The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-20
MAD STUDENT KILLS
WOMAN FLEES, shot
ON RETURN, IS DYING
In Frenzy Slabs Keeper of
Rooming House in West
Fifty-fifth Street.
ATTACKS 3 OTHERS
Escapes After Murder and
Later Wildly BUSHES Po-
liceman With Knife.
HE FANCIED AN INSULT
Chance Remark Over Lost
Pistol Is Believed Cause
Of Tragedy.
3 OTHERS
HE FANCIED AN INSULT

A mans arm, the hand grasping a
long bladed knife, flashed through a
half open door on the top floor Of the
rooming house at 30S West Fifty fifth
street last night. and while two WON
en- with whom she had just been talk
ing looked on spellbound. Mrs. Anna
Cornell, 40 years old, housekeeper OF
the place, dropped to the floor with a
stab wound in her heart. The next
moment. according to the police, Azure
lilo F. Colmenar, a young Spanish stu
dent, occupant of the room from which
the attack had been made, stepped
into the hail. looked closely at the
woman and walked quietly out Of the
house. Mrs. Cornell was dead before
h/1feached the front door.
Three hours later. while Mrs. Cor
nells brother, Charles WeIsenbach OF
26 Kent avenue, Brooklyn. was hear
ing the story of how she met her
death and Policeman Flick of the West
Forty seventh street station was
searching Colmenar's room, the front
door opened and the Spaniard walked
in.
weisenbach heard Mrs. Edith Ryan
and Mrs. Anna Reddy. the women who
had witnessed the stabbing, cry There
he is-that's the murderer Without
waiting for help from the policeman he
rushed at Colmenar and tried to choke
him.
The Spaniard drew a knife-the same
one that killed Mrs. Cornell-and be-
gan 20 lunge at Weisenbach. Weisenbach
leaped out of his way and shouting to
the women to lock themselves In the
basement ran to the stoop and began
to blow police whistle.
Flick, who had heard the sounds of the
battle and the blasts of the whistle.
rushed downstairs, overtaking Colmenar
as he started to the basement in pur-
suit OF the women. At the same time
the Spaniard heard the policeman be-
hind him and turned with his knife up
lifted.
Drop that knife or I'll kill you." Flick
shouted.
Leaps mt Policeman.
The only answer from the Spania I'd
was growl. His voice rose to shrek
of rage as he leaped at Flick. The knife
whizzed by Fick's ear. Colmenar tried
once more to stab the policeman. And
then Fick's revolver was discharged
The bullet crashed into Colmenar's head
and he fell backward to the bottom OF
the stairs leading to the basement
Flick rushed after him and was lifting
his head to see how badly he was
wounded when the Spaniard recovered
from the shock of being shot. He
scrambled to his feet and came at the
policeman again, stabbing wildly at
him. A blow on the head from Fick's
revolver butt stopped his rush.
DIR. Paul Of Flower Hospital examined
Colmenar's wound and said Il probably
would be fatal. The bullet passed along
the roof Of his mouth. cutting a deep
furrow. and lodged against his spine.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital
The ambulance surgeon who examined
Mrs. Cornclgs body said the long knife
blade must have severed her heart.
Colmenar's escape Immediately follow
ing the murder was a result Of the In
difference or timidity OF passersby. Mrs
Ryan and Mrs. Reddy followed him into
the street and called to half a dozen
men to stop him. but their appeal went
UNDECIDED
The attack on Mrs. Cornell, the DO
lice were told, was the outcome of ar
guments she had had with the young
Spaniard. He believed she had made a
disparaging remark about him to an
other boarder. And, so Mrs. Ryan and
Mrs. Reddy told the police. Mrs. Cornell
because of his sulky attitude toward
her, feared to go alone to the topNfoor.
where his room was located.
Husband In Civil War.
Mrs. Cornell, whose husband. a civil
war veteran, is at the soldiers home at
Bath, ". Y, took charge OF the house
two months ago. Colmenar was quiet
hammered, but, II was said, annoyed
the boarders by wandering around the
halls at night On Thursday, while
talking with Mrs. George Smith, an
other roomer, just outside the Spaniard's
door, Mrs Cornell. the police said.
passed remark about him. The door
of his room was opened and he pokcd
out his head. At that time he threat
ened both women, II is alleged. His ugly
temper frightened Mrs. Cornell and the
other woman, and they took refuge In
a room and shouted out the window for
help.
Yesterday morning there was a dis
pute over an automatic pistol. which.
II Is said, Colmenar said he had lost
in the house. Mrs. Cornell offered to
write a note asking for Its return and to
put the note on the sitting room door.
She was told there would be trouble IL
the gun was not returned.
IL was o'clock last night when Mrs.
Cornell started TO the top floor. She
met Mrs. Reddy and Mrs. Ryan on the
stairs. She told them she was afraid
to go upstairs alone and they stood on
landing to assure her there was
nothing to fear.
Colmenar. they said, evidently was
waiting just inside his door for the
woman to approach. She reached tho
top landing. and. turning. was immedi-
ately in front of the entrances to his
room when the attack occurred.
The Spaniard had been studying at
school In this city. Hc worked as an
acetyiene torch operator during the
summer. The police say he came here
from Barcelona only few years ago
and had been living In the Fifty-fifth
street house since.