North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-11-20
CASE OF MRS. SIMPSON.

We learn from the Fayettevle Caroinian that at
the late Term Of Cumberland Superior Court. Mrs.
Ann X. Simpson, tried for the murder of her hus-
band, was acquitted. The Carolinian says:
son Thursday Thanksgiving day) the case OF the
State against Mrs. Ann X. Simpson, for the murder
(by poison) of her husband, A. z. simpson, was
and pleaded .no, guilty. The bill Of indictment
in this case occupied five pages of foolscaP Hon.
Robt. Strange, Warren Winsiow and duncan n.
McRae, Esqs conducted me og,ehS smu ms %
At the time of putting our paper to press, the ex
animation of witnesses was not closed. Inc examl-
nation of Drs Mallett and Robinson, and Rev. SIM
aon q nnn seemed to prove very clearly the exis-
60. - no;sou in the stomach of the deceased and
,hS oninions based upon their examinations of the
contents 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 test-
fed that 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 separate bed.
1t was further testified that she went 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 saw his coffin, and predicted his early death. 1t
was further testified that Mrs. Simpsons amours
with another man was the of disagreement be-
tween her and her husband.
TWAS testified that she bought arsenic short time
before his DEATH and asked gentleman what effect
1t had on animals and men.
Then the testimony of two boarders in the house,
detailing her conduct at the table on 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 fortuneeller told
her, and of her future course, all help to daken the
picture and point to her the only person who, in
all reasonable probability, would have administered
the drug and yet, there is positive testimony,
satisfy beyond all shadow of doubt, that it was
her that did it.
The counsel for the defence ably and ingeniously
endeavored convince the jury that it quite pos
sible, if not probable, that the did not die
of arsenic; that the physicians may have been mis-
taken; or that he may have taken his own life or
that being in feeble state of health, it was not
strange tina: he died. The State insisted that by a
chain of circumstances each link in itself not to be
relied upon, but that the whole taken together form
ed chain of events which must convince any man
of the guilt of the prisoner at the bar.
The jury consisted Of Chas. S. Johnson, Murdoch
McKinnon Jas. w. McCallister, Danl Clark, Jno.
A. Williams, John T. Wright, Danl. Cameron,J. B..
Wright, A. McGregor, John Thames, VIM. Butler,
and Jas. Price.
They retired for hour two, and returned a
verdict of Nor GUILTY.
John w. McAster was also tried for the murder
of Daniel Cuts, and acquitted.