The Washington times., 1909-04-05
Faces Charge of Numbering
Husband, Nephew of
Rear Admiral.
MANY SENSATIONS
PROMISED IN CASE
Prisoner Protests Her Innocence.
and Community Generally
Expects Acquittal.

INACl TUT the nluTuET on November l
last Of her husband. Harry Sampson,
nephew of the late Rear Admiral Will
lam T. Sampson. She maintains her
innocence. and the trial promises to be
most sensational. as all of the evidence
against the young woman. who is very
comely. Is circumstantiai
Inc selection OF jury bids fair to
prove serious undertaking. despite the
tact that both sides had visions before
the days session began, that IL might
be secured ia a dag. Up TO noon not a
taleSman Of the first venire had quail
ned and most of those excused were let
opinion.
Justice Rich. who is presiding, made it
very plain that he would insist on absO-
lutely unbiased Jurors and i'm every In
stance where challenges for cause we're
made. and the talesmsn admitted hav-
ing an opinion. he was promptly eX-
cuSed.
Is Final Court.
The prisoner sits close to her counsel,
and will be the final court in passing
upon the men accepted.
The community is divided as to her
guilt or innocence. but the general
opinion is that she viii be acquitted. as
The question Of motive is still much in
the dark. The prosecution will try to
prove that Mrs. Sampson made mysteri-
Gus trips to Rochester to meet another
man, and that the couple quarreled about
this, with the result that Mrs. Sampson
shot him with his own gun. Mrs.
Sampson will admit a quarrel with her
husband the night before the tragedy.
but will insist that it arose through
a misunderstanding. and that her hus-
band committed suicide
Expresses Confidence.
Mrs slmpson walked from the
Wayne county Jail TO the court house
today. accompanied by Sheriff Jerry
Collins and Miss Theresa Collins,
daughter OF the sheriff. who has been
her constant companion during the time
she has spent in jail. She was clad
in deep mourning. and seemed a little
nervous She declared however, be-
fore leaving the Jail that she was con-
fdent she would be acquitted.
She received something Of an ovation,
when she entered the court accompanied
10y her attorneys. relatives, and repre-
sentatives OF tine press.
Her aunt, Mrs. Kaye. of Chicago. ard
Frank p. Allyn. the prisoners father,
sat beside her in the courtroom. Mrs.
Allyn, the prisoners mother, is prostra-
ted, and Is not exported TO appear dur
ing the trial Mrs. Sampson was pale,
but looked in gond health and seemed
cool and confident.
Owing to the intense interest in the
outcome of the trial, the little court
room was filed with spectators, among
whom were many women. The prisoner
took her seat inside OF the enclosure
with her attorneys. George II. Tinkle-
paugh, Of Palmyra, and Assemblyman
Edison w. Hamm, of this place. The
prosecution was represented by Dis
fTict Attorney Joseph Gilbert. a spe-
cisl venire Of 124 residents OF Wayne
county had been summoned. and from
the outlook, II IS likely the jury will be
made ND mostly Of farmers While some
trouble IS expected in getting jury, the
general impression is that tie Jury box
can be filled at tOday's session. although
II may be that this prediction viii not
pRuVe true.
States Contention
District Attorney Gilbert will allege in
his opening address that Harry Sampson
was killed by his wife after a violent
quarrel that mad lasted all night His
strongest witness. DR.. Hamilton. OF Au-
burn, who occupied seat inside OF the
e enclosure, is depended on to show by
measurements taken OF the dead man.
that his arms were not long enough for
hin TO have held the rife and fred the
Snot which went through his heart and
killed him lie will also swear that
there was an utter absence OF powder
stains on the clothing or person Of Samp-
Mrs. Allyn. mother-in-law of Harry. will
swear that he came rushing into the
room IN which she was sitting immedi-
afeiy after he had been shot and that
ne had in his hands a package OF
Cheese Her story will be subjected 10
severe cross-cXamination, as she has
told two different tales as to what She
saw, and It is admitted by her that she
was so excited she hardly remem-
bered what she was doing or what took
place"
For the Defense.
For the defense a number of fire O rms
specialists will be introduced who will
explain how it would have been nos
sibie for young Sampson 10 have killed
himself as his wife asserts ne did. So
Tar Mrs Sampson has absolutely de-
cllned 10 make any statement whats0-
ever, but II Is expected that members
OF net family Will swear that she had
lett the room just before the shot was
ITed and gone upstairs. and that she
could not have fired Il.
The death Of Harry Ssupson toclr
pace on sunday morning in the Frank
n Allyn farmhouse, near Macedon The
i.oilse = an old-iashloned structure and
IN one part resides Frank p. ALLYN, his
vie and two sons. Frank and Carl. in
the other. Harry Sampson and life S,ffe
daughter Of the Allyns. lived. but the
rooms In common
Saturday night tho Simpsons quar-
rolled and II is admitted tbe quarrel wa s
renewed the next day Frank ALVIN
Went into the kitchen where the pair
were. and told them to quit squa billing
until ne had taken his milk 20 the depot.
when he would settle their troubles. Al
this. u viii be claimed. the daughter
rushed upstairs weeping. while Harry
went or with the chores
Rife Shot Heard.
Soon afteTward rife shot was heard
and Mrs. Allyn ran into the room. meet
ing her s1n-in-law running toward the
door with blood streaming from a
wound In his breast. A moment later
the wife also came into the room
screaming Harry Sampson started 10
say something. but before the words
could come he fell dead.
The coroner was called, as was Samp-
sons father. and for a short time the
theory OF suicide was held The inquest
was commenced as a mere formality.
but District Attorney Gilbert a distant
relative OF the Simpsons. investi gated
the case and called into fl DR. Iiamil-
ton. Upon his testimony. and upon the
admission that husband and wife had
quaTie lcd. a verdict was returned de-
clariuS Mrs. Sampson fred the fatal
SHOT. She was indicted FOR first degree
murder ia February last
The DAY after the indictment was re-
turned. her father-in-law. George Samp-
fon. who was a witness before the gran1