Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-22
FAMOUS SURGEON
SHOT IN CHURCH
DR.. James MarkOe, While Taking
up Offering at St. Georges
Episcopal Church, Slain by
One Thomas Shelley

New York, April 1s.-Dr. James Markoe,
well known surgeon, was shot and killed
to-day while taking up the offering at the
morning service in the fashionable st,
Georges Protestant Episcopal Church,
18th street and Stuyvesant place. in the
old aristocratic district of New York.
The shooting was done by a man named
Thomas Shelley.
The church was crowded with parish
oners many of them representatives OF
the wealthiest families in New York.
when the shooting took place DR.. Markoe
was walking down the left aisle taking
up the collection while the choir was
singing an anthem. AS he reached the
18th pew from the rear and leaned over
to pass the plate, Shelley. who was seated
next to the aisle, whipped out a revolver
and fired at the physician. The bullet
struck him over the left eye and he
collapsed in the aisle.
Several women screamed and men
rushed from their seats. some to the aid
OF the physician and others in persuit
of his assalant Shelley. with the smok-
Ing revolver in his hand, leaped over the
body of the physician and started to run
out of the church. The choir led by
Charles Stafford, continued singing In an
effort to quiet the congregation.
Shelley continued shooting. his second
shot. directed at members of the congre
cation who were pursuing him, going
wild. John c. Tiedman, the sexton,
dropped to the floor in time to escape the
third bullet, which grazed the cheek Of
j. Morgan Jones.
Shelley then ran from the church into
Stuyvesant square DR.. Brewer was tho
first man to reach him. He grabbed the
wriggle loose long enough to fire another
shot. which grazed Dr. Brewers thigh.
BY that time several other members of
the congregation had thrown Shelley to
the ground and were holding him down
when policeman arrived. handcuffcd the
prisoner and took him to the police
station.
Meanwhile DR.. Markoe had been carried
out of the church and placed in an auto
mobile. As he was being lifted into the
car he regained consciousness long
enough to say. II will be all right" and
then collapsed. He was rushed to the
Lying-1n hospital at 18th street and Sec
ond avenue. but was dead when brought
into the institution.
In the church at tho time were George
w. Wickersham, former United States
attorney; Herbert l.. Satteree. brother
in-iaw of j. Pierpont Morgan, and Mrs
Satterlee: r. Fulton Cutting. president
of the bureau of municipal research. and
many other prominent persons.
DR.. James Wright Markoe. was a wide
~ known obstetrician. lie was son Of
the late Or. Thomas Masters Markoe, a
famous surgeon. The slain physician was
horn In New York city. In the same edifice
In which he met death to-day. he was
married IS years ago to Miss Annette
Wetmore Many persons prominent in So
|ciety attended the wedding.
In addition to the prominence achieved
las physician to the family of J. Pierpont
Morgan. DR.. Markoc was noted for his
|philanthropies to the poor of New York
The lying-in hospital, first established on
the lower cast side was the result of his
influence and later he induced the elder
Morgan to endow and erect a modern in
|stitution The financer gave 81. 600 00O to
the charitable project. His son has main
|tained the hospital. DR.. Markoe was it's
ATTENDING surgeon and consultant head.
DR.. Markoe was physician to the elder
Mr. Morgan until his death and continu-
led to be the family physician.
Fergus Falls. Mimi. April IS
Thomas w. Simpkin. also known as
Thomas w. Shelley who shot DR.. James
Markoe in a New York church to- day
had been an inmate for some time of
the Minnesota State insane asylum
here, up to two years ago, when he
made his escape. He was committed to
the asylum from Duluth His mind. it
is believed, became affected through
study Of spirtualism. He had wife
and two children in Duluth, who re-
turned to England after Simpkins'
committal to the asylum.
Before he succeeded in escaping.
which was accomplished by knotting
bed clothing together and lowering
himself from n third story window he
had made two attempts to get away.
but on each occasion was recaptured.
Simpkin was not regarded as danger
Gus here, having a cheerful disposition.
While here he claimed to be in COM
munication with spirits and showed a