Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1899 — SHOOTS THE MAYOR. [ARTICLE]

SHOOTS THE MAYOR.

MUSKEGON ASSASSIN AVENGES AN ALLEGED GRIEVANCE. Janet Balbirnie Slain by • Disappointed Officeseeker, Who Immediately Afterward Take* Hi* Own Life —Deadly Work of Bullet and Poison. John W. Tayer, former director of the city poor, assassinated Mayor James Balbirnie of Muskegon, . Mich., at noon Thursday and then killed himself. In order to make sure of death he swallowed a quantity of carbolic acid and then shot himself. The shooting took place on the main business street of the city, directly in front of Mayor Balbirnie’s furniture store and undertaking establishment. The Mayor had just descended from his living room over the store and was about to untie his horse, standing near the walk, when he was accosted by Tayer, who said he wished to speak with him. The Mayor thereupon turned and seated himself in a chair in front of the store. A mail carrier approached and handed the Mayor a letter, and while the carrier was still present Tayer shot Mr. Balbirnie, the ball entering his left breast. The murderer then stepped into the doorway of the store, swallowed a quantity of carbolic acid, which he took from a vial in his pocket, and then shot himself in almost identically the same place that the Mayor had been shot. The Mayor staggered to his feet and ran upstairs to his residence above the store. William Burnett, a blacksmith, who has his shop across the street, was a witness to the shooting. He ran after the Mayor and reached the top of the stairs just as Mr. Balbirnie fell. In fifteen minutes, almost before aid could be summoned, the Mayor was dead. After Tayer shot himself he sank to the walk, and later was removed to the city hall, where he died shortly before 1 o’clock. The motive for the crime is supposed to have been morbid despondency. Tayer had been city poormaster. He was removed spring by Mayor Balbirnie. Tayer asked the Mayor for the position of city sexton, and this was refused him. Mayor’s action embittered Tayer, but there was no suspicion that he had been aroused to a murderous state of mind.