Month: October 2020

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Frederick and May – Divorce #3

The Kidnapper

Patrick Crowe witness in Roach Divorce 3

Roach Divorce 3 continues this time with an infamous kidnapper as a witness!

Patrick Crow was a handsome man with a square jaw and fine features except for a crooked nose that he had from being hit.  He carried himself with an erect posture and dressed well.  He was the stereotypic romantic criminal. His problems with the Cudahy family began in South Omaha when Crowe at the age of 17 opened a Butcher Shop.  Cudahy opened a Butcher Shop near by that underpriced Crowe’s shop and drove it out of business.  He told all his friends that he would make Cudahy pay someday.  Crowe then went to work for the Cudahy Butcher Shop and was fired for stealing. 

He decided to open a new Butcher Shop in a different part of Omaha.  He took $750 and headed to Chicago to buy equipment.  He stopped at Swede Annie’s for some adult entertainment and woke up hung over with no money.  He stole from the brothel and the patrons to make up for it.  He was arrested, after a gun fight with the police, while he was in the process of pawning the jewelry he had stolen and was tried and convicted to six years in Joliet Prison.  He wrote a letter to the governor and was pardoned and released after 17 months.  This is just one of the more colorful examples of his life of crime.  He was known as both a train robber and a bank robber.  He also went under the alias of Frank Roberts. 

Pat Crowe was famous or rather infamous for the Cudahy kidnapping.  December 18, 1900, Pat Crowe kidnapped 16-year-old Eddie Cudahy.  Eddie’s father Edward Sr., was the wealthy owner of the Cudahy Packing Company in Omaha, NE.  Edward Sr.  Cudahy closed his plant and soon 7,000 people were searching for Eddie.  At 9:00 am he received a phone call asking him to search his front yard, where his coachman found the ransom note.  

Mr. Cudahy: We have kidnapped your child and demand $25,000 ($750,000.00 in today’s money) for his safe return. If you give us the money he will return as safe as when you last saw him, but if you refuse, we will put acid in his eyes and blind him… Get the money all in gold, 5, 10 and 20 (dollar) pieces… Get in your buggy alone on the night of December 19 at 7 o’clock p.m. Follow the paved road toward Fremont. When you come to a lantern…by the side of the road, place the money by the lantern and immediately turn your horse around and return home. Cudahy, you are up against it, and there is only one way out – give up the coin. Money, we want and money we will get. If you don’t give up…you can lead your boy blind the rest of your days. 

At 7:00 on the night of the 19th, Cudahy alone arrived at the lantern, which was located near the Little Papio Creek. He left the money along with a note in reply to the captors. He returned to the Cudahy mansion at 9:30 pm. Eddie Jr. returned home at 1:00 am, unharmed. 

Cudahy placed a $25,000.00 reward for the capture of Crowe and the city of Omaha doubled it.  Crowe led the police and the Pinkerton Detective Agency on a five-year pursuit.  During this time Crowe was reported to have been seen all over the United States and the world, and sent many letters to the police investigators. Thousands of Wanted Posters were sent out. 

In 1905 Crowe was arrested in Butte, Montana.  Crowe went on trial for Grand Larceny as there were no laws on the books for kidnapping of anyone over the age of 10.  On St. Patrick’s Day, 1906, after seventeen hours of deliberation, Crowe was found not guilty.

This crime became famous for a variety of reasons.  There were no laws on the books at that time dealing with kidnapping of people over the age of 10.  Immediately, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois passed new laws against kidnapping including the death penalty.  The whole country also debated as to whether Cudahy senior should have paid the ransom, it was felt that it would encourage more kidnappings. 

Pat then took up the Burlesque circuit lecturing about his life of crime.  While that proved entertaining to the crowds for a little bit, the crowds soon thinned, and Crowe took to the bottle. 

Back to the divorce trial…

 Mary took the stand and gave a description of a trip that Freddie took Danvers, Illinois with Pat Crowe for a drink cure.  According to Mary the two were drunk most of the time. 

Pat Crowe, the renowned kidnapper was called to the stand.  The court room had to be quieted from the laughter when he announced his profession as a magazine writer.  Crowe admitted that he had been on the joy ride to Danvers and Peoria and was quickly dismissed. 

.

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Homemade Candy Corn

Candy Corn is my favorite at Halloween and the Homemade version is delicious and worth the effort!

Homemade Candy Corn

Ingredients

1 Cup Sugar
2/3 Cup Light Corn Syrup
1/3 Cup Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1/3 Cup Powdered Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
Orange and Yellow Gel Food Coloring, Can be purchased at Michaels if not at your local grocery

Preparation

In a saucepan combine granulated sugar, corn syrup and butter.

