Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-04-26
HUSBAND SHOT
BY WIFE WHILE
BEFORE COURT
Man May Live -Wom-
an Puts Hope On
'Unwritten Law

Chicago. April 26.-The condition
OF Elmer s. Simpson. shot three
times In Judge Brothers court room
here yesterday by his wife, was
Slightly improved today and 1t was
said he had chance for recovery.
Mrs. Emma d. Simpson. the wife,
who is niece OF John NJ Roach,
long prominent in Chicago street
car affairs. spent the night In Jail
That man has lived since July
p. 1915. by my permission" said
Mrs. Simpson. "On that date
found him in a hotel with another
woman. Her husband was with me
and We had them arrested. Since
then he has repeatedly called on
this woman. He loved her. My
life has been besmirched. 1 al
ways loved Elmer and worked for
him, and he repaid me with fai h.
lessness.
Puts Hope on "UnWrit en- Law
When l go into court l shall
need no attorney. The new unwrit-
ten law, which does not permit a
married man to love another wom-
al, " i'll be my defense. 1t will save
NE"
The shooting, according to attor-
Eeys, court attaches and witnesses,
is the result of long concealed jeal-
odsy of another woman. Mrs. Jean
" ebster, a sister-in-laW of Slmp-
sons.
Mrs. Simpson went to Judge
Brothers court with her attorney,
Semuel Friedman, to ask that she
be given an increase in temporary
alimony. She filed suit for separate
maintenance in February, in which
Mrs. Webster was named as CO.
respondent.
Judge Brothers awarded Mrs.
Simpson 50 a week and stepped
from the bench to his chambers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Simpson were sit
ting on opposite sides of table be-
fore the bench.
III give you a divorce when"
began Mrs. Simpson TO her husband,
who interrupted her.
''Say-right now you are living
with"
Shot Interrupts Quarrel.
He never finished the sentence.
Mrs Simpson calmly. but quickly.
pulled a .3S caliber revolver from
the folds of her dress and pointed
it at her husband. A court re-
porter screamed The first two
chambers of the gun were empty,
but the remaining four were load
ed and Mrs. Simpson pulled the
trigger six times. Three bullets
struck Simpson, who slid to the
floor
After the last shot Mrs. Simpson
dropped the gun on the table and
rose. Gus Villwock, 1924 Southport
avenue, rushing from the judges
chambers, grabbed both her arms.
Now I am vindicated." asserted
Mrs. Simpson, who appeared quite
calm. The bailiff picked up the
gun.
You've killed him." screamed
Miss Bertha Fischer, 1S-year-old
court reporter.
81 hope So" was Mrs. Simpsons
even reply.
Ten or twelve couples who were
aiting to have their marital diff
cUlties adjusted by Judge Broth
ers shuddered. One woman tainted.
Woman Held to Jury.
DIR. W. o. McNally was called and
administered first aid treatment and
then Simpson was rushed TO the
hospital
Judge Brothers, who has just re-
turned from a vacation forced by
heart trouble, returned to the bench
and held Mrs. Simpson to the grand
jury without bail. In his chambers
Immediately afterwards he suffered
a relapse and was ordered home by
his physician.
The wrath of Mrs. Simpson has
been smoldering for four years, it is
said. She and her husband were
married July 4, 1902. and lived hap
PLY until May IS, 1912, when Mrs.
Simpson learned that another wom-
an had entered her husbands life.
The court records assert that on
June II, 1915, Mrs. Simpson found !
her husband and Mrs. Jean Web |
ster together in a hotel. Mrs. |
Simpson. aided by Mrs. Webster's |
husband and the police. raided the !
hotel and had the couple arrested |