The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-04-19
tBy Associated PresS.)


New York, April 19.-Thomas W.
Shelley, known also as Thomas W.
Simpkins, faced arraignment in
Yorkville court today for shooting
DR.. James Wright Markoe, an emf
nent surgeon, in fashionable St.
Georges Episcopal church yester-
day. Police officials said they
would later ask for the appoint
ment of a commission to examine
Shelley as to his lunacy. He told
the police he had escaped from a
lunatic asylum last week.
1t also developed that he was a
deserter from the Canadian army
the police said.
A suitcase owned by the man was
filled with religious works and
newspaper clippings on a variety
Of subjects. He told the police he
had never before seen or heard OF
DR.. Markoe.
Pacing his cell nervously today
Simpkin told detectives in dis
jointed answers to questions that
he had worked as a printer in Gary,
Ind. Wisconsin. New York and else
where He said he came to this
country from England five years
ago and was member of the New
York branch OF the typographical
union.
Mania for Sermons.
The prisoners statements indi-
Gated that he had mania for hear
ing sermons, He told of listening
with pleasure to Paulist priest in
New York year ago and Of hav-
ing an argument with a minister in
Gary.
" The minister called a cop and
had me arrested" he said. When
got out decided to get revol-
yer. In st. Georges yesterday l
felt alright until l heard the min
lister say:
Some people seem to ignore
others and don't treat them
kindly"
Then. the prisoner told detec-
yves, he was seized with an i'm
pulse to shoot.
He also said:
Since | came out of the asylum
always carried revolver to make
sure that Id never be put in the
asylum again"
he added that he had resolved to
snoct the first person who tried tc
arrest him.
By United Press
New York, April l9.-"Ignorance
VI God through darkened under
s@hding and blindness Of heart
was the text which DR.. Karl Rel
,sno' pastor OF the fashionable St
Ieolges Protestant Episcopal
enurch, chose yesterday.
Begins 10 Shoot.
ine minister had Just finished
y .lis sermon and the vestryme-
ASfe passing the collection plate
@ Sasn Thomas W. Simpkins, mar
siln "darkened understanding
to shoot WV
,; III, James Wright Markoe, ply.
n selah for the family of the late ]
,s sfpoht Morgan, who was passing
/ s,.. sae collection plate, fell dead
struck by the first shot
,s. .ae second shot grazed the
.asek OF ]. Morgan Jones. an usher
ua La lhe third narrowly missed
ieroert L. Satterlee, son-in-law O.
'P, Morgan.
,,'nl =, l. Stafford. the organist, con
,i.u ueo 10 play and the choir t.
me Many in the congregation
assassin " po' quo 'N'
s,ul VI George E. Brewer and vii
es.s. s fellows Morgan took up tn,
,oIss e The maniac, waving his re
sr' n' ned from the church.
1, .. Brewer caught the madmal
tam,,.sah 'esaht Park and, as he at
him hiap,ea to wrest the revolver from
brs,,Sss was shot in the thigh. Seyera
ssssaers ssaaaers helped overpower tn
FINN, upxlns had been release,
ana a virginia asylum for the in
ipm.,a week ago. He also was al
Fans % OF an asylum at Fergu
n,s r were to be taken today L
'mpkins sent to an asylum.
GEDDES ARRIVES.
!uc.s York, April 1s.-Sir Fri
,nhasnG ,nhanG Geddes. the new BIRTHS
arrisas arrisaaor to the United State.
ss.m ssa here late today on tn
l,omn kaiserin August victori
NM, liverpool. He was accom-
4sd oy Lady Geddes.