The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-11-17

instantly killed on the steps OF his
home, on Park avenue, by Cornelius
NJ. Williams. a negro, who Is believed
to be insane.
The shooting was evidently the out
come 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: Il did it to save my char
acter."
There were three witnesses OF the
tragedy, Mrs. Anna Bray, a domestic
in Mr.. Green's family; Emil Michel
sen. an errand boy. and Patrick Dyer
a cabman. According to these wit
n esses. the negro must have been walt
ing for Mr. Green to come home from
his Office. When he alighted from a
car. in the tunnel. at Fortieth street.
he walked slowly towards his resi-
dence. almost directly across the street.
The negro was standing in the vesti-
bule OF the house. and as Mr.. Green
started to ascend the steps leading to
the hall door. Williams advanced to-
wards him. There was brief Inter-
change Of words, and then the negro
drew a revolver and fired five shots in
rapid succession. Mr.. Green sank to
the stone pavement. blood streaming
from his head, while his murderer,
returning the revolver to his pocket
leaned against the railing OF the stoop.
rs II awaiting arrest
William II. 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 a
detective, who rushed up a moment
later. A physician was on the spot
almost Immediately and pronounced
Mr.. Green TO be dead. AS the negro's
aged victim fell. a young woman rush
ed 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. Will
liams turned upon his victim and
shouted:
Damn you. l told you would get
even with you"
One of the negro's bullets imbedded
itself in the ceiling of the vestibule.
II Is believed that all Of the others took
effect. A cursory examination by a
physician and the coroner revealed one
wound In the left side Of the head.
one In the left temple and another at
the base of the brain. Any one was
sufficient to cause death.
Mrs. Bray told the police that she
was Just about to enter the house when
she saw Mr.. Green accosted by Will
Iiams. 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.
Williams appeared to be perfectly
self-possessed and acted as though he
felt he had performed a meritorious
deed. He is a well-bullt man, OF aver
age height. and Of not unpleasant fea-
lures. The prisoner answered. with
out hesitation or any show of irrita-
ton. all questions put to him and spoke
like a man firm in the conviction that
he had been deeply wronged by the
man he had murdered.
He told a rambling story about col
ored woman, Mrs. Bessie Davis. who,
until about four months ago, kept
lodging house for negroes in West
SOD street. who. he said, had circn-
lated statements derogatory to his
character, and against whom he had
been trying to bring suit for s2O.OOO
for SANDER. The trouble, he said, dat
ed back to the year 1895, when he was
one OF her dodgers. Her stories reach
ed the congregation OF the Mount Olive
Church, of which he was an attend
ant. and he was forced to give up his
membership there because his fellow
worshippers pointed the finger Of scorn
at him, Her SANDERS. continuing over
eight years, cost him nearly all MS
friends.
Continuing, he said he had not been
able to find the woman, who had been
spirited away by powerful friends. lie
blamed Mr.. Green for befriending the
woman, and enabling her to continue
her slanderous stories. He said he had
asked Mr.. Green to get after her,
but he failed TO do so.
am not sorry shot him." exclaim-
ed the prisoner "he got what he de-
served. may not be justified by So
ciety, but I'm justified in the eyes OF
God. I'm willing to go to the electric
chair, II necessary, to vindicate my
character"