The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-05-13

New York, May 8.-PauI Leicester
Ford, the novelist, was shot and killed
by his brother, Malcolm Webster Ford,
writer and atl4elete, who Immediately
sent bullet into his own breast, dying
instantly. The shooting occurred at
1920 O'Clock a. m, in the handsome
new mansion which Paul Leicester
Ford had built. at No. 81 east Seventy
xeventh street. and had occupied for
about a year
At the time of the shooting there
were in the house besides the two
brothers. Mrs. Paul Leicester Ford,
Miss Elizabeth r. Hall, the novelists
secretary and the servants. The novel
Ist was sitting at his desk in one cor
aer of his library, a large, attractively
appointed room at the back of the
house on the second floor. 1t is sup
posed he was husily engaged at some
literary task. Miss Hall was at her
desk in arA her corner of the room
about thirtSleet from Mr. Ford. Mrs
Paul Leicester Ford was in her own
room at the front of the house on the
third floor
Malcolm ". Ford, called as he often
had done and went to his brother at
his desk Words were exchanged in
A tone so low that Miss Hall could not
hear what was said, though she says
possibly she might have distinguish ed
the words if she had been paying any
attention to this particular meeting of
the brothers. Suddenly there was
shot and Miss Hall, jumping up. darted
from the room.
Then, accord ng to the statements of
the police. Miss Hall said to herself that
she must act more bravely and re-en-
tered the library. Meanwhile Malcolm
Ford had called her. AS she turned to-
wards him he placed his rev Oliver to his
heart, fired am fell, dying instantly
When Miss Hall turned to look at
Paul, he was suH standing at his desk,
but rapidly los 'ng strength. She helped
him to a sofa and then ran next door
for Paul FOrd's physician, DR.. Emanuel
BaTuch. In less than five minutes DR..
Baruch arrived and the dying man.
still conscious, was carried up to a
room besides his wife'S and placed on
his bed. He spoke to his wife, and
asked the doctor for his opinion, show
ing that ne expected death and was go
ing to meet 1t calmly and bravely. \
few moments later, about twenty min
uteS 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 We're almost identical.
Just what disposition of Malcolm
FOrd'S body was made Immediately af-
ter the shooting could not be ascer-
tanned, but it appears from the state
ment of certain persons acquainted
with the details of the tragedy that the
body lay where it fell, on a rug in the
library, for some time, possibly for
several hours, so great was the excite
rnent in the house. In fact the MUIR
der and suicide were not known to the
coroner until about 2:30 o'clock p. M.
and not to the police until 4:25 o'clock
Dr.. Baruch said that the time be-
tween 1890 o'clock a. m. and 2:30
o'clock p. m. passed so rapidly that no
one in the house realized it. Much of
the time was occupied in trying to tele-
phone to the father of Mrs. Paul Lei
cester Ford, Edward II. Kidder, Of
Brooklyn, who was the first person to
arrive after the physician.
Mr.. Kidder refused to make any
statement in regard to the shooting eX-
cept a prief memorandum which was
given to the police. In. this it was said
that the cause of the shooting could
only be surmlsed. Information from
other sources makes it appear that
Malcolm Ford called to get money from
his brother. and meeting with re-
fusal, shot him.. DR.. Baruch said that
the murder was a result of temporary
mental alteration on the part of
Malcolm Ford, due to nervous exhaus-
ton.
1t is said that there was enmity be-
tween the two brothers, and consequent
bitterness. and that it was of eleven
years standing; that never since the
death of their father have they been OF
intimate or brotherly terms. This al
legged enmity on the part of Malcolm is
said to have been brought about by the
fact that the father of the boys disin-
herited Malcolm and that this action on
the fathers part was because he did
not wish Malcolm to devote himself t.
an athletic career.
Police Captain Brown said tonight
that Malcolm w. Ford had fer some
time been causing much uneasinesS tC
the family through evidences of an un-
balanced mind and declares that in his
opinion. he attacked his brother during
q period of temporary insanity ther
taking his own life.
1.-THE cause of Malcolm Fords act
said Captain Brown, cannot be explain
ed by inference. For some time past
his financial affairs have been pressing
him and he has repeatedly asked anC
received material assistance from hi:
brother 1t is presumed that his impor
funity had been such and his demand
so excessive that his brother had beer
forced to refuse further aid"
Paul Leicester Ford was 81 years old
a novelist of much note, Janice Mere
dith'' being perhaps his most popular
novel. He was married about a yea
ago to Miss Grace Kidder, daughter o
Edward H. Kidder. of Brooklyn. ID,
was the son of Gordon Lester Ford
of Brooklyn. who died eleven years ago
and left an estate of some $2,0OG,UOO dl
vided between his children, with tn
exception of Malcolm w, who was dis
inherited by the will.
Malcolm Ford was born in Brooklyn
February Z, 1862. He was educated a
the Brooklyn polytechnic institute. HI
took up athletics while at school anC
Of nhanninn