Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-04
Despondent Young Engineer
Shoots Himself on Casino.
BROTHER AND SISTER HERE
Relatives Arranging to save His Po-
sition when James J. Simpson
Commits suioide--student Of In
ssrsolL

Daspondent because he had been
threatened with dismissal from his po-
sitflon as first assistant engineer OF
the Matson Navigation Company's
neN steamer Wilhelmina. unless he
stopped drinking, JOHN j. Simpson,
young marine engineer OF Norfolk.
committed suicide on the Casino
sometime between and 3 O'Clock yes
terday morning by shooting himself
through the right temple with a 32-
caiibre revolver. While the body
the young man was lying cold In
death on the river bank at the foot
OF Thirtieth street. extended, his
brother and sister, Samuel Simpson
and Mrs. Annie simpson. OF Norfolk,
were comforting with Chief Engineer
Barber, OF the wilhelmina. and ar
ranging TO have the young engineer
retained On the ship and make the trip
On her from this port to San Fran
cisco, Cal.
That Simpson had contemplated sni'
eide at least several hours before he
ended his life is evident. lie was last
sen alive about o'clock by H. c.
Wooten and was at that time seated
on one OF the benches at the south
ern end of the Casino grounds. 4
little more than an hour later his
dead body was found lying head down.
ward on the Casino bank ard near
the edge OF the breakwater across
from the Casino ball park. A passer-
by made the discovery and immedi-
ately notified Patrolman L. p. Moss.
who reported the matter to police
headquarters and to r. b. Gary, the
city coroner.
Rusty Revolver Close BY.
When found the body was fully ex-
tended on the right side. Close by
was rusty iyer-Johnson re-
yelver and there was small hole in
the left temple, where the bullet had
passed out of the head. The body
was lying In a pool CT blood and when
DR.. Gary turned 1t over after reaching
THE scene he found gaping wound
in the right temple, where the bullet
had crushed through the skull and in
TO the brain. Death probably was
instantaneous.
Two empty shehs were found in the
gun and II is the opinion of the au-
thorities that Simpson fired one shot
to test the revolver which had been
recently oiled and partially cleaned
slp SO far as has been learned no one
heard either of the shots fired.
After viewing the body, Coroner
Gary deemed AIN inquest unnecessary
and had the body moved to Rouse
undertaking establishment.
Brother and sister Notified.
Chief OF Police REYNOLDS then be-
gan q search for the relatives of the
young man and he found that the bro
fher and the sister We're at the ship
yard on hoard the wilhelmina- He
Immediately notified them and they
hurried to the undertaking place to
identity the body. Mrs. Simpson was
almost Frustrated with grief. They
left fer Norfolk early In the after
noon and the body was sent there on
the steamer Virginia at $40 o'clock
Among the personal effects found
on the dead man were membership
cards showing that he was in coed
standing In Bcrkley Lodge No. 1877
A. f. & A. NJ, Knights Templar;
Ionic Chapter Nc. 46. Y. A. NJ, OF the
same place; Norfolk Lodge No. as. u
p. O. Eiks. and the Marine i>ngineer''
Beneficial Association. \ knife. eye
glasses, q handsome gold watch and
fifteen cents in money also were found
in the pockets Of the clothing.
Student Of tnoersoIl's Works.
Memorandums found In his care
case would Indicate that the youns
engineer had been student OF tbs
works OF Robert II. Ingerson. On'
CT the memoraadums reads as FOL
lows: "Sta;erocm Tuesday. Al lee
lures by Robert H. fngersoll. fact
worth knowing"
Samuel Simpson told Chief Rey
nolds that he and his sister came 4
this city early yesterday morning q
set his br-ther straight ami s.rang
for him 20 hold his position on tn
Wnhelmina. He signed mp on tn
ship week or more ago, but. it I
said. had been drinking rather hea
yiiy fer several dsys and finally h