street police station he
mad talk Eith Capt Rogan. which the
captain narrated as follows:
-Lumsden told me that he was the in-
ventor Of an electrical massage machine. !
He was president Of the company which |
wos to put IL on the market, but later q
man named Jacobs became its president. |
Suydam was the treasurer. he said. Ac- |
oording TO his story Suydam owed him
$3.50 on his stock. for which amount he
held notes. The notes fell due at 1890 |
o'clock this morning and Lumsden went
TO Suydam's Office to collect. He be-
ieved that he had been beaten out OF
the money"
Lumsdsn also insisted that he had no
revolver with him when he went to see
SUydam. The latter. he declared. had
attacked him and had called TO the others
ii the ONCE to help. Lumsden then. ae-
rording to his story, noticed q revolver
IN the room, grabbed It and shot. The
police found in his pockets six .ss'oal-
ore cartridges. A .as cslibre revolver did
lhe shooting.
Lumsden's effects in the house at Sl3
West Fifty seventh street were examined
oy Capt. Carey of the Detective Bureau.
"a the house was full Lumsden had no
room, but slept in the parlor. In his
trunk we're several letters which contained
nothing bearing on the present case.
There was pair of brass knuckles. a
cheap Japanese knife with the blade
apparently freshly shsrpened and pawn
ticket for revolver which had been
raUned recently. There was also box
ol Ss calibre cartridges.
Coroner Hamburger, hurrying to the
hospital to get an ante-mortem state
msnt, found the wounded man able to
talk lucdly This is what the Coroner
ook down:
i belong to a company. OF which i am
4 director. called the Electric Vibrotator.
We got into financial diffioultjea We rot