Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1902 — KILLED WITH A PAPER KNIFE [ARTICLE]

KILLED WITH A PAPER KNIFE

Chicago Millionaire la Stabbed |o Death in His Office. Walter A. Scott, president of the Illitois Wire Company, was stabbed to death in the Monadnock building, Chicago, by Walter L. Stebbings, a civil and consulting engineer, with offices in the same building. Stebbings used a paper knife. The stabbing occurred in Mr. Scott’s private office. Mr. Stebbings had done »ome work for the Illinois Wire Company, over which there had been a dispute. The two had a quarrel, and Stebbings, it is said, called Scott a liar. There was a scuffle and the two burst from the private office with blood flowing from Scott's wounds. Stebbings nia'de no attempt to escape. Stebbings, when arrested said he had struck Scott in self-defense and that he bad not intended injuring him seriously. The fight was witnessed by Miss Myrtle Bhumate, a stenographer in Scott’s office, who ran screaming into the hall. Occupants of other offices notified the police, who placed Stebbings. under arrest. According to Miss Shumate’s story the two men were in Scott’s private office for nearly nn hour disputing over a claim for $3,000. Suddenly the door was thrown open and the men staggered into the outer office, kicking each other and using their fists. Stebbings held the long steel pap. i r knife in his right hand and the weapon could tie seen flashing ns the men struggled. Suddenly Stebbings struck Scott in the body. The blow was repeated a moment later. Scott staggered bnckwird and finally fell to the floor. He died within half an hour.