The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-20
DEFENSE CASE
IS RIDDLED AT
POISON TRIAL
SiSter-in-LaW of Suspect
Clears Farmer, Target
of InSinuationS.
UPHoLDS STATES STORY
Mrs. Simmons Showed No
Emotion in Tragedy,
Relative Says.
BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT

BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT
LEBANON, Ind, Oct. 20.-From
defense witness, a sister-in-law
of Mrs. Carrie w. Simmons, states
attorneys today drew testimony to
strengthen charges that the Han
cock county farm mother is the
poison slayer of her daughters.
Mrs. Joanna Simmons, sister of
the accused woman's husband,
sobbed at times as she related Incl
dents before and during the fatal
picnic here June 81.
She damaged the intimationS
that Horace Jackson, Hancock
county farmer, might be the
poisoner, and by her testimony
cleared Mrs. Fannie Cook, 80, of
Lebanon, of defense attacks that
she did not see Jackson most of
the time before the picnic.
Miss Simmons also was questioned
to Substantiate the states claim of
Mrs. Simmons old-bloodednesS,
and the charge that the strychnine
capsules in the sandwiches at the
picnic were swollen and not entirely
dissolved
Clears Two by Evidence
Miss Simmons told the jury of
farmers that Mrs. Cook was on her
porch while jackson read a paper
beneath tree in the yard of w. H.
Pollard before the outing. She re-
lated how Jackson went into the
house and conversed with Pollard
some time before the picnic group
assembled at Memorial park.
1t was in the Pollard home that
Miss Simmons said she and the de-
PENDANT showed flowers they had
picked to Jackson.
The defense contended Mrs. Cook
did not remain on her porch, but
was in the rear of her home twice
during the morning of the picnic,
although she had stated she did not
quit the porch until the picnic
group left.
1t was before the Simmons fam
lily arrived, and after Jackson had
gone into the house, that Mrs. Cook
was on her back porch and in the
rear yard, Miss Simmons testified.
Mother Looked Worried
The defense, in its drive, has in
timated that Jackson might have
inserted the poison capsules in the
sandwiches, which were packed in
the Simmons car before the picnic.
Mrs. Simmons looked terribly
worried at the picnic" Miss Sim
mons testified.
She did not cry at the picnic
grounds or the hospital during the
illness and deaths of Alice Jean
and Virginia. I did see her cry
some at the funeral.
Il looked at one of the capsules
in the sandwiches and it was swol-
len"
States attorneys have introduced
expert medical testimony to show
that if the capsules had been placed
in the food at the Simmons home.
near Greenfield, several hours be-
fore the picnic, they would have
been swollen and possibly the ends
broken.
Bolsters State Contention
The testimony forced the defense
to give ground and counsel for
Mrs. Simmons still had TO account
Tor forty minutes of Mrs. Simmons
time in indianapolis, June 10, three
days before the picnic. The state
charges Mrs. Simmons bought
strycnnine in south side Indian
apolis pharmacy that morning.
Miss Simmons cried and sobbed
as she told how Alice Jean looked
horrible" after eating the food.
asked the girl if she were i'll.
but Mrs. Simmons said She's more
worried about me than herself"
the witness said.
Miss Simmons said the defendant
told her she was sorry the capsIles
were found in my sandwiches"
Walling in an alibi for Mrs. Sim
mons, to show that she could not
have purchased poison June 10. the
defense called three Indianapolis
persons Monday who accounted for
all except forty minutes of the farm
woman's time in Indianapolis on
that day
Forty Minutes Are Vital
But those forty minutes" are the
most vital to the alibi, for thev
range from approximately $50 Of
June IL to 1910 that day.
1t was established firmly that
Mrs. Simmons looked at a dress in
the women's dress department of
the L. S. Ayres g. Co. store between
1910 and 1890. She was with her
husband, John Simmons.
Another witness related she ssw
Mrs. Simmons in front of the L.
Strauss & Co. store with her hus-
band at 1920. Then a clerk of the
William H. Block Company testified
that shortly after 1890 Mrs. SIM
mons purchased a dress from her
and she was in the store with her
husband from that time until short
ly after II.
Charles w. Friedman, Indianapo-
lis druggist, has testified on the
witness stand that he sold strych-
nine to Mrs. Simmons at about
10 a. M at his drug store at 1902
South Meridian street
Guy A. Braughton, head OF the
Ayres company operatives, testified
he recalled Mr.. and Mrs. Simmons
shopping on the stores third floor.
Mrs. Anna M. King, Ayres clerk.
said she waited on the Simmons
around 1910 to 1890" because sit
was past time for me to take my