Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-02-14
HELD FOR MURDER.
FRANK SMITH, OF wsLLsBURG, HELD POR
NURDER IN THg FIRST DEGREE
81 IS Charged with Poisoning Belle Simpson, o.
Bethany who Died Under Suspicious CIR
eumsancss at Mingo, Last Week.
sDeesal 7sl.oram 10 he Register.

The case of the State OF Ohio v. Frank
Smith, charged with poisoning Belle Simp'
son at Mineo, came up for preliminary
hearing before Justice Love this afternoon
and resulted in Smith being committed 10
Jail under the charge Of murder in the frss
degree, 10 await the action Of the grand
Iury, which convenes next April. Smith
was represented by John NJ. Cook, E'q,
of this city, end Mr.. Harvey, Esq, OF
Wellsburp and the State by Piosecuting
Attorney Gregg, OF this city, and John
Brsddock, Esqn of WeiIaburg. FolIO6isg
ia the testimony in full az sdiuced;
John Simpson, father Of the girl, testi-
fl d that he lived in Brooke county, W.
Va; that his daughter Belle died last
Thursday morning at @ingO, at her
bfother.in-law's; he first heard of her ILL
ness Monday at his home near Bethany;
Ffaak Smith then telling him that both
girls had taken sick and we're nervous and
that they thought Belle was the worst;
Smith said he had heard the news through
smother Smith, Simpsons son-in.lsw, Mr..
Dare bringing the news TO his (5uith's)
butcher shop. Smith further said he want
ed to 20 over, ard Simpson told him to
come home with him and he would
see if they both couldn't go; then
Smith said it wonld be TOO late
and he would 90 alone. Next morn
ING Simpson started aud met Smith on the
yay. Smith stating that he had not been
over TO Mingo owing 10 his grandfather's
illness. bat would go that dsy. Simpson
then came TO Mingo, and found Belle very
bad, sometimss cold and part of the time
dellriOus. Smith came that CTnssday)
night; when nobody was there but Dir. and
drs Simpson; she covered away a. though
afraid when she saw him.
SMITH ASKED: "BBLLE.
how are you?" She asked him: why
did Won come here; because you had TOP
He answered, because he wanted to.
Simpson thought they had had come little
trouble. Belle wanted drink, and Smith
got the water and gave 1t to her, and then
thrs W ont what remained. Smith went to
bed bu. came in twice afterwards,
and gave her drinks 10 the
game way. Smith stayed in the
room all the time Simpson was there.
Belle was uneasy and tossed restlessly,
sometimes would want up and wnen
raised would faint away. She died Thurs
day mornipg at o'clock. Wednesday
morning she had q motion of the bOTles
and seemed better but got we're IN the
afternoon. She seemed troubled about
some person, who, she said. in her wander
irgs. she couldn't marry, though she liked
him. Never saw Smith again until after
her death on Thursday, when met INN
in Wenshurg, when told him she wGs
eone. He asked whist arrangements had
been made for pail beaferR; / told HIM her
three brothers, Smith and some OF her
cousins. We then talked about rig;
couldn't pet q train till , o'clock; he went
with me to see about transportation OF the
body.
HE sREMED TROUBLED
while We we're going to see the railroad
agent. As we had al hour and halt to
wait We walk from Brilliant 10 Mirgo.
told him how she died and how terribly
she had talked, and how she finally went
into a a;upOr. She had quoted some book
in her d=lirium in good language. Also
told him had picked mp two letters she
had 10 her bosom, and she had taken them
away sgain and put them back; one was
addressed to him and the other TO her
mother. He asked me where the letters
were then. and | told him did not know,
hut supposed her mother Lad them.
smith left the house AT MiDgo Wednesday
morning, after the visit when he got Bella
the drink of water.
Gross examination ELECTED the statement
that Smith hoped there would be nobody
in ths house when they got there Thurs
day Afternoon. During the walk h asked
Smith why DR.. Wynck hadn't come and
Smith said he didn't know; also that he
Smith hated to see Bale taken away ont
by Bethany to he buried. Drs. O'Oonnell
aud Morgan we're in charge of Bellies case.
Belle went to Mingo Christmas evening and
vas there until her dea b; she took sick on
Sunday before she died; before that che
was very healthy. l have some letters;
mart at homo and the others in the hands
of the attorneys; can't let the attorneys
for the defense have them unless the at
torneys for the prosecution wish. Here the
ATTORNEYS FOR THR DEFENSE.
said the letters were not to be seen just
now. Witness continuing, said he diun't
know when the letters were written. Be-
ire asked if there WAS anything in the
letter about poison, the defense objected,
and the objection was SUSTAINED by the MS
tice, who duly observed to the prosecution
that they could produce the letters if they
hal them. Witness believed his daughter
was not pregnant, the attending phy sicians
said she was not, and Mis-. Virgins. her
sister, who washed her clothas, said she
was not.
Rs.diiect-Ffank Smith had been wait
ing on Belle for four YEAR,, and l thought
they were TO be mlnied; they had mis-
understanding, owing to proposition he
made to her, aud she said she wouldn't
marry him after that.
Recross-When Belle died didn't sus-
pect Smith OF doing wrong, but did sus-
pect trouble Of some kind.
Mrs. Margaret Smp'on, mother Of
Belle-First heard OF Bellies illness Mon
day before che died; my husband told me
some Of them were sick; went to Mingo
next morning;
BELLE WAS VERY BAD;
she said the Doctor thought she had the
grip, end the medicine did not operate
properly on her kidneys; appeared TO be
iu great misery, restless and In a cold
sweat; Smith had waited on Belle about
four years; he came 10 MinR0 about
O'Clock Tuesday night; she SEEMED scared
when he came, and turned her face to the
wall; but he came to the bed when Mr..
Simpson Bsked him They hadn't
much conversation and be moved
away fiom the bed; Smith got Belle water
several times, each time throwing away
the remaining water, although after he
had dole it twice, | toll. him 10 just let
the water stay in the glass; he also took
the bucket to the we'll and got water; Mr..
Simpson told him TO 90 to bed, which he
did, passing through the room where the
other daughter lay. Afterwards waken-
ed him, thinking | would need his assist
ance, and he came in sgain, and waited on
Belle most of the time during tbs night,
she didn't vomit efter l went there Frank
left Wednesday morning at 8 O'Clock;
said to let him know If there WAS
any change; on Tuesday Frank told
us 9th girls were sick, and said he wonld
so to MingO the next day, but be came
that night.
Cross-examinstiou-R 8 note
was sent for DR.. Wyrick, but don't re-
member who sent it; WAS after I went TO
Mingo; can't tell whether il was the same