The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-26
SON SAYS MOTHER
is NOT POISONER
George Simmons Declares
Parent Not Guilty of
Picnic Deaths.

al Gill NOt Oullty VI
Picnic Deaths.
Continued From Page u
the strychnine poisoning of his third
wife, following a long trial at Green
field more than a year ago.
WAS the Kolb case discussed in
your home?"
Some" George answered.
Did your father attend that
trial?"
Il don't know. He probably talked
about it,"
Nothing Said About Poisoning
Did your mother and father ever
say anything about strtchnine poi
soning?"
mot that I know Of"
well, when you found the poison
in your sandwich, did the Kolb case
occur to you?"
mo"
George told the jury of farmers
that his mother sobbed as she rode
to their home in Hancock county
from the fatal picnic.
He related that Mrs. Simmons re-
manned in bed the day after the pic
mic, crying over the tragic deaths
of the girls.
SLABS at Jackson
"The second day after the picnic
she cried as she talked about my
sister and the plans they had
made" he said. "She cried nearly
all the time and talked about their
playhouse and their plans to help
her pick cherries"
The state, crosS-examining George,
opened fire on the strained relations
purported to exist between his fam
lily and Horace N. Jackson, his
uncle, and unofficial defendant" in
the trial.
George said he did not speak to
Jackson before the picnic at the
Pollard home here, because I'm not
in the habit of speaking to that
class of people"
This remark brought severe queS-
tioning from states attorneys, who
obtained denials that jackson
''frowned, threw rocks, or spit at
George before the picnic.
No Personal Feeling
George said he had nothing per-
sonal' against Jackson, but Jack
sons wife made fun of my mother
one time" ?
Changing his testimony from that
given at the coroner's inquest,
George today testified jackson did
not appear to be sick at the picnic
grounds"
Il thought he was sick, in a way.
when I talked with the coroner"
George stated.
Has anything happened to
change your mind since thenA
No"
Previous testimony has revealed
Jackson, after eating one of the
death-carrying sandwiches, fell to
the ground and screamed for help.
At times during Georges testi-
mony, John Simmons, the boys
father, hid his face in his hands
and Mrs. Simmons covered her eyes
with a handkerchief. When they
looked up they were not crying.
Witness Is Tangled
George said he and his sister.
Elizabeth, were in the kitchen with
their mother during preparation of
the sandwiches after John Simmons,
Dale, his brother, and the two girls.
later poisoned, had left.
He became confused on the time
when Dale Simmons left the kitchen
and states lawyers demanded:
Are you trying to testify from
a story or facts?"
The facts"
You didn't feel, while YOU were
in the kitchen. that your mother
needed watching?"
No"
Watch Miss Robinson
AT this point spectators shifted
their gaze to view again Miss
Louise Robinson, buxom Bargers-
Vile farm woman, who probably will
reiterate testimony for the defense
that she is the woman who bought
poison from Charles W. Friedman
indianapolis druggist, three days be-
1ore the fatal picnic, June 81.
FREEDMAN, who also will be re-
called for further questioning. has
testified Mrs. Simmons was the
Strychnine purchaser.
His testimony will be DUPLICATED
by his brother Dale and his father
when they follow him on the stand.
Took Capsule to Doctor
Dale was the youth who took one
OF the poison capsules to a ply
stefan while the picnic was in o
ress and asked what the pellet o n
tanned.
After the physician told Dale that
it might be either strychnnine or
quinine, the youth is said OF have
asked, We'll if it's strychnine.
what viii happen?"
With the time nearing when Mrs.
summons will testify, court crowds
for the opening of the fifth week
OF the trial increased during the
day.
A highlight of the week will
be the return r. jackson to the
stand to deny that he purchased
strychnine in a New Palestine drug
store.
$50 In Linen Stolen From Hotel
Theft of linen valued at $50 from
thn ChaRiald Inn QSQ North Darn