The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-07-16
SHOT At W|FE'S DOOR
Or. Simpson, Acquitted of SIay-
ing Father-in-Law, Wounded.
M0THER-IN-LAW ARRESTED
Says She Ordered Him Away From
Her Door. and When He Refused to
Go, Shot at Him-Wfe Wouldn't Go
Near Him.

Northport. y. Y. July 14.-Stan line
within few feet of the spot where. n
little more than two years ago. he
shot and killed his aged father-in-laN.
Dr. James Weddell Simpson. "A dentis-
Of New YORK. was shot and perhaps
mortally wounded by his mothcrin
law Mrs. BARLEY r. Horner. the W..
man he made widow Or simpson,
wife. from whom ne has been cstran.-
ed for many months. was II ar whom
the shot was fired. but she did not wit.
ness the shooting. Upon learning that
II was her husband who had been
wounded she refused TO go near him.
and DR.. Simpson had to crawl to "A
house about POO feet away To have his
wounds attended to. Mrs. Horner was
later arrested and held in $4,000 bail
while Dr. Simpson. with the assist.
ance of two friends. made his way To
the Roosevelt hospital. in New York.
The bullet lodged in his liver. ana AN
immediate operation was performed 90
take the bullet out. The doctors said
that DR.. Simpson has only a small
chance Of recovering.
Statements from DR.. Simpson and
from Mrs. Horner disagree. The den
tist says thar he had received word
that his wife intended to sue him for
divorce and that he went TO IN,
HOrner home to talk with her about IL
lie says he rang the door bell. an
upon receiving no response peersd
through the door pane. lie saw Mrs
liorncr, he says. and called TO her &,
open the door. Then. DR. Simpson says
Mrs. Horner grabbed up revolver ant
shot him. The bullet entered his bod,
above the abdomen and he zen baci
against the door sill \ second shot
was fired at him. he claims. but IL.
bullet went Wild
Mrs. llOrncr does not deny that she
did the shooting. but she claims Jus
tification. Through her lawyer. Row
land Miles she said that Dr. Simpson
had several times called at the house
and that his visits were unwelcome
When he came she says she ordered
him away. and when he refused 10 go
she took up "A revolver and shot ai
him. Constable Hanson. who arrested
Simpson in 1908 when the dentist shot
Mrs. Horner's husband arrested Mrs
Horner. She was charged with felon.
ious assault. After Justice Hawkins
had fixed bail at $4,000. Mrs. Simpson
the prisoners daughter. qualified as
bondsman and secured the release of
her mother.
This second tragedy at the Horner
homestead IS only another chapter IN
series OF unhappy domestic events OF
the last few years. The shooting Of
Barley 7. Horner by DR.. Simpson
aroused the countryside In December
1905. and when the dentist was put on
trial his wife took the witness stand
against him. Mrs. Horncr also gave
damaging testimony against her son.
inlaw. Or. Simpson was going through
the manual of arms with a shotgun.
when he accidentally shot his father
in-law
Mrs. Simpson said that while she
was not present when her mother fired
the shot at DR.. Simpson. she believed
her mother was absolutely justified.
and said Dr. Simpson got what he de
served. She says she was in rear
room of the house at the time. but
upon hearing a shot she ran to see il
her mother had been shot WI % she
found that il was her husband she says
she was relieved.