Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-05-15

mediately sent a bullet into his own
breast, dying instantly. The shooting
occurred at 10. 20 a. m. i'll the hand
some new mansion which Paul Leicester
Ford had built at 81 East Seventy
seventh street 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 K. Hall, the novelist's
secretary, and the servants. The
novelist was sitting at his desk in one
corner of his library, q large, at
tractively appointed room at the back
OF the house on the second floor. 1t is
supposed he was bysily engaged at some
literary task. Miss Hall was at her
desk in another corner of the room,
about 30 feet from Mr.. Ford. Mrs.
Ford was in her own room at the front
of the house on the third floor.
Malcolm Ford called, as he had often
done, and walked to his brothers. desk.
Words were exchanged in tone so low
that Miss Hall could not hear what
was said Suddenly there was a re-
yolver shot. Miss Hall jumped UP and
darted from the ROOM
Malcolm Ford had called to Miss
Hall. AS she turned toward him, he
placed his revolver to his heart, fred
and fell, dying instantly.
When Miss Hall turned to look at
! Paul he was still standing at his desk,
but rapidly losing strength. She helped
him to sofa and then ran next door
for Mr. Fordis physician, Dr. Emanuel
Baruch. In less than five minutes DIR.
Baruch arrived and the dying man,
still conscious, was carried up to a
room beside his wife's apartment and
placed on his bed. Mr.. Ford spoke to
his wife, and asked the doctor for his
opinion, showing that he. expected
death and was going 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 Leicester
Ford just grazed the top of his heart
and passed through large artery
ascending from it, The bullet which
killed Malcolm Ford was fred will
the same accuracy of aim, for it mad,
wound scarcely an inch lower thai
the one which killed his brother Ii
fact, the wounds were almost identical
1t appears that Malcolm Ford's bod,
lay where it fell, on a rug in tn
library, for some time, possibly seyera
], hours, so great was the excitement il
the house. In fact, the murder an,
suicide we're not known to the corone
until about 9. 30 p. M, and not to tn
police until 4.25 p. m. DIR. Barucl
said that the time between 1920 a. IN
and 2. 30 p. m. passed so rapidly tina
no one in the house realized it. MUG
of the time was occupied in trying
telephone to the father of Mrs. Pat
Leicester Ford, Edward II. Kidder {
Brooklyn, who was the first perso
besides the doctor to arrive.
Mr.. Kidder refused to make an
statement in regard to the shootin
except brief memorandum, whic
was given to the police, stating thg
the cause of the shooting could onl
be surmised. Information from oth'
sources makes it appear that Malcoll
Ford called to get money from h
brother, and meeting with refusa
shot him. DIR. Baruch said that IL
murder was result of temporal
mental alteration on the part
Malcolm Ford, due to nervous e,
haustion.
There was an enmity between Il
two brothers of IL years standin
according to reports, and it is said tn
never since the death of their faith
have they been on intimate or brother
terms. This alleged enmity on the pa
of Malcolm is said to have been broug
about by the fact that the father
the boys disinherited Macolm and tn
this action on the fathers part W
because he did not wish Malcolm
devote himself to an athletic caree
which was his ambition.
Police Captain Brown said tonig
that Malcolm w. Ford had for sol
time been causing uneasiness to t
family through evidences of an u
balanced mind. In the officers opini
Malcolm attacked his brother during
period of temporary insanity.
1.-THE cause of Malcolm Fore
action, said Capt. Brown, "can
explained by inference For some til
. past his financial affairs have be
pressing him and he has repeated
asked and received material assistaT
from his brother. 1t is presumed IL
his importuning had been such and
demand so excessive that his brotl
had been forced to refuse further aid
The father of the dead men, Cord
Lester Ford, of Brooklyn, died II ye
ago and left an estate of abe
e., 100000, divided between his ct
dren, with the exception of Malco
w, who was disinherited by the VI
HIS POPULAR WORKS.
Paul Leicester Ford was one of
most popular of American novel;
and his work, 1.-THE Honorable Pc
Btirling,r has been described as
typical American romance. 1t
understood that Peter Stirling was
idealized portrait of Grover Clevel;
md this gave an added interest {
popularity to the book 1.-THE st
of an Untold Love- also had c
siderable vogue, especially among SOL
mental young people. But his N
recent popular success was Jar
Meredith a historical novel, VIII
was dramatized and is now be
played by Mary Mannering
Mr.. Ford was born in Brooklyn
1865 and came of a wealthy family.
was afflicted from childhood and
educated by private tutors. Font
reading and study and prevented by
affection from taking part in ac
pursuits he became a student
writer and produced probably n
than any of the other young Ameri
writer's.
His studies were especially in
field of American history and
volumes concerning the men of
Revolution are particularly illu
mating. He edited the complete We
Of Thomas jefferson. which were I
lished in 10 volumes, and the writ
of John Dickinson, three volumes.
In 1.-THE Many Sided franklin
presented an attractive picture of
great man of Philadelphia, who
buch large part in shaping the
public. But probably the work
which he will be longest rememb
n 90