The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-20
John [, LunSdGn, Formerly of Birmingham, Does the
 Shooting
WALL STREET SHAKEN UP
 BY THE EXCITING FIGHT
Lumsden Claims He Shot In Self. Defense, and His Brother-In-Law Says Lumsden Has Never
 Carried a Revolver.

New York, December fs.-(speclal)-- Harry B. Suydam, well known curb broker, high in Masonic circles and a town councilman of Plainfeld. N. J., was shot and probably fatally wounded by John c. Lumsden, a young southern in- ventor in his offices at No Ss Broad street today. Lumsden declared Suydam had defrauded him and owed him money on an invention that had resulted in the orr ganization of company of which Bums- den was the former president and suydam is now secretary and treasurer
 The shooting occurred in the heart of the Wall street district five minutes be- fore 10 o'clock and created intense ex- citement. Suydam's office is two flights above the street level and looks down upon the curb market. At least 250 curb brokers were standing in their encIos- ures when the shots were fired. That and the breaking of glass and the shouts of the struggling men aroused the brokers and dozens rushed upstairs.
 Business was entirely suspended upon the curb for one hour. great crowd as sembled at the door of No. 3s when the prisoner was taken out and placed in a. patrol wagon. There were cries of lynch himi'' from among the younger element of the curb brokers, but the police had the situation well in hand and Lumsden escaped actual attack.
 Excitement In Wall Street.
 News of the shooting was flashed throughout the financial district and was the sole topic of excited eonversation on the floor Of the Stock Exchange f,f some time. During the intervels, .sss.ss brokers on the floor abandSned trading to discuss the tragic affair which had occurred almost across the street
 Lumsden went into sugdam's onfce this morning before the broker had ar rived and waited for him in the corri- dor of the building. When suydam ar rived the inventor folloHe1 him into the office and soon became engaged in q heated argument.
 At this point" said George Downs, Suydam's brokerage clerk. tonight, MT. Suydam suddenly called to me: Catch this fellow quick, George; he is going to shoot l instantly grappled with Lums- den and we fell against the window and almost into the street. The window broke and we struggled against the wall MT. Collins, who has desk room in the of flee, came to my assistance and so did Suydam.
 But just as we overpowered Lumsden he drew a big revolver, reached in under my arms and fired two shots pointblanlr at Mir Suydam. The first shot was fired flush against Mir. Suydam's right sIde and the second went just below his heart. Both shots were fired with the speed of an exprienced gun man. Then we over powered Lumsden and I got so excited that l almost fired at him."
 Lumsden Badly Damaged.
 Lumsden was badly used as the result of Downs quick efforts to save Suy- dam His derby hat was smashed and he had two bruises his face evidently where he had been hit by the butt end of the revolver
 After being searched and making his statement to Captain Hogan, Lumsden was handcuffed and taken in a patrol wagon to police headquarters. There he was photographed for the rogues' gal lery and his Bertillon measurements taken. He is held a charge of felon- ious assault and will be arraigned in the Tombs police court tomorrow.
 Reed Miller. the well-known singer. whose sister Lumsden married, visited his brother-in-law at the police station this evening He sent in word that he would do anything in his power for Lumsden. The latter sent word asking Miller to tell egraph his wife apprising her of his ar rest, but begging her not to return to this city under any circumstances until his case was settled.
 Charges of Fraud
 q knew Lumsden felt that he had been defrauded by Suydam and Jacobs one of the other directors in the Vibrator Mas sage company. in which he was interest ed" said Miller tonight. My brother-in- law spent years In perfecting his electric vibrator for massage an< had been of fered large sums for 1t. But he refused all offers as he thought he could make more money by taking part in the organ ization of the company in which Suydam. Jacobs and myself were interested. In stead he repeatedly has told me that he had been robbed by these men.
 "I am certain Lumsden never carried a revolver l also know that he has never made threats of personal violence against Suydam. He Is a true southern gentle man of the old school and would naturally resent any insult, but I can never believe that 1t was his weapon which did the shooting.
 His wife is my sister. He married her six years ago at Birmingham, Ala He was a member of the orchestra at the Jerer- son theatre there. They came to New York about year ago.
 "rheir married life was ideal. Of late, however. he has worried greatly over his invention. He was also in reduced imam cial circumstances as result or his ex- penditures in pushing his company 70 boom the electric vibrator. I shall engage a lawyer for him. and you may be certain that he will fight for his release on tho ground of self-defense
 Contradictory Statements.
 Iumsden and his victim tonight made contradictory statements regarding the shooting In an ante mortem statement to Coroner Hamburger, Suydam declared that on his failure to advance Lumsden si25o the latter drew revolver and shot
 CONTINUED ON PAGE O.