West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-09
Paul Leicester Ford Killed by
His Brother, Malcolm
49,. y. Ford, the Athlete. a-ss
MURDERER THEN sUlCIDED.
Believed That the Awful Double Crime
Yves Committed While Malcolm
Was Suffering From Temporary
Mental Alteration.

colin Webster Ford, wri>er and ath
lete, who Immediately sent a bullet
into his own breast, dying Instantly
The shooting occurred at 1920 a. ~,
in the handsome new mansion which
Paul Leicester Ford had built at 81
East Seyenty-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 r. Hall, the novelist's
secretary, and the servants. The
novelist was sitting at his desk IN
one corner of his library, large, at
tractively appointed room at the back
of the house, on the second floor. 1t
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 was in her
own room at the front of the house.
on the third floor.
Fatal Conversation Urheard.
Malcolm w. Ford called, as he often
had done, and went to his brother at
his desk Words were exchanged IL
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 anyl atte ntion to this
particular meeting of the brothers.
Suddenly there was revolver shot
and Miss Hall, jumping up, darted
from the room. Then, according 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 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 Mr.. Paul Ford's physi-
clan, DR.. Emanuel Baruch. 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 He
spoke to his wife and asked the doc
tor for his opinion, showing that he
expected death and was going to
meet it calmly and bravely A few
moments later, about 20 minutes af
ter he was shot. Mr.. Ford died.
Believed temporarily Insane.
Edward Kidder, Mrs Ford's father
who was sent for, refused to make
any statement in regard to the shoot
ing except brief memorandum
which was given to the police. In
this it was said that the cause of the
shooting could only be surmised H.
formation from other sources makes
it appear that Malcolm Ford called
to get money from his brother, and,
meeting with refusal, shot him. DR.
Baruch said that the murder was a
result Of temporary mental aberra-
ton on the part of Malcolm Ford,
due to nervous exhaustion.
1t is said that there was enmity be-
tween the two brothers and conse.
quent bitterness, and that 1t was ot
IL 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 NAL
colin to devote himself to an athletic
career.
Police Captain Brown said last
night that Malcolm W. Ford had for
some time been causing much un.
easiness to the family through evi
dences of an unbalanced mind. and
declares that in his opinion he attack
ed his brother during a period OF
temporary insanity, then taking his
own life.
Malcolm In Financial Distress.
The cause of Malcolm Ford's ac-
tion," said Captain Brown, ''can be
explained by inference. For soma
time past his financial affairs have
O(SA PANooAhS I'LL, anu uG has re-
peatedly asked and received material
assistance from his brother 1t is
presumed that his importuning had
been such and his demands so exces-
sive that his brother had been forced
to refuse further aid
Paul Leicester Ford was 81 years
old. novelist of much note, Janice
Meredith" being perhaps his most
popular novel. Ee was married about
year ago to Miss Grace Kidder
daughter of Edward H. Kidder, of
Brooklyn.
Malcolm W. Ford was born lr
Brooklyn, Feb. z, 1862. He married
daughter of Robert Graves, a wall
paper manufacturer, but they were
divorced. He was a member Of the
Lawyers club.
1t was decided last night at a. fam