The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-16
CALEB SIMMS SHOT TO DEATH
IN HIS COLORED DEMOCRACY
CLUR BY A CUBAN NEGRO.
West Side Negro Colonies Mourning for
Him--He Was q Politician Of Con.
siderable Note Who Had Been on Both
Sides and Whom All Politicians Knew.

slides and Whom All Politicians Knew.
Caleb Simms, a negro politician Of con-
siderable note and owner of the Albany
Hotel. at 3el West Thirty-seventh street.
one of the most popular negro resorts on the
West Side, was shot and killed last night
in the clubrooms of the United Colored
Democracy of Greater New York, at 324
West Fifty-ninth street. The murder was
done by Alma Padre, Cuban mulatto,
whom Smms had befriended and made
general manager Of the club.
Padre also shot in the shoulder Jacob II.
James, negro waiter, who was trying
to drag Simms away. Padre gave him
self up to the police Immediately after
the shooting. A quarrel over money
matters led to the murder, but friends OF
Smms said last night that political jealousy
was at the bottom OF it.
A half dozen members of the organiza-
tion were in the clubrooms Oh the second
floor OF 324 West Fifty-ninth street about
o'clock when Simms came in and was
joined by Padre in the private Office in the
rear. The door was closed behind the
two men. Both were heard to speak loudly,
and Padre used great deal Of violent Ian
guage. The quarrel apparently concerned
credit which Padre had granted indis-
criminately without telling Simms about
it. Later Padre said that he had de-
manded that $50 owing to the steward
of the CLUB be paid. and that Simms had
refused to pay it.
The door was thrown open at last, and
Simms appeared on the threshold, saying:
1--we been father to you. Now I'm
through tn youth have nothing to do
with you after this
Padre followed Simms. yelling at the
top of his voice: Damn you, you've been
bowling and bowling at me for the last
three months. Now I'm going to put it
into you
James, the waiter, and several members
Of the club present were in the front room.
James went up to Simms and pulled him
by the arm, asking him to come away.
Leave me Alone Simms said, putting
his thumbs in the armholes Of his waistcoat
I'm able to take care Of this niger myself"
He had hardly spoken when Padro pulled
a revolver and fired three shots as quickly
as he could pull the trigger. The first
bullet struck Simms squarely m the mouth.
James got the third bullet in the right
shoulder Sinms reeled few steps toward
the front of the house and fell dead.
Padre, with the revolver in his hand,
ran out of the house and up West Fifty
ninth street. At Columbus avenue he
stumbled into Policeman Aldcroft, to WHOM
he handed his weapon with the words:
AI've just shot man.
He followed Aldcroft back to the house
and stayed there until other policemen
arrived and took him away. Jamee's
wound was insignificant.
A great crowd, made up almost exclu-
sively Of negroes, gathered In front Of the
clubhouse. Many Of those present, both
men and women, cried bitterly.
Hes been Just like father to all Of u.s.
one man said. why, he was a reg lar
Devery-so free was he with his money"
From Fifty-ninth street the news passed
down to the other centres Of negro colonies
on the West Side. Everywhere the streets
contained groups Of excited dark skinned
men and women, who extolled the merits
of the dead man and cursed his murderer
The leading members Of the Cclored De-
mocracy came to the West Forty seventh
street station, where the body Of Simms
had been taken and where Deputy Assistant
District Attorney Samuel Thorne, Jr..
from the captain. Mr.. Thornes speed in
getting there had been accelerated by a
few words from the mouth Of his chief.
III there Is any politics at all behind
this business, we had better get at the wit
neeses ahead Of the leaders" said Jerome.
o,;n;on 90 70 n nolitical motive Tor Tic
otaat;no VOC rho brother ~ tba daad MAN
p,,sh S.,,rns Who il the bead of the coinrad
Ran,,hl;nan COUNTY and citv organizat;ons
IL sid THAT Padre had been heard r.
thraotar Me brother a number ~ timeS
p,t That was The only proof he had of hs
assertion Other friends of Simms said
that padro had been crooked, and that
INC quarrel arose from the latter's refusal
w w. Ind Tor anv more fleeing
Caiah Simms was horn in MARYLAND in
taxa His PARENTS we're free farmers AZ
20 h. 90 me to New York He was first n
waiter then kalsominer and then a house,
claaner In 1sT3, according to his own
~ ,r;as he hacame coachman for John n
p.a.af,l,or IN whose emnjov he remainad
tar az ,'.ars Maanwhile he had gone
40, ,ol;t;cs az a Republican in ths old
Ea,,,T,th AssemhIv dist riot Through Mr.
Dis,,,s -, snennn ba was annointed nss;stant
r,a.e ARMS If tho Senate M Albany
ger sI m a,. hat n,ace Wills Mort m vas
CIV. -. Va nss,d IA saw that tho Office
w So cunar,,isor of Accounts If Race
~ 49,. ", n GALAXY If 70 900 was offered
Va L;,,, go ,b.t he darlined i in favor of
E w. ,,.,a ' w Anderson who now holds II
va Ia, ' ,ess be was sent through Florida
o';sana and Texas % bring the negro dele
.'n', ~ he coning national convention
k .'. 1;, W. sor Harr;aon and Morton He was
MUG l ,i,ir 10 70 the National Ren,blican
u s'''a,,;no in cleveland in Isno
~, 1--WE hn was MINING tho Albanv
c,,, u, Wast Th;rt v-frst st rect for ne oroes
n I'd ~ 1909 he was elected leader of the old