The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-14
KILLED BY
CRAZY NEGRO.
Prominent New York Man is
Shot Down on the Steps
OF His Home.
DID NOT KNOW HIS SLAYER
The Murderer Tells a Story
DID NOT KNOW HIS SLAYER
The Murderer Tells Story
Which Public Believe Fig
ment Of a Diseased Brain.
fRy Associated Press.) }

10y ASSOChlcQ Soo'j
NEW YORK, Nov. 1s.-Andrew Fl.
Green. the Father OF Greater New
York;" and one OF the citys Oldest and
most remarkable citizens. was shot and
instantly killed on the steps OF his home
on Park Avenue to-day by Cornelius
M. williams. a negro, who Is believed
to be insane.
The shooting was evidently tho outcome
OF an insane delusion on the part OF
the negro that Mr.. Green had slandered
him, for when he was asked why he had
committed the murder, he replied: II
did 1t to save my character"
There were three witnesses Of the
tragedy-Mrs. Anna Bray, a domestic In
Mr.. GREEN'S family; Emil Nicholson, an
errand boy, and Patrick Dyer. cabman.
According to these Witnesses, the negro
must have been waiting for Mr.. Green to
come home from his once. The negro
was standing In the vestibule OF the
house. and as Mr.. Green started to
ascend the two sips leading to the hall
door, Williams advanced toward him.
There was a brief interchange OF words.
and then the negro drew a revolver and
fired five shots in rapid succession. MI:
Green sank to the stone pavement blood
streaming from his head. while his mur-
derer returning the revolver to his pock-
ct. leaned against the railing OF the step,
as II awaiting arrest.
Four Shots Take Effect.
William n. Burns, carriage starter for
the Murray Hill Hotel was one OF the
first to reach the negro, whom he seized
as he was about to walk away and
turned over to a policeman and detec-
tiev, who rushed up m oment later. a
physician was on the spot almost tmme-
diately and pronounced Mr.: Green dead
As the negro's aged victim fell, a young
woman rushed out OF the house and took
the dead or dying mans head in her lap.
at the same time calling upon him in
piteous tones to speak to her. AS she
tried In vain to get a response. fWilliams
turned upon his victim and shouted:
s"Damn you, told you would get even
with you"
One Of the negro's bullets imbedded IT.
self In the ceiling OF the vestibule. It IS
believed that all Of the Others took ef-
feet. Any one was sufficient to cause
instant death.
Mrs, Bray told the police that she was
about to enter the house when she saw
Mr.. Green accosted by Williams, and
heard the former say, In answer to some
words addressed to him by the negro:
Go away. don't know you.' Then
Williams drew his revolver and shot the
old man.
Revolver Still Warm.
AS soon as the policeman seized the
colored man they searched him and found
the revolver. which was still warm. They
hurried him to the station house. where
he was subjected to searching examina-
ton, the result OF which left little doubt
OF the negro's insanity.
Williams appeared to be perfectly self
possessed and acted as though he felt
he had performed a meritorious deed.
He Is a we'll built man, Of average height.
fIe said he was single, forty-three years
old, and lived Mt No. 156 West Twenty
sixth Street, at which place, however,
he s not known.
The prisoner answered without hesitA-
tion or any show. Of irritation all ques-
tions put to him. and spoke like man
firm In the conviction that he had been
deeply wronged by the man he had mur-
dered.
He told a rambling story about a col
cred woman, Bessie Davis, who, until
four months ago, kept lodging house
for negroes in West Flfty-third Street,
Who he said. had circulated statements
derogatory to his character and against
whom he had been trying to bring suit
for $4,000 for slander. The trouble, he
said, dated back to the year 1895. when
he was one of her dodgers. Her stories
reached the congregation OF the Mount
Oliyet Church. Of which he was al at
tendant, and he was forced to give up
his membership there, because his fellow
worshippers pointed the finger of scorn
at him. Her ISLANDERS, continuing over
CONTINUED on Third Page.)