The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-05-14
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
Paul Leicester Ford, the Novelist,
Murdered by His Brother.
WHO SHOT ANDKILLED HIMSELF.
The Family Very Rich One and
the nurtler Was Caused by
4 Family Trouble About
Money.


Money.
Paul Leicester Ford. the novelist,
was shot and killed Thursday by his
| brother, Malcolm Webster Ford. writer
and athlete, who Immediately sent a
DulleC into his breast, dying Instant
ly. The shooting occurred at 1920 Il.
m. in the handsome new mansion
which Paul Leicester Ford had built
at 81 East 18th street. in the city of
New York, and had occupied for
about year.
At the time Of the shooting there
were in the house besides The two
brothers. Mrs. Paul Leicester Ford.
Miss Elizabeth Il. Hail, the nOveliSt'S
secretary, ard the servants. The
novelist was sitting at his desk in one
corner of his library, a large, attrac-
lively appointed room at the back Of
the house on the second floor. 1t is
supposed he was buSily engaged at
some literary task. Miss Hall was at
her desk in another corner of the room
about 80 feet from Mr. Ford. Mrs.
Paul Leicester Ford was in her own
room at the front of the house on the
third floor.
Malcolm w. Ford called, rs he often
had done, and went to his brother at
his desk. Words were exchanged in d
tone 50 low that Miss Hall could not
hear what was said, though she says
that possibly she might have distin-
gtished the words if she had been pay
ing any attention to this particular
meeting of the brothers. Suddenly
there was revolver shot and Miss
Hall, jumping up, darted from the
room. Then, according to the state
ments of the police, Miss Hall said to
herself that she must act more brave
ly and reenter the library.
Meanwhile Malcolm Ford had called
her. AS she turned towards him. he
placed his revolver TO his heart; fired
and fell, dying instantly. When Miss
Hall turned to look at Paul, he was
still standing at his desk, but rapid
ly losing strength. She helped him to
sofa and then ran next door for Paul
FordS physician, DR.. Emanuel Ba-
ruch. In less than five minutes DR..
Baruch arrived and the dying man,
still conscious, was carried up to a
room beside his wife'sand placed on his
bed. He spoke to his wife, and asked
the doctor for his opinion, showing
that he expected death and was go
ing to meet it calmly and bravely. a
few moments later, about 20 minutes
after he was shot, Mr.. Ford died.
The bullet which killed Paul Leices-
ter Ford just grazed the top of his
heart and passed through a large ar
terry ascending from it. The bullet
which killed Malcolm Ford was fired
with the same accuracy Of aim, for it
made wound scarcely an inch lower
than the one which killed his brother.
In fact, the wounds were almost in
IDENTICAL. Just what disposition of
Malcolm'S body was made, immediate
ly after the shooting, could not be as
certained, but it appears from the
statement Of certain persons acQuaint-
ed with the details of the tragedy that
the body lay where it fell, on rug in
the library for sometime, possibly for
several hours, so great was the excite
ment in the house. In fact the mur-
der and suicide were not known to
the coroner until about 2:30 p. M.
and not to the police until 4:25 p. m.
DR.. Baruch said that the time be-
tween 1920 a. M, and 2:30 ?. M,
passed so rapidly that no one in the
house realized it. Much of the time
was occupied in trying to telephone
to the father of Mrs. Paul Leicester
Ford, Edward II. Ndder of Brooklyn,
who was the first person to arrive af-
ter the physician.
Mr.. kidder refused to make any
statement in regard to the shooting
except brief memorandum which
was given to the police. In this it
was said that the cause Of the shoot
ing could be only SurmiSed. Informa-
tiOn from other sources makes it APP
pear that Malcolm Ford called to get
money from his brother, and meeting
with Il refusal shot him. Or. Baruch
said that the murder was result of
temporary mental alteration on the
part of Malcolm Ford, due to nervous
exhaustion.
1t is said that there was enmity be-
tween the two brothers, and conSe-
Quent bitterness, and that it was of
/ years's standing: that never since
the death of their father have they
been on intimate or brotherly terms.
This alleged enmity on the part of
Malcolm is said to have been brought
about by the fact that the father of
the boys diSinherited Malcolm. and
that this action on the fathers part
was because he did not wish Malcolm
to devote himself to an athletic ca
reer.
Police Capt. Brown said Thursday
night that Malcolm W. Ford had for
sometime been causing much uneasi
ness to the family through evidences
OF an unbalanced mind and declares
that, in his opinion. he attacked his
brother during period of tenn pOrary
insanity, then taking his own life.
The cause OF Malcolm Ford'S act. :"
said Capt. Brown. can be explained
by inference. For some time past his
financial affairs have been pressing
him and he has repeatedly asked ana
received material assistance from his
brother. 1t is presumed that his i'm
portUnitieS had been such and his de-
mand so excessive that his brother
had been forced to refuse further aid"
Paul Leicester Ford was 81 years
old. d novelist Of much note, Janice
Meredith" being his most popular
novel. He was married about a year
ago to Miss Grace kidder, DAUGHTER