Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-14
INSANE DELUSI0N
Causes Murder of Father Of
Greater New York,
Andrew H. Green Shot Down on Door.
steps Of His Own Home.
Murderer Apprehended, but Is Sup
posed to Be Insane.

New York, Nov. 13.-Andrew II.
Green, the father of Greater New
York. and one of the citys oldest and
most valued citizens, was shot and
killed on the steps of his home, 81 Park
avenue, this afternoon, by Cornelius M,
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 SLAM
dered him, for, when he was asked why
he had committed the murder, he re-
piled: Il did it to save my character"
There We're three witnesses of the
tragedy, Mrs. Anna Bray, a domestic
in Mr.. Green's family, Emil Michael-
son, an errand boy. and Patrick Dyer,
a cabman. According to these wit
nesses the negro must have been wait
ing for Mr.. Green to come home from
his Office. He generally reached home
about 100 in the afternoon. At that
hour he alighted from a Fourth avenue
car, in the tunnel at Fortieth street,
and ascending the steps to the street
walked slowly toward his residence,
almost directly across the street.
Dyer says he saw the negro standing
in the vestibule of the house and that
he saw Mr. Green start to ascend the
two steps leading to the hall door. At
that moment Williams advanced to-
ward him. There was brief inter-
change of words, which Dyer did not
hear, and then the negro drew a re-
volver and fired five shots in rapid sue
pavement, blood streaming from his
head while his murderer, returning
the revolver to his pocket, leaned
against the railing of the stoop, as if
awaiting arrest.
William H. 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 him over to Patrolman
,Houghtaling and Detective Kelly, who
rushed up a moment later. A physi-
clan was on the spot almost immedi-
ately and pronounced Mr. Green to be
dead. Some of the witnesses stated
that, as the negroes 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, Williams, it is said, ex-
claimed. addressing Green: Damn you.
1 told you I'd get even with you"
One of the negro's bullets embedded
itself in the ceiling of the vestibule. 1t
is believed that all of the others took
effect. A cursCry examination by
physician and the coroner revealed one
wound in the left side. one in the left
temple and another at the base of hte
brain. Any one was sufficient to cause
instant death
Mrs. Bray told the police that she was
just 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. l don't know you"
Then Williams drew his revolver and
shot the old man.
The boy. Nicholson, said he saw Will
liams shoot Mr.. Green at the foot of
the steps hut heard no conversation.
AS soon as the policeman grabbed 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 a
searching examination, the result of
which left little doubt of the negro'e
insanity. Besides the revolver the po-
lice found in Williams pockets a razor,
a purse containing $40 and dispossess
notice dated August 6, showing that he
had been put out of apartmnts in 57th
street between 9TH and 10Th avenues
Williams appeared to be perfectly
self-possessed and acted as though he
felt he had performed a meritorious
deed. He is well-built man OF average
height and of pleasant features. He
said he was single, 43 years of age and
lived at 1856 West 26th street at which
place. however, he is not known.
The prisoner answered without hest
tation or any show of irritation, 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 colored woman, Mrs.
Bessie Davis, who, until about four
months ago. kept lodging house for
negroes in West 53rd street, who. he
SAID. had circulated statements deroga-
tory to his character and against whom
he had been trying to bring suit for 800 |
GOO for SANDER, which cost him nearly
Ill his friends.
He blamed Mr.. Green for befriending