The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-06-18
CORNWALL SORRY
HE MISSED GOING
TO CHURCH TODAY
Insanity Will Be Defense of
Man Who Killed
Relative.

Regret that he is unable to go ito
church today is the chief emotion in
the breasts Of Arthur Cornwall, &C.
cording to the statement Of his counsel.
The police say Cornwall does not yet
fully realize that he last night shot and
killed his brother-in-law, James Elmore
Courtney, at Courtney's home, O26
Eighth street northeast.
Although he defiantly stood up to the
police questioning last night, he is
weakening today and his bravado is
gone.
Cornwall fired five shots at his broth
er-in-law, each one taking effect. The
shooting occurred in the parlor Of the
Courtney home, where Cornwall had
been a resident three years.
Insanity to Be Defense.
A defense of insanity for Cornwall is
indicated in the statement today by
James F. Kelly, his attorney.
Cornwall has been a neurasthenic
an da victim Of nervous trouble for five
years." he said, land is as clearly in
sane as any man ever was. He does
not even now realize what he has done
He seems TO be sorry that prison bars
restrain him from going to church to-
day, but other emotion he has none"
After Cornwall had shot his brother
in-law he ran away from the home
carrying his revolver with him. Court
ney was taken Immediately in an am
bulance, but died on the way to the
hospital.
Cornwall was captured by the police
as he alighted from a street car at the
Soldiers Home transfer station. In a
Few minutes he was a prisoner at the
station house around the corner from
the Courtney home, telling the police
the story of the tragedy with little or
no concern.
Sisters of the murderer talked freely
today. Neither of them felt she had
any cause to defend or conceal any
thing concerning their brother.
From the wife of the dead man came
the story of how, when Cornwall came
to the city three years ago, Courtney
took him into his home as a member OF
the family. Cornwall. she said, hated
MS brother-in-law, and she told how,
upon one occasion, Corn wall seized
long-bladed knife and started Tor Court
ney.
The affair of the picture of the father
OF the dead man, hanging upon the wall
near the door. and which was said to be
the cause of the quarrel yesterday, was
the story. left the house after eating
his supper. saying to Mrs. Courtney
that her husband had better look OUT
when he returned.
Hated Him.
Arthur had always hated my hus-
band" said Mrs. Courtney. but neither
did he like me nor the children. He
seemed to have a dislike for everyone
Sometimes I grew frightened at having
him about, he was so sullen and
morse.
THE quarrel between my husband
and Arthur was only about the picture.
Many times had cautioned Arthur rot
to slam the door as he went out. as rhe
picture might fall to the floor and
break. My husband had spoken about
it, too, and then Arthur only persisted
in the act.
II know that my husband said some
harsh things to Arthur last night, but
he lost not a minute in apologizing
when he realized that he had gone
farther than he should. To this Arthur
made no reply. When he went out he
told me that my husband had better
look out when he came back
When Arthur entered the door
knew something was going to happen.
His eyes glistened and shone Ike fire,
thing in his pocket. Then came the
shots, and I realized nothing more until
my husband staggered into tho room
and fell to the floor"
Alice Cornwall. a sister of the man
held. and sister-in-law of the murdered
story, and gave the police a detailed ac-
count Of how the fatal shots were fired