Bring to a boil stirring constantly.

Turn down the heat and let continue to boil until the candy thermometer reads 230. This should take 2-4 minutes depending on your stove top. If the temp goes over 230 and a tablespoon of cold water to bring it down.

Combine the powdered sugar, dry milk and salt. Either pour them through a sieve or process in a food processor, we don’t want any milk lumps!

Add the vanilla and the dry ingredients stirring continuously with a heat-proof spatula, silicone ones work great!

Pour onto a sheet pan lined with a SilPat or parchment paper.

Cool for about 15 minutes until it is cool enough to work with.

Divide into three equal parts and tint one part yellow with the food gel, another part orange with the food gel, and leave the third part white. You can use different colors if you want, I have made red, green and white for Christmas.

Knead each color thoroughly until the color is well mixed and the mixture is smooth.

Roll each color into a rope that’s about 18 inches long. Cut that in half and roll them together until you get a roll that’s about 1/2 an inch wide and around 22-24 inches long.

Layer the strands, white, yellow, and orange.

Smooth them together and cut into 4 parts.

Cut each part in alternating triangles creating a zig zag as illustrated in the photo.

Let Candy Corn pieces dry for about an hour on parchment paper then place in an air tight container. I like to use a Mason Jar.

This makes a ton of candy corn, so Enjoy!

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Frederick and May – Divorce Trial #3

May and the 14 Affinities Testify

Mary’s defense in the divorce was to have 14 “affinities” testify in her behalf and offset the testimony of her maid, Agnes Oberg, her chauffeur, Harry Jackson and two Private Detectives.  The fourteen included an automobile race car driver, a horse racing enthusiast, a city hall employee, a Frenchman, a city detective, and others with undisclosed occupations.

Letters written by Mary E. Roach were produced in the divorce trial.  In them she had asked men for money. 

In one to Tim Murphy, she stated that she would “paint her husband pretty black if she failed to collect $15,000 or $18,000 from his father, John M. Roach, president of the Chicago Railways company.” 

May testifies.  She speaks in a barely audible tone during a severe cross-examination.  She told the court, how Freddie had left her at the Beelback hotel in Louisville without enough money to get back to Chicago.

 “How did you leave Louisville?” asked Kirkland.
 “By automobile.” May answered in an almost whisper. 
“With whom?” asked Kirkland. 
“Tim Murphy.” 
“Who is Tim Murphy?” 
“An old friend of my husband’s.” 
“Did you occupy the same hotel room in Indianapolis?”
“No, Mr. Murphy slept in room 220 and I in 222.” 

May was then allowed to rest while three of her fourteen “affinities” were called to the stand. 

William P. Conely, the president of Puritan Oil was the first called.  Mr. Conely testified at some length about his friendship with May.  Kirkland then asked that the Conley be dismissed, and his entire testimony stricken from the record since he had been sitting in the court room during much of the prior testimony.  Judge McDonald upheld the motion and Conely left. 

H.N. Waterfall, a ticket broker was called next.  After a short examination by Brady, Kirkland put Waterfall through a grueling cross-examination.  Most of the cross consisted of questions about a little party that May gave at her home.  Waterfall admitted to calling on May several times when she was sick in bed and being in her room with her.  Kirkland asked him if he was nervous about the Private Investigators that John Roach had hired and Waterfall responded, “No, I have never done anything out of the way.”  At which point the courtroom burst into laughter.  Kirkland then asked Waterfall if he didn’t consider May giving him her husband’s pajamas, suit and suitcase wasn’t out of the way. 

Julius Fisher was the next “affinity” called.  After a short conversation about a dinner party at May’s apartment he was dismissed, and May was recalled to the stand. 

May look pale and was holding a bottle of smelling salts in her hand as she retook the stand.  Kirkland then handed her two letters that she had written to Dave Henry.  Kirkland then read the letters to the jury. 

The first one: “Dear Dave:  I am running short on meal ticket:  please, send me one.” 

The second: “If I don’t get a settlement or some money, it will be back to the laundry for me.  May.” 

May then testified that she and Freddie had been separated and he had followed her to the West Coast, San Francisco, specifically where they were remarried.  She then stated that 5 days after their re-marriage Freddie had started drinking again and continued to this day in that condition. 

May’s testimony during cross-examination continued.  She denied all charges of misconduct that her husband’s witnesses had brought up. 

In reply to one of Kirkland’s questions she responded, “Mr. Roach was nearly always pickled.  Every time he got drunk, he walloped me.” 

