Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-09
BOTH FORD BROTHERS DEAD
Paul Leicester, Author Of Janice Mere
dith," Killed by Malcolm.
LATTER TURNS REVOLVER ON HIMSELF
Tragedy Occurs in the Authors Lib.
rary and Is Attributed to Mental
Alteration of Malcolm
w. Ford.

NEW 1Ohh, May 6.--Paul Leicester
Ford. the novelist. was shot and killed to-
day by his brother, Malcolm Webster Ford,
writer and athlete, who Immediately sent
bullet into his own breast, dying instantly
The shooting occurred at 1920 a. m. in
the handsome new mansion which Paul
Leicester Ford had built at 81 East Sew
| entyseventh 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 wife OF the novelist:
Elizabeth r. Hall. the novelist's secretary
and the servants. The novelist was sitting
| at bis desk in a corner of his library. II
is supposed 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 own room at the front Of
the house on the third floor.
Malcolm Ford called, as he had often
done, and went 10 his brother at his desk
Words were exchanged in a tone SO low
that Miss Hall could not hear what was
said Suddenly there was a revolver shot,
and Miss Hall, jumping up, darted from the
room.
Miss Hall Saw Suicide.
According to the statement 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 toward him he placed his
| revolver to his heart, fired 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 a sofa and then ran next door for
Paul Ford's physician. DR.. Emanuel
I n
Baruch arrived and the dying man. still
conscious, was carried up to room beside
his wife's and placed on his bed. He spoke
to his wife and asked the doctor for his
opinion, showing that he expected death
and was going to meet 1t calmly and
bravely. few moments later, about
twenty minutes after he was shot, Mr.. Ford
died.
The bullet which killed Paul Ford Just
| grazed the top OF his heart and passed
| through a large artery ascending from It,.
The bullet which killed Malcolm Ford was
fred with the same accuracy of aim, for
1t made a wound scarcely an inch lower
than the one which killed his brother. In
fact. the wounds were almost identical.
Body Lay where IL Fell.
Just what disposition of Malcolm Ford's
shooting could not be ascertained, but it
appears, from the statement of certain
persons acquainted with the details of the
tragedy, that the body lay where 1t fell.
on rug in the library, for some time. pos
sibly several hours, so great was the ex-
eitement in the house. In fact. the MUIR
der and suicide were not known to the
coroner until about 2:25 and not to the po-
lice until about 4:25 p. m.
The time between 10 q. m. and 4 p. m.
passed rapidly in the house. Much of the
time was occupied in trying to telephone
tc the father of Mrs. Paul Leicester Ford,
Edward X. Kldder of Brooklyn, who was
the first person to arrive, after the ply
slcian. Mr.. Kidder refused to make any
| tatement in regard to the shooting eS-
cept a brief memorandum which was given
to the police. In this 1t was said that
the cause of the shooting could only be
surmised. Information from other sources
makes it appear that Malcolm Ford called
to get money from his brother. and meet
! ing with a refusal shot him. DR.. Baruch
said that the murder was a result of tenn
porary mental alteration. on the part OF
Malcolm, Ford. due to nervous exhaustion.
Old FraternaI strife.
| 1t is said that there was enmity between
| the two brothers and that II was of eleven
years standing; that never since the death
of their father have they been on intimate
or brotherly terms. This alleged enmity
on the part of Malcolm is said to have
been brought about by the fact that the
father OF the boys disinherited Malcolm
and that this action on the fathers part
was because he did not wish Malcolm TO
devote himself to athletic career.
Police Captain Brown said tonight that
Malcolm Ford had for some 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
| insanity.
The cause OF Malcolm Ford's action"
said Captain Brown, "can be explained by
inference. For some time past his finan-
cial affairs have been pressing him and he
has repeatedly asked and received material
assistance from his brother 1t is pre-
sumed that his importuning had been such
and his demands so excessive that his
brother had been forced to refuse further
aid"
sketch of the Lives.
Paul Leicester Ford was 81 years of age
and a novelist OF much note, Janice Mere
dith" and The Honorable Peter Sterling
being perhaps his most popular novels.
He was married about year ago to Miss
Grace Kidder, daughter OF Edward H. Kid
der OF Brooklyn. He was the son Of Cor
don Lester Ford Of Brooklyn, who died
eleven years ago and left an estate of
some $4,000 900. divided between his chill
dren. with the exception Of Malcolm, who
was disinherited by the will. He was
member OF the Players Reform club and
the Century Association.
Malcolm w, Ford was born in Brooklyn
February 7. 1852. He was educated at the
Brooklyn Polytechnic institute. He took
up athletics, while at school and for a
number Of years won championships In this
country and Canada, and in the IO0-yard