The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-19
MINE BROKER IS SHOT.
Henry. Suydam of New York, Probab-
Iy Seriously Wounded.

New York, Dec. 19.-Henry B.
Suydam, a mining stock broker, mem
ber of the curb stock market and an
alderman of Plainfield, n. j., was
shot and dangerously wounded in his
office at SO Broad street today by Jno.
c. Lumsden, an inventor, who claimed
that Suydam refused to pay him mon
ey for an invention. Lumsden was
arrested after making a desperate
struggle with George A. Downs. a
young clerk employed by Suydam,
upon whom the broker had called for
help when he saw Lumsden reaching
for his revolver. Lumsden asserted
that he fired the shot in self defense.
Lumsden called at Suydam's office,
which is directly over the curb mar
ket The broker and the inventor
stood in the front window OF Suy-
dams office in full view of Suydam S
fellow members of the curb market
as they traded in the street below.
They were in animated conversation,
it is understood Lumsden was trying
to collect a bill which he claimed was
due him. Suddenly Mr.. Suydam call
ed out to Downs to seize Lumsden as
he was going to shoot. Downs rushed
to his employers aid and struggled
with Lumsden for the possession of
the gun, which the inventor had
drawn. While Downs held him,
Lumsden reached under his arm and
fired two shots at Suydam, one of
which took effect in his left breast be-
low the heart. The other bullet went
out of the window. Downs seized the
revolver and was threatening Lums-
den with it when w. H. Collins, the
agent of the building interposed and
possibly saved LumSden'S life. Collins
and Downs kept Lumsden prisoner
until the police arrived Trading in
the curb market was temporarily Sus-
pended as Lumsden was being taken
from the building to police headquar-
ters and a crowd gathered threatened
violence on the inventor. They were
awed by the police however. Lums-
den would say only that he had shot
in self defense. He lives at 313 West
F'ifty-seventh street, this city. He
would not discuss his invention or
disclose what claim he had against
Suy dam.
Mr.. Suydam was removed to hos
pital, where he was found to be in a
critical condition.
Mr. Suydam's recovery is doubtful.
He made a statement to the coroner.
in which he said he was director in
an electric vibrator company in which
Lumsden owned stock, that the com
pany was in financial difficulties and
that Suydam obtained a loan by pIedg
ing LumSden'S stock as collateral.
Notes We're given to Lumsden with as
surance that they would be taken up
by the earnings of the company, but
today LumSden demanded payment un-
der pain of death.
The struggle in the window of Suy
dams office was witnessed by at least
200 curb brokers and messengers. AS
the men swayed back and forth, the
brokers thought it a bit of ''horse play
such as is common among the brokers
when not trading. and the sound of
the shots gave them their first warn
ing that a tragedy was being enacted.
At the breaking of the window glass
the brokers rushed to Suydams office
and Lumsden was led from the build
ing where 1000 men were waiting in
the street. The crowd surged about the
inventor and for a few minutes the po-
lice reserves had a hard task in pro-
tecting their prisoner. When question
ed by the police Lumsden said:
''Suydam owed me $3.50 and has owed
it for a long time and L needed the
money. He gave me notes for money
which he had raised on collateral which
had giver him. asked for the money
frequently and this morning went down
with the expectation of getting it. ]
was told to wait until after the market
opened and I sat down. Then three
men jumped on me and 1 picked up a
pistol from somewhere and shot,
George A. Brown denied the prison
er's statement and declared that Suy
dam owed Lumsden nothing.