Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-10
POSTMASTER OF
NEW YORK SHOT
EDWARD MORGAN TARGET OF
STEN0GRAPHER
FLlMsY EXCUSE LEFT IN NOTE
BY ASSAlLANT
WouId-7e Murderer Once Insane,
Ends Life After Attempting
Crime-Had Shot Man
in Boston

NEW YORK, Nov. 9.-Postmaster
Edward w. Morgan of this city was
shot down in the street as he was leav-
ing his house in One Hundred and
Forty-sixth street for the postoffice this
morning by Eric Bh Mackey, a
stenographer employed by downtown
law 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 de-
partment in Washington that his mail
had been tampered and that some one
turned out an electric light when he
was reading by 1t in the corridor OF the
postoffice.
Mackey had received a reply that
there was no evidence of tampering his
mail and that the incident of the light
was an accident.
Mackey's employers, the firm of Hunt,
Hill & Belts, declared they could ac-
count for the tragedy only on the
theory that Mackey was insane.
Besides a revolver 1t was found that
Mackey carried a dagger and slung
shot. Mackey was an Englishman, IL
years old, and formerly employed in
Boston.
Daughter Is Witness
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 and down
the sidewalk near the corner of Broad
way and One Hundred and Forty-sixth
street for two hours before the shoot
ing.
When Mr.. Morgan and his daughter
left their home and walked toward
Broadway. Mackey turned down the
side street and met them. Evidently ne
had never seen the postmaster before,
for as 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 side
walk and as two witnesses of the shoot
ing came running up Mackey lay down
on the sidewalk, opened his vest ana
sent one bullet into his head and an
other entered his heart. He was dead
W0en Ine UTSI Dldl ICdlNAiCO
Mr.. Morgan was carried into his own
home. physicians were hastily sum
moned and it was found the bullet had
merely passed through the f1eshy por-
ton of tfle abdomen for eight inches,
inflicting a superficial wound.
Does Not Know Him
Mr.. Morgan declared that he did not
know Mackey and never saw him be-
fore the shooting.
It was learned that man answering
Mackey's description had called at Mr.
Morgan's home three times during the
past ten days.
Mr.. Morgan has been connected with
the postal service in New York for
more than a quarter of century. he
began his career as letter carrier
thirty-one years ago, and worked MS
way to the top.
Last wear he was promoted from as
sistant postmaster to the position of
postmaster to succeed William R. Will
cox. who became a public service COM
missioner. Mr.. Morgan is the Repuo-
Iican leader in the Washington Heights
assembly district.
Mackey left a letter in his room in
which he declared that his act was
the last protest of poor man against
the custom of never enforcing laws
against prominent or wealthy people.
Mackey stated also that revenge was
one of the motives which animated him
and that he knew he was not morally
justified in killing the postmaster, and
that most men would consider his act
that of an insane man.
He asserted that the postmaster had
had a registered letter addressed to
Mackey under trade name and had
insisted that he produce certihcate
showing his right to receive such mail.
Mackey declared that he was recon-
ciled for killing himself. because Of
his falling eyesight which, he said,
would leave him only a bare existence
for the rest of his life, and that he
chose the postmaster as his victim be-
cause he was the most prominent man
who had antagonized him