The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-25
USNERvED by OIaARETTES.
Henry Homer. tho hoy Murderer. ana His
Habit. which Becnnie n Vice.

Henry Homer, the boy who killed John Rus
sell In Cornell's restaurant In Harlem on the
night OF April 9, sits in his cell in the Tombs
raving ut times rs II he wcro insane. Homer has
smoked cigarettes to excess, md the murder of
John Russell is probably due to that fact.
From his tenth year Homer has been an In
vctcrato smoker, and during the last three years
he is known to have consumed on an average
ten packages OF cigarettes n day. Since he has
been in the Tombs he has passed. much of his
time In writing letters to friends asking them to
send him cigarettes. Although his friends send
him a fair supply, Homer never seems to have
enough. lie sleeps about six hours In twenty
four. The rest of the time he Is either smoking
cigarettes or pleading with the keepers or
friends TO got cigarettes for him. At times he
raves incohercntly, and shouts that his head Is
bursting. He begs the keepers TO put ice on his
head, and it is only after tho Tombs physician
administers an antesthctic that young Homer
seems to have rest, He is 10 years old. His
relatives live at East Orange. That was his
home, too, until he came to New York to work
in Cornell's restaurant, on Third avenue. near
127th street, as II waiter. At times he seemed
to be under the influence OF n drug, and his en-
ployer had the impression that excessive use Of
intoXicants was the cause of his condition.
John Russell was the night manager in tho
restaurant. He frequently called Homer to
task for neglect of duty, rs Homer was in the
habit OF stealing out into the kitchen to smoke
cigarettes. Finally. when Russell put q stop to
this practice, Homer smoked his cigarettes
openly in tho restaurant while waiting on Gus
toners. This is the story that comes from
Homer's friends now. They say that Russell. tho
night manager of the restaurant, caused Homer
to be discharged on April 3: For two days
without eating. He spent all his money
for whiskey and cigarettes. When his cigarettes
gave out he begged moro from those with whom
by one OF his friends, when Homer could get
only those cigarettes which he obtained by beg
ging he planned to break into a Third avenue
standing the fact that two policemen were
siandi uS. on !. the corner Within iIft \ o feet nn Of Il the he
store with u piece OF iron In his hand, intending
TO. force the door. He was prevented by his
On a former SEASON Homer left tho house of
his father, in East Orange, at . O'Clock ono
morning ana travelled all the way to Newark to
find n saloon open where he might get cigar
cites; as his father had taken away, the supply
did not return to his home for three days. When
he returned he was accompanied by two men.
who said they had found him wandering aim
unable to give his name. They got his address
from papers in his pocket, and took him home.
and it was two weeks after this occurrence that
he appeared to have recovered his senses fully.
boy Ih locked K GE up y In "h &" Tombs q e Charged P,Sdau With 4, the the
crime OF murder, but 1t is a fair description of
Homer AS he is to.day-tall, thin, narrow
chested, with II peculiarly shaped head, con;
torted features. n strange twitching of the facial
muscles, and an expression OF stupid melancholy.
The man whom Homer shot died within a
few hours after the shooting. Cornells restau-
rant is kept open all night. On the night OF the
murder Russell, tho night manager, went to
work at q o'clock. Business was brisk in tho
restaurant. and a little after 7 O'Clock the night
manager left his chair at the cashiers desk to
go to the pie counter. which is at the right of
the entrance. While he stood there cutting pic.
with his back to the door, Homer entered the
place. pistol in hand. and fired at Russell at
close range. The bullet entered Russells head,
and he fell unconscious to the floor. Homer ran
into the street, was caught by a detective, and
was taken TO N station house, where he was
questioned about the shooting.
God told me to do it, he said to Detective
Reed, who arrested him.
Homer's father is a salesman for a millinery
firm doing an extensive business on Broadway.
He has taken very little, interest in, the boy,
who. he says, is the black sheep of the family.
When Young Homer was IL years old he ran
away from home. got into the navy, and has had
u most remarkable career during the last three
years. His case has not been presented to the
Grand Jury, as the Russell inquest has not yet
been held.