The Bourbon news., 1902-05-13
MURDER AND suicide.
Paul Leicester Ford, rhe Novelist.
Killed By His Brother.
Paul Was the Author Of "The Honor
able Peter Stirling" "Janice Mere
dith," "The Great X. and A.
Train Robbery" Etc.

New York, May 9.-Paul Leicester
Ford, the novelist, was shot and killed
Thursday by his brother, Malcolm
Webster Ford, writer and athlete,
who Immediately sent a bullet into
his own breast, dying instantly The
shooting occurred in the handsome
new mansion which Paul Leicester
Ford had built at 81 East 77th 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 novelist's
secretary, and the servants. The nov
elist was sitting at his desk in one
corner of his library a large, attrac-
lively appearing room at the back of
the house on the second floor. It 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 vas in her
own room at the front of the house
on the third floor.
Malcolm Ford called, as he had Oft
en- 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 that she possibly might have dis
tinguished the words if she had been
paying any attention to this particu-
lar meeting of the brothers. Sudden
ly there was a 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 re-enter the library.
Meanwhile Malcolm Ford had call
ed 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, ne
was still standing at his desk, but rap
idly losing strength. She helped him
to a sofa and then ran next door for
Mr.. Paul Ford's physician. In less
than five minutes DR.. Baruch arrived,
and the dying man, still conscious,
was carried up to a room beside his
wife's and placed on his bed.
Police Capt. Brown said Thursday
night that Malcolm Ford had for soma
time been causing much uneasiness
to the family through evidences of an
unbalanced mind, and declares that
in his opinion he attacked his brother
during a period of temporary insan-
ity, then taking his own life.
"The cause of Malcolm Fords &C.
tion," said Capt. Brown, "can be ex-
planned by inference. For some time
his financial affairs have been press
ing him and he has repeatedly asked
and received material assistance from
his brother. It is presumed that his
importuning had been such and his
demand so excessive that his brother
had been forced to refuse further aid"
Paul Leicester Ford was 81 years
old, a novelist of much note, Janice
Meredith" being his most popular nov
el. He was married about a year ago
to Miss Grace Kidder, daughter of Ed
ward H. Kidder, of Brooklyn. He was
the son of Gordon Lester Ford, Of
Brooklyn, who died II years ago, and
left an estate of some $2,00O,O0O, di-
vided between his children, with the
exception of Malcolm W., who was
disinherited by the will.
Mr.. Ford is the author of 'The Hon.
Peter Stirling" "The Great K. and A.
Tram Robbery" THE True George
Washington" "The Many Sided Frank
lin," (which ran serially in the Cen
tury), "Tattle Tales of Cupid" ia
nice Meredith" which ran serially in
the Bookman, 1899, and a collection
of short stories. He also edited the
writings of Thomas Jefferson in ten
volumes, the writings of John Diclzin-
son in three volumes, and numerous
other works relating to American his
tory and photography.