The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-27
CANNOT Be FOUND
Simpsons Medals for Bravery
are Probably Lost
POLICE INSTITUTE SEARCH
Poverty Might Have Induced
Him to Dispose of Them.

Herbert Simpsons medals are missing,
and surrounding it there is a mystery
that The entire police force have thus far
failed to solve. 1t will be remembered
that in examining his personal effects
the medals were not found. i number
OF books are also missing, and Admins
traitor J. E. Howard viii exert every
effort in an attempt to find them Stimp-
son priced the medals very highly and
also Kept them in little oaken box COW
cred with leather. He often showed
them 10 his friends but was redcent
about saying anything about them.
There were six or seven medals in ALL
two of which were geld. One was the
cross Of the Legion of Honor for valu-
able services rendered the government in
the African war. The medal given to him
by King Humbert Of Italy was also said
to be gold, as was also the decoration
for saving the lives Of eleven persons at
the charity bazaar FIRE in Paris. The
other medals were green and white en-
amelled, and all bore foreign inscrip-
lions.
What has become Of these highly priced
treasures was the topic Of discussion
among the deceased friends yesterday.
and all were particularly interested.
About two months ago when he kept
them at his office over S. E. .Noyes &
Co.'S store, he showed them to San
key & Campbell Simpson also show
ed them to Vermillion Harris about a
month ago and it is claimed that he
showed them to people living on the
North Side in the neighborhood OF Mr..
ACsher's residence, where he roomed,
not more than two or three weeks ago.
Mrs. Mosher and the family state that
he rarely kept them at the room and do
not know where they are at present.
Regarding their disappearance many sup
positions are rife and am0sg them is
the theory that privaticn forced him to
part with them at the pawn shops to re-
aIize money to live on. Simpson was a
man with an abundance of pride in his
veins. and if such is the case he would
be the last person, while alive, to impart
this secret.
Simpson had often remarked, when
some one offered to buy them, that he
would he violating an honorable obliga-
ton and abusing the confidence of the
kingdoms to allow any other than the
rightfuI owner TO wear the medals. ana
another theory IS that the fellow. con-
templating suicide, buried them in some
remote spot, so that there would be no
possible chance for a violation of a trust
Of honor.
Yesterday morning. at the suggestion
of friend who had taken a timely in
terest in Simpson during his lifetime
It was suggested to Administrator How
ard that a search be made for tha prop
orty. Chief of Police CubbCn was noti-
fed and instructions were given to ali
the patr0lmen TO inquire at the pawn
shops. All of the three-baII affairs were
visited, but the medals were not recov-
cred. Simpson formerly d;d business
with the Fourth National bank. and in
quiries were made there but at no time
had the young criminolCgist deposited
them for safe keeping.
Administrator Howard believes that It
IS barely possible that he nut them IN
Tor security somewhere ana that they
are being held. Simpson had a lot Of
books. too continued the administrator.
'but only few were found in his room.
and If any Of the property is being held
as security and not PROMPTLY turned over
I win prosecute the parties holding the
same"
Speaking further Of tha medals. Il is
known that on the subject OF them
Simpson was very touchy He once
said 70 a member Of the Fagle staff that
he would starve 10 death before he would
pawn them. Tn this connection he dvvelt
great deal on the fact that excepting
the cross Of the Legion Of Honor they
were without intrinsic vaIue a man
he s7id. could take one Of these in this
country and wear It. and tau any sort
Of a plausible tale and not get into tror-
Die. but i'm France If a man appeared with
one who was not entitled to IT, he would
not only he ostracised by the people and
society. by friends and strangers alike,
but he would be arrested"
One day in Wichita David Leahv found
him in high dudgeon. and on irauirirg
the cause learned from Simpson that
some one knowing his straitened cir
cumstances. had made him an offer for
the cross Of the Legion of Honor.
He had often talked - 2Tr. I.aahv about
suicide IIe did NOT ahhor it IN the ,easr
and thought that when one took his life
he simply STEPPED out into blacknezs.
on Thursday az last week Stinrson
came 10 Mr.. Leahy IN rreat agitation on
Tho corner Of Main and Douglas. and
asked him 70 come II his rooms that
night ut seven. that ne wanted him to
hear q sr3rhophone. Such a mild re-
Guest was entirely Incompatible with the
visible agitation Of the man and T,eabv
believes now that Simpson intended 10
commit suicide that night He id not
go 10 Simpsons room. other business
engrossinc him.
Simpson did not consider his rescue Of
eleven women from the bazaar FIRE as
anything eNtraordirarv. bur insisted thai
he had in his life done one thing Tor
which he received no medal which taxed
his nerve more than anything else.
While he was a sergeant In the r7raie,
IeEiona-ies q France he snolz, sharply
10 soldier. the company barber The
soldier answered hack. and St!rnson
sent him n the guard house The SOL
dior was c7u~t-martiaIed ana sentenced
q the guard house. for thirty DAYS. Ev-
cry day he was in she guard house he
sw0re that he would XIII Simpson when
he got out
Tho Gay the man was released Stim1-
son. hearing ~ his threats, ordered him
before him and said:
"Ee- v7u~ -7zor and shave ne"
81 vouldn'. shave Won" said -he as
tou'=h-I man. "for thousand louis. SER
buchanan. Mich. Nay ~.
t~1C~ec hurr FoOd Co. T.e Roy. v ":