The sun., 1918-07-24
Gullabi Gulbenkian, One Of
Worlds Wealthiest Ar
menians, Shot by Porter.
HIS NEPHEW Is WOUNDED
Slayer Makes Escape-Dead
Man Had Given His Race
S5,0OO,00O.

rooms on the third floor of 225 Fifth
avenue yesterday afternoon by fellow
countryman whom he had bcfriended for
more than twenty years.
As the rug merchant crumpled to the
floor, Serope Guipehkian, 81, his nephew,
and three employees. closed with the
murderer-Mugriditch Mititarian, At. u
porter employed by the establishment for
more than two decades Unitarian
fought with insane fury and sank his
teeth deep into the hand Of one Of those
who sought to hold him.
During the struggle he managed to
press his revolver against Serope's body
and to press Il e trigger. The bullet tore
its way into the young mans abdominal
cavity and he, too. dropped Imply. He
was hurried to the New York Hospital,
where he was said last night to be dying.
Wins Freedom by Ruse.
The second shooting appeared to sober
Unitarian for a moment and he per-
mitted himself to be ovcrpowered and
led to a little alcove between huge balls
of rugs He wiped his forehead with a
eoiled handkerchief and sank into a
chair. Look after II en- he said.
pointing to the two PROSTATE men. "rll
not run away
The excited statesmen and other men,
bers of the once force had no sooner
turned than the porter sprang to his feet
and darted toward a door which opens
upon a corridor at the rear Of the big
show ROOM He went through 1t like a
flash. slamming It behind him and turn
ing tie key. Before any one could reach
the corridor through the main door,
Mihitarian had battered down the three
flights OF stairs leading to the street and
lost himself in the afternoon crowds on
the avenue. The police have sent out a
general alarm.
Unitarian, who lives with his wife
and daugt ter. IA. and a son. IL, at 234
East Twenty-fifth street. Is described as
feet inches tall, weighing $50 pounds
and having dark complexion and hair
At the time OF his disappearance he had
small black mustache. He wore a
dark brown suit. dark blue shirt and u
white soft collar.
Gullabi Gulbenkian. who was 81 years
old. was head Of the Arm Of Gullabi Gull
benk!an & Co., the largest importers and
wholesalers Of Oriental rugs in the
United States. Serope also was a mem.
Der of the Arm, as is Serope's father
Badrig Gulbenkian, and Haroutun Gull
benkian, another brother. They all lived
at 203 Corlears avenue Pelham. Harou.
tun. who has been on a trip to Hot
Springs, Ark, was expected to return to
New York last night or to-day.
Have Given Race s5,OOO,OOO.
The brothers have been intensely in.
terested in the welfare of their race. and
scarcely an appeal has been made in be.
half OF Armenia to which they have not
responded. II Is said that their contr,bu
tons to the cause have been in excess o.
S5.000.000. In addition. they have
founded hospital for Armenans ~
Constantinople. They have been In the
wholesale rug business here for thirty
years.
Unitarian has been with them fol-
over two-thirds OF their commercial
career. Because OF his long employment
with the firm, 1t was said yesterday
many of his shortcomings have beer
overlooked, According to Sarkis Sarafn
former employee now in the rug busl
ness for himself. Mihitarian has beer
of but little real use for eight years. Al.
though he has been on the payroll h,
has worked only systematically Re
Gently he went to California. returning q
few months later to his old job at an in
crease In pay.
The porters temper has been n source
OF constant irritation about the show
rooms for a long time. Sometimes. after
an outbreak. he would go home and tel
his wife he feared he was about to bt
discharged. Mrs. Unitarian would
hurry over TO the Fifth avenue establish
ment the next morning to weep and plea
with the murdered man that he retair
her husband. But always she fount
that there was no idea Of doing anything
else
Mihitarian's lack of attention to hi.
duties and his frequent RACES are said Il
have set a bad example to the Arm,
other employees and partly because o.
this and partly because Of his long ant
former faithful service Mr.. Gulbenkiar
had several times offered to retire him or
pension. Each time the porter re
fused.
Meets Benefactor Entering.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon. en-
ragged over some fanced grievance, Mi
hitarian appeared at the Office and asked
for what money was due him and for /
letter of recommendation, declaring tina
he intended to seek other employment
His time was figured up and he received
his money-about $40, those in tn,
office thought. One Of the stenographer.
Mt Mr.. Gulbenkians dictation ratified OF
commendatory letter. which wa.
d handed the disgruntled porter with hi.
bank bills.
Unitarian took them and startef
about the showroom, shaking hands ara
bidding good-by to all his former asso
clates. He had taken off his overall.
and carried them in little bundle un
der his arm. AS he returned toward tn,
ONCE door-the Office windows look on
on Twenty-seventh street.-the met Mr.
Gulbenkan coming out. Those who wer.
standing near by heard the rug merchan
say why. what are you doing?" In 4
surprised tone.
There was n fash and a report ant
the proprietor fell. The bullet entered
his chest on the left side, we'll below III,
heart. DR.. Norris. chief medical examI
ner OF the Police Department, said dealt
must have been instantaneous The muz
Gle OF the porters revolver was so nea,
Gulbenkian that it's fame scorched IN,
light plque shirt he was wearing.
Serope Gulbenkian, Sarkis Sarahn ,
rug dealer from upstairs. who chance,
20 he present; Mamas Assadowrian. an
other employee. and one or two other
'arew themselves upon Unitarian, VII.
reemed insane with fury. They tried I,
lake the revolver from him, and Sarafl,
Teized the porter's left wrist The muz
zle OF the weapon was pointed down
ward. As Unitarian felt his grin helm,
. loosened he stopped and seized Sorafn
hand with his teeth. setting his law
and shaking his head for all the worl,
like bull terrier with a rat.
Shots Heard in 9Th Avenue,
In the diversion which followed Mi
hitarian managed to press his weapo,
against Serope's side and fire As IN
nephew staggered and toppled over MI
hitarlan ceased struggling. walkin,
'neekly TO chair near by. His rus