The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-01

In his allegations, Scifres
declares that the first attempt
to poison the children was
made by their mother two
weeks before the tragic re-
union picnic here June FL.
He said the deaths of the girls
were the climax of a Staying plot
formulated by her several weeks
ago.
Outlining the states case, Scifres
attacked Mrs. Simmons, portraying
her as a woman who showed no
more agitation over the death of
her daughters than "she would over
pet dog"
Previous Poisoning Charged
1.-THE state will prove that two
weeks before the poison deaths of
these two children, the defendant
administered deadly poison to her
daughters. This was prior to the
fatal picnic in Lebanon, June 21,'
Scifres said.
Mrs. Simmons, apparently startled
by the prosecutors allegations,
lowered her head and stared at the
courtroom floor.
John w. Simmons, her husband,
touched her on the arm and whiS-
pered to her as though asking a
question.
Mrs. Simmons neither nodded nor
replied. She wiped her lips with
the back of her hand.
None of the jurors, the defense
believes, will vote for Mrs. Simmons
conviction unless they believe "be-
yond reasonable doubt" that the
states charges are true.
And the prosecution believes that
twelve peers are seated who have
no Scruples against sending Mrs.
Simmons to prison for the remain
der OF her life or approving her
death in the electric chair should
they convict her.
Exclusion Is Denied
Immediately after the jury was
sworn, Roy Adney, special prosecu-
tor, petitioned the court to order
exclusion of Mrs. Simmons hus-
band, daughter Elizabeth. and sons
George and Dale.
This brought furry on the part
of the attorneys on both sides that
was quoted only when Judge John
w. Hornaday ruled the witness
might remain.
Scifres told the jury that strych-
nine, found in the picnic sandwiches
eaten by the children and others at
the outing, with the exception of
Mrs. Simmons, was deadly poison
"a famous poison"
"She was caught in the act"
Scifres accused. THE poison was
found in her possession.
Mrs. Simomns will say she is
not guilty. But the evidence will
show there was no chance for any
one to get to the sandwiches after
they left the Simmons home near
Greenfield.
Defendant Ate None
"The little girl, Alice Jean, died
and her sister, Virginia, in blooming
girlhood, also was a victim of this
poison.
Every member of the Pollard
and Simomns families, except one,
ate, or started to eat the sand
wiches at the reunion picnic. That
exception was this defendant.
She said she didn't like sand
wiches, but the first agitation she
showed over deaths of her daugh-
tiers, was to say oh, my; Oh my
"She was white and scared and
she talked about dissolution of the
capsules. She said that if she's put
them in the food at her home. they
would have been dissolved before
she and her family got to Lebanon.
Tried to Protect Mother
I'm not criticizing the family.
They have tried from the first to
protect their mother.
When I get through there will
not be the remotest doubt in sour
mind about who is guilty in this
case"
Charles Tindall, defense counsel,
opened his statement to the jury at
p. m.
Jurors in the case are Walter
d. Boyce, Ora L. Brown, Oscar
Erp, Linden c. Beck, Walter Akard,
James w. Gatewood, Edgar L.
Jones, Rush Slagle, Walter Crisler,
Martin Burkhalter, Everett Fleming
and Lester Everett, residents of
Boone county townships.
The little circuit courtroom was
crowded today, courthouse hangers
on holding the same seats from day
to day and farmers from nearby
townships struggling in before court
ndfotirro1