The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-09
Cause of the Fratricide.

va tlAE AdAArt part was because ne AAA
not wish Malcolm to devote himself to
an athletic career.
Cause of the Eratricide.
Police Captain Brown said tonight
that Malcolm Ford had for some time
been causing uneasiness to the family
through evidences of an unbalanced
mind. and declared that in his opinion
he killed his brother during a period
Of temporary insanity.
The cause of Malcolm Ford's ac-
ton, said Captain Brown. "can be eX-
planned by inference. For some time
past his financial affairs have been
pressing him. and he had repeatedly
asked and received material assistance
from his brother. It is presumed that
his impOrtuning had been such and his
demands so excessive that his brother
had been forced 20 refuse further aid.
Paul Leicester Ford was 81 years old.
and a novelist of much note Janice
Meredith and fThe Honorable Peter
Sterling" were his most popular nov
els. 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 eleven years ago
and left an estate of some $1,000. 600
divided among his children. with the
exception of Malcolm, who was dis
inherited by the viii.
Malcolm Ford was born in Brooklyn,
Feb Z, 1867. He was educated at the
Brooklyn Polytechnic institute. He
took up athletics while at school and
for a number of years won champion
ships in this country and Canada in
IA araaI nd III
quarter-mile run, as well as for the
120-yard hurdle, running broad and
running high jumps He married a
daughter Of Robert Graves. a wall
paper manufacturer, but they were di-
vOrced.
1t was decided tonight at q family
council that the two brothers should
be buried together The funeral viii
be held Saturday morning from the res
idenCe. Tonight the bodies we're laid
out together i'm adjoining upper rooms
Of the house Malcolm Ford leaves a
son about years old. It was said to-
night at the apartment house in which
Malcolm lived that he had talked fire.
duently Of late Of being IN financial
difficulties and that things were going
wrong"
Disinherited His Son.
Mr.. Ford the elder. left a will in
which ne made no mention whatever Of
Malcolm, but divided his large estate
I'm equal parts among his six other
children Malcolm did not contest the
will, and it was admitted 20 probate
shortly after his fathers death. He
told his friends at the time however.
that an agreement had been entered
into between him and his brothers and
sisters by which they had promised to
share with him their fathers estate.
In May. 1894, Malcolm Ford brought
suit against his brothers and sisters
IN the supreme court in Brooklyn two
compel them to live up TO the alleged
agreement. The alleged agreement was
a verbal one. and as Malcolm Ford
was unable to adduce proof of it the
court decided against him.
When Malcolm was called to the
stand 20 testify in his own behalf, he
said that shortly after his fathers
death his brother Paul had spoken TO
him about the win Of his father. and
said: II think you are left out Of the
will. but we viii take care of you as
long q you do not make any trouble.
There is no disgrace in it for you, for
both Washington and Catherine were
left out Of a former win"
Paul Ford was called to the stand.
and when under cross examination tes-
tified that there was a sentiment among
the brothers and sisters that Malcolm
should have a share Of the estate Of his
father If his future life was such that
he would command respect. He ex-
planned that he meant by this that his
brother should give up all athletic
sports After testifying that his father
had died from typhoid fever. ne said:
Of do not see why Malcolm should get
any ~ the estate. as my father had
laid down his life to save Malcolm He
gave a worthy life to save an unworthy
life"
Paul Ford denied that he had entered
into an agreement to share the estate
with Malcolm. and said that the senti-
ment to share the estate provided NAL
colin gave up athletics originated with
his mother. who has since died.