The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-19
Mrs. WImpls, Who Murdered
Her Husband, Is SGT Free.
EIGHTEEN WHEN SENTENCED
Nov She Is As Years 0Id-wspt for Joy
When She Started for Her New Home.
Was Insane for Some Time.

Newburg, June 1s.-After q years be-
hind prison bars. Is months OF which were
passed in the Matteawan hospital for the
insane, Mrs. Emma Wimple came back
20 the world Yesterday a free woman
She had been sentenced to life imprison-
ment for poisoning her husband. she en-
tered Sing Sing a girl of Is; she iert MAI
tewan a gray-haired woman OF 10. But
the beauty OF her youth has not wholly
deserted her.
AS she left the hospital she clung to
the arm OF Mrs. Frances Scofheld. the
acting matron, who accompanied her 10
she station. bought her a ticket and
placed her on the train going TO Syracuse,
where Mrs. wimple will make her home
with the sister OF the man she murdered,
and her husband, Homer Wilcox. Mrs
wimple's daughter who was baby six
months old when the mother was ar
rested, also makes her home with the
Wilcoxes.
On her way to the station Mrs. wimple
looked with wondering half-frightened
eyes. at everything about her, as IL she
feared that the blessed liberty OF which
she had thought and dreamed all thes
years was not real, that she would awake
and find II was only a figment OF her
unsettled mind.
At the station she waited fearfully yet
ampatiently for the train. She tremeled
when any one spoke to her. as If she ex-
pected a summons 20 return TO the gray
walls, the barred cells. And then, when
the realization of her freedom came upon
her, her eyes swan with happy tears and
she became radiant.
II am so happy, so supremely happy,
she said. "You cannot know woman's
feelings who has been locked up for n
years and who is free, free 20 come ana
a .txo ala 10 a N
the sunlight and the good, sweet air. No
one can understand IT, save only one who
has passed through the experience. i am
almost terrified by my own JOY. IT Is
wonderful thing to be free.
II cannot see anything. understand any
thing. know anything except that. The
world is strange 20 me. and all the won
derful things that have taken place mean
nothing to me now,
Tears choked her voice and she could
not go on. When she recovered herself
she continued:
'Of the past I have nothing to say.
That will take care of itself. j am going
TO begin life anew. l am not so very old,
only As. / am going TO live with my hus-
bands sister. with whom my daughter
makes her home, and oh. how happy /
shall be to see them ALL!
Emma Smith was a girl OF 16 when she
ran away with William Wimple. the son
OF a wealthy farmer. and two years her
senior. She was the prettiest girl OF
Little Valley. q village In Cattaraugus
county.
They went TO housekeeping and soon
afterward Nelson Cole, who at ~ was
already In business for himself. and who
was dashing sort Of chap, arrived.
The girl wife and Cole fell In love with
each other Even her baby girl could
not hold her. They plotted TO be rid OF
method. They poisoned him.
Mrs Wimple and Cole were arrested
and tried in Little Valley before Judge
Baker. Cole was found guilty OF murder
IN the first degree and sentenced TO be
hanged. There was a prejudice against
executing a woman, and Mrs. Wimple
was found guilty OF murder I'm the second
degree and sentenced TO life imprison-
ment.
She was first taken to Sing Sing re-
naming there until the woman's prison
was abandoned, when she was taken 10
Kings County Penitentiary and later 10
Auburn. About is months ago she be-
came violently insane and was removed
to Matteawan. Superintendent Allison
said yesterday that she was not fully re-
covered. although rest and care would
restore her mind. She was pardoned a
few days ago by Governor Odell.
A telegram was received at the asylum
saying that Mrs. Wimple had arrived
safely In Syracuse, and thanking Super
lntendent Allison and Governor Odell for
their kind offices I'm her behalf.
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