The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-07-17
NEW CHAPTER IN
A FAMOUS CRIME
DE. ]. W. Simpson Shot By His
MOtter.in-LsW.
he HAD KILLED HER HUSBAND.
Dentist Accused of Removing His
Father .in-law to Prevent Latter From
Writing New viii, Mortally Wound
ed in Forcing His; Way Into His
Wife's Presence.

New York Especially .--Dr. James
w. Simpson, the dentist, who. was
tried and acquitted in Riverhead for
the murder of his father-in-law, Bart
ley r. Horner, in 1907. was shot by
the dead mans widow in Northport
as he tried to enter the Horner
homestead to see his wife. Two
shots Were fired, the second shot
striking DIR. Simpson in the left side
near the lung. DIR. Simpson was re-
moved to Roosevelt Hospital in New
York by his own request while Mrs.
Ella Horner was released on bail by
order of the district. attorney.
= The killing of BARLEY Horner and
the arrest and trial o. DR.. Simpson
created a sensation, not only in
Northport, but also in New York,
where the doctor had a large and
exclusive practice. Simpson admitted
that he fired the shot that killed his
father-in-law, but declared that the
act was wholly accidental. 1t was
the contention of the prosecutor,
however, that the killing was done
in cold blood and was actuated by
desire on the part of the doctor to
prevent Mr.. Horner from making
new will cutting off Simpson from
any share in Mr. Horner'S large
estate.
DR.. Simpson came to Northport on
the / O'clock train from New York.
The stories of what occurred at the
house differ somewhat, but according
to the doctors statements made to
Justice of the Peace Richard w. Haw-
kin's, the doctor walked up on side
porch of the house on which bay
window, to the dining-room faces.
He saw Mrs, Horner in the room and
went to the window, which was
screened.
Wife Shuns Wounded Man.
rs that you, Milly,'' he asked Mrs.
Horner, using an old family name
for her Christian name of Margaret.
Mrs. Horner looked up startled
when she saw. the Doctor, and asked
him what he wanted.
Il want to see Julia" he replied.
Get out of here at once Mrs.
Horner replied in an agitated way.
DR.. Simpson then said that he, saw
Mrs. Horner walk toward the rear of
the dining-room, and he went to the
door, expecting her to open it. He
stood there but a moment when two
shots were fired through the upper
part of the door, which is plate
glass. The first shot missed, but the
the second shot hit him. He stag
gered from the porch and went at
once toward the village to the sani-
tarium of DR.. ]. p. Heyden. !.
At the time of the shooting Mrs.
Simpson was in the kitchen at the
rear of the house, and she arrived at
the door in time to see her husband
staggering down the road toward
the village. On learning that it was
her husband who had been wounded
she refused to go near him, and DR..
Simpson had to crawl to a house 200
feet away to have his wound attend
ed to. Mrs. Horner was later ar
rested and held in $4,000 bail, while
Dr. Simpson, with the assistance of
two friends, made his way to Roose-
welt Hospital, in New York. The
bullet lodged in his liver, and an i'm
mediate operation was performed to
take the bullet out. The doctors say
that Dr. Simpson has only small
chance of recovering.