The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-09
COMMITS SUICIDE IN CHURCH VEST|BULE
Dave Simpson Took His Own
 Life Yesterday Morning
NO CAUSE FOR DEED KNOWN
Secretary and Treasurer of the A. F. Gregory Vinegar CO. Shoots Him. self Through the Head-Cor-
 oner's Verdict.

The dead body of Dave Simpson, secre- tary and treasurer of the o. l.. Gregory Vinegar company, was found at an early hour yesterday morning in the open arch way at the entrance of St. Mary s church with a bullet in the head.
 The negro sexton who made tho dis- covery immediately notified the rector, the Rev. J. W. Cantey Johnson, who in turn telephoned police headquarters and Coroner Paris. Policemen and the coroner arrived on the scene in a short time, and the latter, after a brief investigation declared that MT. Simpsons death was the result of suicide.
 Last Friday MT. Simpson telephoned his wife that he would not be home to dln- ner. but he appeared soon after 12 oclock. saying to her when asked why he came, 'I just wanted to see you"
 Soon after finishing his dinner, he went to his room and opened his drawer, talk ing what his wife supposed at the time was handkerchief and putting it in his hip pocket. When her husband did not re- turn home that night at hls usual time, Mrs Simpson became much worried and finally notified the police to be on the lookout for him, at the same time tele- graphing his brother, Harry Simpson of Chattanooga, to come to assist in the search. The brother arrived Saturday night.
 On Loop Car
 The last man known to have seen the deceased was the conductor on the loop car which Mr. Simpson caught to return to town Friday afternoon. Since that time he had disappeared completely and the next tidings of him was when his dead body was found yesterday morning.
 The sexton after opening the church for early communion, happened to walk out on the church steps, but at first saw nothing unusual On approaching the Nineteenth street side of the archway, however, he discovered the body behind an angle of the wall whefe 1t was con- cealed from the entrance into the church. The body was lying face upward with the head in the embrasure of the wall and the feet towards Nineteenth street. In Smith & Wesson revolver with four load ed chambers and one exploded cartridge. The pistol had been inserted in the mouth and fired, the bullet passing entirely through the head.
 There were no other signs of violence. the body being perfectly composed. The verdict of suicide was rendered soon after the coroner arrived on the scene. In the pockets of the dead man were found his tat, velope addressed to MT A. J. Camp of this city containing on a slip of paper the combination of the safe of the Greg ory Vinegar company. of which concern MT. Camp Is manager.
 Hour of Shooting Unknown.
 The exact hour of the shooting is not known. The rector of St. Marys did not leave his study in the church until 1:3C a. m and the sexton states that soon after this-about 2 oclock-he heard a pistol shot but thought 1t came from across the street. and did not investigate. It is a matter of some conjecture why the church was chosen by the man as the place to die as he was not mem- Der and was not connected in any way WlLH IL, but IL HdS DttH suSBtSttu that he had started to go to his home or to the home of MT Camp, both of which are in this neighborhood.
 MT. Simpson was a man of about 39 years of age. He and his wife lived at 1115 South Sixteenth street. As secretary and treasurer of the O. l.. Gregory Vinegar company, had charge of the books of the concern. He came from one of the most prominent Jewish ramilies in Chatta- nooga, which place was his home until four years ago when he moved here.
 No Reason Known.
 As yet no reason has been found why he should have killed himself. He was a man of good habits and from all &C., counts did not dissipate in any way. His family relations are said by his friends to have been of the most happy nature, and 1t seems that domestic trouble could not possibly have had anything to do with his untimey end. It is thought by his family that the deed was done dur ing a spell of temporary insanity, brought on by business troubles So far as could be ascertained yesterday his books were In good shape, but the auditor of the Gregory company will not be prepared to make any definite statement until some- time today.
 The body will be sent to Chattanooga at 5:40 this morning, and will be inferred there today.