The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-02-16
KILLED RICH FATHER-IN-LAW.
Dentist Simpson Says His Gun Went
on by Pure Accident.

Dentist Simpson Says His Gun Went
on by Pure Accident.
Northport, l.. l., Jan. 4.-Dr
Jas, w. Simpson. a dentist. with an
Office in the Century Building, across
the way from the Waldorf-Astoria,
in New York, was committed to the
Riyerhead Jail. accused of murder
ing his father-in-law, BARLEY T.
Horncr, who lived here Simpson
made his home with Horner. who
was killed in the kitchen of his home
on Wednesday night by a double
barreled shotgun in the hands of his
son-in-law
At the Coroners inquest held at
the Horner home sufficient evidence
was adduced to formally charge DR.
Simpson with murder The most
damaging witness against him was
Frank Wisnewski, a Pole, employed
as a handy man about the Horner
home. Mrs, Horner's testimony was
also unfavorable to her son-in-law.
Throughout the inquest DR.. Simpson
was the coolest person of the hand
full that were on hand to tell what
they knew about Horner's death.
The verdict was to the effect that
said act was committed by the said
Simpson on the 27th day of Decem-
Der, 1905, from a deliberate and pre-
meditated design TO effect the death
as aforesaid. and that the said Hor-
ner died at that time and place from
wounds from said shooting and not
otherwise
Before leaving for the Jail Simp-
son made this statement to the re-
porters: 81 am innocent of killing
that man, as God is my Judge. The
shooting was purely accidental and
l hope to be able to prove it,"
According to Mrs. Horncr's testi-
mony the whole talk at the supper
table was about money. Mrs. Horner
says her son-in-law was hard pressed
for money. despite the fact that he
had a good dental practice. He spent
his money, Mrs Horner says, in
gambling on the races. After the
three had finished their meal Horner
came in and had his supper.
Some time before Horner's arrival
DR.. Simpson had gone upstairs and
had come down carrying his shot
gun. He declared he was going to
clean it, but he fooled around for
some time showing his mothcr-in-
law and his wife the manual of arms.
Then he went to the kitchen, where
he did stunts with the gun for the
benefit Of the maid. From the
kitchen he went to his room. carry
ing his gun with him.
When he came downstairs he still
had the gun. Horner had gone out
of the sitting room into the kitchen
and he stood talking near a sink to
Wisnewski During this time Simp-
son sat in the sitting room with his
wife and mother-in-law. Leaning
against the window was the shotgun.
Without making any comment,
Mrs. Horner says, he got up and
walked toward the kitchen. A swing
ing door leads into the kitchen. and
before the door had a chance to close
her daughter ran into the kitchen
and found Horner lying on the floor.
Both barrels of the gun had been
discharged, and according to the
doctors who performed the autopsy
there must have been a Slight inter-
val between the shots They base
this opinion on the two gunshot
wounds They are not on the same
plane. One wound is seven inches
below the left nipple and the other
seven and one-half inches above the
navel
DR.. Simpson is IS years old and a
Virginian He comes of an old fam
lily and is a graduate of the dental
school of the University of Mary
land.
Horner retired from business IL
years ago. He was tobacco expert
and an agent for many years of the
Lorillards, with his headquarters In
Galveston. He came to Northport to
live fifteen years ago, but for several
years spent his winters in Galveston.