Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-04-19
KILLS SURGEON
IN CHURCH AS
THE CHOIR sings
Tragedy Occurs in Fashion
able New York Church and
Noted Man Is Victim
NRv The Associated Pressl

ttbN ne AS~Dtlateu IFfeSS1
NEW YORK, n. Y, April 10
Thomas Shelley, alias Thomas Simp-
kin, will be arraigned in Yorkville
court today for shooting Dr. James
Wright Markee, prominent surgeon,
in the fashionable St. Georges Epis-
copal church yesterday. The police
say they will later ask the appoint
ment of commission to examine
Shelley as to his sanity. He told the
officers that he escaped from luna
tic asylum last week.
Shelley was held without bond for
a hearing Wednesday,
DR. Markee was shot and killed
while taking up the offering al the
morning services. His assailant was
captured after a short chase by
group Of parishioners headed BY Will
liam Fellowes Morgan, president Of
the Merchants Association Of New
York; DR.. George +. Brewster and J.
Morgan Jones.
DR. Markee, a wealthy vcStryman
of the church. was a friend and per-
sonal physician to J. Pierpont Nor
gan. also parishioner there He
was 56 years old.
The church was crowded with par
ishioners. many Of them representa-
tives Of the wealthiest families in
New York. when the shooting took
place. Or. Markee was walking down
the left aisle taking up the collection
while the choir was singing an an
them. As he reached the 10Th pew
from the rear and leaned over to pass
the plate. Shelley, who was seated
next to the aisle, whipped out re
volver 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 20 the
aid Of physician, and others in pur-
suit of his asSailant. Shelley with
the revolver in his hand. leaped over
the body Of the physician and start
ed TO run out Of the church. The
choir, led by Charles Stafford, contin-
ued singing in an effort TO quiet the
congregation.
Shelley continued shooting, his
second shot, directed at members of
the congregation who were pursu-
ing him, going wild. John c. Tied
man, 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. Brew
ster was the first man 10 reach him.
He grabbed the mans arm, but Shell
ley managed to wiggle himself loose
long enough to fire another shot,
which graZed DR.. Brewster's thigh.
BY that time several other members
af the congregation had thrown Shell
ley to the ground and were holding
him. Then policeman arrived.
handcuffed the prisoner and took
him TO the police station. Meanwhile
DR.. Markee had been carried out Of
the church and placed in an automo-
bile. 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-in Hospital at Eigh-
teenth street and Second avenue, but
was dead when brought into that in
stitution.
In the church at the time were Geo.
w. WickerSham, former United
States attorney general; Herbert l..
Satterlee, brother-in-law of j. Pier
pont Morgan. and Mrs. Satterlee; X.
Fulton Cutting. president Of the bu-
reau Of municipal research, and many
other prominent persons. Mr.. Nor
gan, who is member Of the church,
and whose father was vestryman
there, was not present when the
shooting occurred.
Shelley freely admitted that he
shot Or. Markcc. according 10 the
police. There are lot more VINO
are going To get il. too," he X re-
ported to have said when questioned
by police detectives.
J Search Of suit case Shelley had
checked az the Pennsylvania terminal.
revealed. the police say. several rad-
cal papers and pamphlets He also
had draft card showing he had reg
isterei September II, 1918, under
the name Of Thomas W. Simpkins,
203 Fourth street, Sauk City, Wis.
There were also several business
cards reading Thomas w. Simpkin, "
and in the lower corner "reptesent
ing Swift county printing com
pany," and "Kerkhoven Banner"