Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-11-22
Trial of Mrs. simpson.

We fine the following account of the trial OF Mrs.
SIMPSON in the last Fayetteville Carolinian 1t will
be seen that she has been acquitted.
On Thursday Thanksgiving day. the case of the
State against Mrs. Ann X. Simpson, for the murder
(by poison of her husband, A.. c. Simpsons was
taken up She was arragned on Monday afternoon,
and pleaded not guilty. The bill of indictment
Robt Strange, Warren Winslow and Duncan K.
McRae, Esqs., conducted the defence and Mr..
Solicitor Ashe and Hon. James C. Dobbin for the
State.
At the time of putting our paper to press, the ex
animation of witnesses was not closed The examina-
ton of Drs. Mallett and Robinson and Rev. Simeon
Cotton seemed to prove very clearly the existence of
poison in the stomach of the deceased and their
opinions based upon their examinations of the con-
tents of the stomach, and the symptoms of illness of
which the deceased died. WERE that he came to his
death by white arsenic taken into the stomach
This having been established other witnesses estif
ed that a serious disagreement happened between
Mr.. and Mrs. Simpson. but short time previous to
his death. That she read to young woman. whom
she employed in the house to sew, letter from Mr.
Simpson, saying that he once believed she loved him,
but he now knew she loved another better That
for the sake of their friends he would continue to live
with her, but she must make him a separate bed
1t further testified that she went to an old for
tune teller, who told her good deal of nonsense
but among other things and at different times that
her husband would not live long and that she would
marry the one she loved that she turned the cups.
and his coffin, and predicted his early death 1t
was further testified that Mrs. Simpsons amours
with another the cause of dsag reement be-
tween her and her husband
1t was testified that she brought arsenic short
time before his death, and asked gentleman what
effect it had on animals and men.
Then the testimony of two boarders in the house.
detailing her conduct at the table the day before
Mr.. SIS death, throw dark and terrible suspicious
upon the motives and designs of the prisoner. Her
conversations but few minutes after the death of
the deceased in regard to what the fortune teller
told her. and of her future course all help to darken
the picture and point to her the only person who,
in all reasonable probability would have admins
tered the drug; and yet there positive testi-
mony, to satisfy man beyond all shadow Of doubt,
that it was she who did it.
The counsel for the defence ably and ingeniously
endeavored to convince the jury that it quite
possible even if not probable, that the man did not
die of arsenic that the physicians may have been
mistaken; or that he may have taken his own
life; that being in feeble state of health
it was not strange that he died. The State insisted
that by chain of circumstances, each link in itself
not to be relied upon, but that the whole taken to-
gether, formed chain of events which must con.
vince any of the guilt of the prisoner at the bar
The jury consisted of Chas. S. Johnson, Murdoch
| McKinnon, Jas. w. McCalister, Daniel Clark, Jno
| A. Williams, John T. Wright Daniel Cameron, J
B. Wright. A McCregor John Thames, VIM. But
Ter, and Jas. Price.
| They retired for hour or two and retured
verdict of Nor GUILTY.