The Washington times., 1906-01-22
TRIAL Of SIMPSON
DRAMA IN THEATER
Prisoner Faced Gaudy Drop
in Village Opera House.
HATE AND GRATITUDE MIXED
Wife Bitter Against Him, But Man
Whose Life He Saved Raises
Money for Him.

NEW YORK. Jan. 22.-Mupderer or
martyr?
This question Is perpleXing not only
the inhabitants Of Northport. i. l., but
many persons without that village with
respect 10 the guilt of innocence OF Dr.
James WaddeI Simpson. who was held
by Justice Partridge for the grand jury
to answer a charge OF murder in the
nrst degree for the killing OF his father
1n-law. BARLEY T. Horner.
Opinion in the community where he
has lived twelve years is about evenly
divided as 10 whether Simpson delib-
eraJelY shot Horner after d long series
OF bitter GuaIrels. with the thought of
obtaining possession of his fortune OF
SlO0,oU0 or whether the gun was acci-
Gentally discharged while Simpson was
breaking il TO clean IL
Wife Bitter.
Since Simpsons wife and mother-in-
lay on the witness stand, with open
bitterness. testified against him, the
women OF the village have rallied TO
his support almost as a unit Several
became hysterical 1T the ending Of the
Justice, and others fought through the
crowd 10 shake his hand and murmur
words Of encouragement
Even early on Saturday morning.
when he was taken TO the RiVerhead
jail. they gathered at the station. many
of them weeping COpiously. and waved
him a tender farewell
All the men are cold and International
no matter which opinion they hold. John
NJ. Dunn. a wealthy book manufactures
who, IL Is reported. placed his fortune
at Simpsons disposal for his defense,
declared; 1T is absurd for any one TO
say this man is a murderer. I have
known him for years. and he is in
capable of crime.
Louis II, Jones. pharmacist. said. 'eOn
the evidence. I am satisfied with the
verdict"
Sat Before Gaudy Curtain.
Fancy a man being tried for his life
in village opera house, where there
has been minstrel show the night be
fore, perhaps, and viii be a musical
comedy" tomorrow night. AS Simpson
sat there, manacled 10 a constable. he
stared upon curtain containing a
painted view such as there never was
on sea or land. surrounded by adver-
ttsements advising the visitor where
The best whisky, provisions, and shay
ing soap might be had in Northport.
Simpson has "a strong head and a
good jaw, but his eve is uncertain He
has confessed he likes the TOllicliug
side OF life and is fond of gO.G
horse, rare wine. and a joviaI company.
Indeed, that was the chief cause OF ne
dissensiOn with Horuer, who was os
an austere turn. liked his slippers and
his newspaper, was jealously watchfUI
a. al M T.F -rr.--
ture.
Filial Duty First.
The wife. Julia Horner Simpson, in
spite OF law, voluntarily went upon the
stand and. with face averted from her
husband. but in tones that betrayed TO
tremor Of feeling. gave testimony
which, it is believed. compelled the
judge to hold Simpson on a capital
charge. She had said that hIial duty
compelled her u tell the truth, even
though IL meant her husbands death.
Simpson stIlI protests he loves her
as he did when they were welded.
twelve years ago. He has shown many
evidences Of generous and waIm i'm
pulses. She was like a craven image
When she came forward TO try TO
swear his life away he could not be-
leve his eyes. Then he turned away
and wept. She never moved an eye
lash.
Except that she was, even more bitter
against the prisoner, Mrs, Horner, in
court, was another edition Of her
daughter She amplified and often
volunteered information that was not
at the moment pertinent. Hate burned
in her every syllable.
Defendant Wants to Testify.
Simpson declared he could shed a
vastly different light upon the whole
case II he were permitted TO testify in
his own behalf, and perhaps he viii be
in the later proceedings. Simpson was
not the only one Of the inmates with
whom Horner Quarreled. His own wife
swore she had not eaten with or spoken
10 him for three weeks before his
death.
All the attorneys and the justicesat
the hearing were very young men.
- Ur~t ~ rrs,