Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-19
EMINENT SURGEON
SLAM IN CHURCH
Dr.. James W. Markoe Of New
ss= :
York Shot Down BY Re- :.
Iiqious Fanatic.


ISOLATED Press).-Thomas w. .Simp-
Markoe, In st. Georges Episcopal
Church. yesterday. was revealed by
the police today as a religious fanatic,
who took pleasure In hearing ser
mons in different churches. but who
always went armed in fear of be-
ing returned to insane asylums, from
which he had escaped in Minnesota,
Winnipes. chicaEo and elsewhere, -.
without bail for hearing Wednesday.
Flannel Other Murders.
After the arrangement. Assistant
District Attorney O'shaughnessy said
he had obtained from simpkin volun-
tary confession that he had come to
this city to kill ]. Pierpont Morgan,
but had found h. was dead. and that
he then planned to STAY former Asp-
II am not. sorry for what did"
Simpkin was quoted as saying. Il am
only sorry for Mr.. Markoe's wife. My
heart aches for her.
IF i had a chance. I'd do 1t all over
again. If had gotten away with this
/ would have killed Representative
George B. Miller Of Duluth. / heard
Miller declare in speech. II you see
an ]. w. W., kill him. Any man advo-
eating the killing OF another man
should be killed himself"
DIR. Markoe was q wealthy vestry.
man of the church and friend ana
personal physician to J. Pferpont
Morgan. also a parishioner there. He
was hfty-six years old
In the church at the time were
George w. Wickefsham, former United
States Attorney General: Herbert /.
Satterlee. brother-1n-law of J: Pier
pont Morgan. and Mrs. Satterlee;. r.
Fulton Cutting president OF. the bu-
reau Of municipal research, and many
other prominent perSoias. Mr.. Nor
and whose father was a vestryman
there. was not present when the
shooting occurred.
A suit case owned by the man was
hlled with religious tracts and news
paper clippings on variety of. sub
never before seen or heard of DR..
Markoe. q
The Tragedy.
The murder occurred soon after the
rector of the church, nr Karl Reiland
had concluded his morning sermon.
in which he had advised his congrega-
ton to be friendly to every stranger
visiting tho church Dr.s Markoe HwAs
taking mp the collection, when his as
sailant. without warning, produced y
revolver and fred q shot in the head.
death resulting soon afterwsrd In n
before simpkin was captured outside
of the church he hred' another shot
which grazed the cheek of ]. Morgan
Jones. an usher. and wounded DR..
George e. Brewer IN the leg. Another
shot just missed Herbert L. Satterlee.
Previously A1restea In Church.
10 %rA
Eimpkin told detectives In distointed
answers to questions thai he had
worked as a printer in Gary, Ind. !:
Wisconsin. New York and, elsewhere.
He said he came!to this country from
enssr Of a's New ass pae pss
Union.
The prisoners statements indicated
that he had 4 mania for hearing SER
mons- He told Of listening with
pleasure to ., ,Paulist priest in New
York year ago and Of having an
The minister called a cop and had
me arrested. no said. when. got
out decided to get q revolver. In
st. Georges yesterday I fs1t all right
until heard the minister say: Some
don't treat them kindly"
Then. the prisoner told detectives.
he was seized with an impulse to
shoot. -
he also said; Since I came out Of
the asylum I always cafrfed 4, re-.
volver to make sure that ia never be
put In the asylum again."
He added that he had resolved to
shoot the first person ~hd tried to
arrest him. EiS~
FreQ1ently in Asyluns.
The police Announced that the pris-
onse's full name was Thomas William
Simpkin, and that he was born in
London In 1879. the son Of printer.
who died soon after the Boys birth.
He was brought UP in q London or
phAn asylum. -