New-York tribune., 1903-04-29
SHOOTS [. WERTHEIMER.
EX-EMPLOYE, ASS4ILANT.
Goes to Flat at Early Hoar-Ner-
chant Likely to Die.

Mystery was attached to the shooting of Leo
pold Wertheimer, a drygoods merchant. in his
home, at No 102 wese observation-disclosures
ffteenth-st-. early yesterday morning. by Jo-
seph Simpson. a former ernploye, who had been
living at No 200 East One hundred and twenty
frst-st. Wertheimer wounded so seriously
that his death expected last night at the j.
Hood Wright Hospital. where he was under
treatment Simpson, under arrest, refused TO
tell the motive for the shooting
Wertheimer's store in Thrd-ave. near One
Observation-Disclosures was destroyed by fire
several months ago, and the engineer Of the
store and young woman bookkeeper perished
in the flames All the employes were discharged
werthein7er not resuming business Simpson
had been employed a the store night
yvatchman- He got employment motorman
on Thrd-axe. car soon after losing his place as
watchnan, but was discharged by the railroad
company a week ago. He sent his wife and
children to Ireland where his wifes mother was
3ll. some weeks ago
Wertheimer has lived with his parents. a mar
,ried sister and younger brother in an apart
.1nent in One-hundred- -ifteenth-st. Simpson
went TO the fiat to him on Monday after
moon. and the two had secret talk together.
'On Monday evening Simpson was at the fiat
again for another talk with wertheimer.
fwertheimer did not tell members of the family
EThat the conversation about, but they
ahought Simpson wanted money.
At q. m. yesterday Simpson gained entrance
Ho the house in some way and knocked loudly on
tfhe door leading to the Wertheiner apartments.
rWertheiner's brother opened the door little
way, not removing the chain which was kept
Ion at night, and began to upbraid Simpson for
disturbing the family at that hour in the morn
Eng
For reply Simpson thrust a revolver through
fhs aperture Of the door and fired three shots
at Wertheimer rapidly possible Two bull
Jets made slight wounds In the right side and
1ight arm, but the third entered the breast near
the heart. Wertheimer sank the floor in a |
faint while Simpson walked out of the house. |
Max Wertheimer followed him to the street and |
pointed him out to a policeman. Simpson was |
arrested after short chase and taken back TO /
the house, where a physician was examining |
WeTtheiIner- AS soon as the wounded man saw |
Simpson with the policeman, he said feebly:
That is the who shot me. For Coos
sake take him away!
An ambulance later carried Wertheimer TO the
hospital There he said TO the police that he
did owe Simpson any money, but that Simp-
SON as brother Mason had demanded money
of him on several occasions
Simpson told the police that WeTtheimer owed
him money on account of a service he could not
talk about He said Wertheimer had paid him
some money, but had violated a contract. The
revolver and two letters from his wife in Ireland
were found in Simpsons pockets. The prisoner
:, as taken TO the Harlem court and committed
without bail for examination tomorrow
At late hour last night Wertheimer was un-
conscious and a coroner who visited the hos
rital for the purpose Of taking the injured mans
p Fnte-rnortern statement had TO leave without |
being able 10 get anything from him.