The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-10
NOvEL|ST'S CAREER
ENDED BY BULLET
Paul Leicester Ford Shot by
His Brother.
MURDER AND SUICIDE
Malcolm Sends Second Bullet Through
Malcolm Sends Second Bullet Through
His Own Eeart.
tE HAD CALLED TO ASK PAUL FOR MONEY
Temporarily Insane
By the Associated Press.)

New York, May S.-Paul Leicester Ford,
The novelist, was shot and killed today by
his brother. Malcolm Webster Ford,
writer and athlete, who Immediately
sent a bullet into his own breast. dying
instantly.
'Fhe shooting occurred at 1920 q. m,
Leicester Foard had built, at 81 East
18th 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 Eliza
beth r. Hall. the noVelists secretary,
and the servants. The novelist was sit
ting at his desk in one corner of his
library, a large, attractively appointed
room at the back of the house on the
second floor. II is supposed that he
was busily engaged at some literary
task Miss Hall was at her desk IN
another corner of the room about thirty
feet from Mr.. Ford Mrs. Paul Leicester
Ford was in her room at the front OF
the house on the third floor.
Malcolm Ford called as he had often
done and was with his brother ut his
desk. Words were exchanged in tone
SO low that Miss Hall could not hear
what was said, though she says That
possibly she might have distinguished
the words if she had been paying any
attention. Suddenly there was revol-
yer shot and Miss Hall. jumping up
Il "a Then
to the statements of the police. Miss
Hall said to herself that she must act
more bravely and re-enter the library.
Meanwhile Malcolm Ford had called
her. AS she turned towards him he
placed bis revolver to his heart. tired and
fell, dying instantly. When Miss Hall
turned to look at Paul, he was still
standing at his desk but rapidly losing
streneth. She helped him to sofa and
| then ran next door for Ford's physician,
DR.. Emmanuel Baruch
In less than five minutes DR.. Barueh
arrived and the diving man still con-
sci0us was carried up to a room beside
his wife and placed on his bed. He
spoke to his wife and asked the doctor
for his opinion, showing that he expect
ed death and was going to meet it calm
~ and bravely. A few moments later,
about twenty minutes after he was shot.
Mr.. Ford died.
The bullet which killed Paul Leices-
ter Ford just grazeG the top of his
heart and passed through a large artery
ascending from it. The bullet which
killed Malcolm Ford was fired with the
same accuracy of aim. for it made a
wound scarcely ar 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 after
the shooting could not be ascertainned,
but it appears from the statement Of
certain persons acquainted with the de-
tails cf the tragedy that the body lay
where it fell on a rug in the library for
some time, possibly for several hours.
so great vas the excitement in the
house. In fact the murder and suicide
were not known to the coroner until
about 2:30 p. m, and not to the police
until 4:25 p. IN. DR.. Baruch said the
time between 1920 and 2:30 passed so
rapidly that nc one in tho house real
izde it. Much of the time was occupied in
trying to telephone to the father of Mrs.
Pail Leicester Ford, Edward II Tidder,
of Brooklyn, who was the first person to
arrive after the physician.
Mr.. kiddcr refused to make any state
nent in regard to the shooting NccDt
Eriet memorandum which was given
to the police.
Malcolm Ford called to. get money
| from his brother and meeting with re-
fusal shot him. DR.. Earuch said that
| the murder was q result of temporary
mental alteration on the part Of the
Malcolm Ford. due to nervous eXbaus-
| ton.
1t is said that there was enmity be-
tween the two brothers, and that it was
of eleven years standing; that never since
the death of their father have they been
| legged enmity on the part of Malcolm is
on intimate brotherly terms. This al