When asked about the testimony of the Chauffeur that she was drinking whiskey and syrup on the trip with Murphy to Indianapolis she responded, “I had a cold, that was why I drank it.” 

She also testified that while in Louisville, she won $150 on the races from a tip that she received from a man named Shure.  She further testified that she and her husband’s annual expenses were about $20,000.00 which in today’s money would be about $550,000.00. 

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Frederick and May – Divorce Trial #3

The Maid - Agnes

While May and Freddie lived at the Plaza Hotel in 1909, May took a liking to the hotel maid, Agnes Oberg.  When the Roaches moved out of the hotel to their own house, May asked Agnes to go with them and be her personal maid.  May asked Agnes to be a witness for her and “swear that she had never seen any men visiting Mrs. Roach”.  Agnes refused.  May thought that Agnes was too modest to testify. 

May’s face turned white when Attorney Weymouth Kirkland, Freddie’s attorney called Agnes as the first witness.  It occurred to May that as soon as she had left the apartment that morning, Agnes got on the phone and talked to Freddie.  As Agnes began naming names and incidents, May fainted.  Dr. William Krohn, who was in the courtroom, administered first aid and sent May home in a taxi. 

Under testimony Agnes agreed that she was getting revenge for not having been paid in three months.  Agnes testimony also showed that Freddie cut off May’s support in February when he left the house and that May had been surviving on contributions made by men friends.  Agnes testified that she had been promised a trip to California and a bungalow to stick with May. 

Agnes named 14 men, tactfully called affinities in the trial,  that had visited May at the apartment.  Some had spent the night she testified, and some had given May money.  Many of the men Agnes talked about were under assumed names.  “Mrs. Roach told me”, she testified “That Waterfall was a good fellow, but had no money.  At 2 o’clock one morning I was summoned to Mrs. Roach’s room to rub Dave Henry’s breast with antiphlogistine.  They both laughed and said I would make a good nurse.  Mr. Hyman tore a $10 bill in halves.  I saw him give Mrs. Roach one of the pieces, and when he departed after breakfast Mrs. Roach had both pieces.  Hyman gave me $2 but Mrs. Roach later took it away from me.  When Mr. Roach returned on one occasion, I refused to let him in on orders from Mrs. Roach. I refused because the Frenchman was in the house and I wanted to give him a chance to escape. “

The Chauffeur - Jackson

Harry Jackson, the chauffeur, was set to testify.  Brady objected since May was not in court, feeling ill after the testimony of Agnes the day before. 

Kirkland’s response was “She might as well come and face it.  If that testimony yesterday made her sick, I have some more for today that will make her sicker”. 

Jackson testified to the automobile trip from Louisville to Chicago where May picked up 5 “affinities” in relays.  He stated that he had driven the Roaches from West Baden, IN to Louisville, KY in May, 1911.  He then stated that Mrs. Roach left Louisville suddenly with Tim Murphy.  Jackson drove them to a hotel in Madison, IN where they checked in. 

Kirkland then produced a photograph of containing the signature of Tim Murphy as” J.P. Ross and wife and driver”.

Jackson stated, “From Madison we went to Columbus, OH and next to Indianapolis, IN.  Mrs. Roach with Mr. Murphy and a Dr. Hill, whom they met in Indianapolis and spent more than an hour in a house there, where Mrs. Roach smoked with the others.  Mr. Murphy stopped with Mrs. Roach at the Denison Hotel in Indianapolis. 

When I was leaving Indianapolis with Mrs. Roach, Murphy, handed her a check and said ‘If you need any money on the way to Chicago, use this.’  I drove her alone to Lafayette, IN and to Remington, IN , and finally to Crown Pointe, IN.  At Crown Pointe, we picked up a doctor whom Mrs. Roach knew, and he rode with us to Chicago when we arrived on May 27.  I heard Mrs. Roach tell the doctor at the 12th Street Station, of the South Side elevated that she was afraid to go to the New Southern hotel so early in the morning.  It was then about 3:00 o’clock. ” He testified that during the road trip that she smoked, drank, and visited notorious resorts with her escorts.

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Freddie and May – The Second Round

Freddie and Mae Roach - The Second Round

Freddie and May Marriage #2

And so we begin Freddie and May’s second round on their marriage-go-round.

On July 25, 1910, May and Freddie are re-married.  May had travelled to San Francisco to visit friends.  She sent Freddie a telegraph asking him to come immediately that she was ill to the point of death.  Freddie told his friends that he was going West, he felt that a change of climate might improve his health.  So, he boarded his private railroad car and headed to San Francisco.  When he arrived, he found May to be in excellent health.  They reconciled and were remarried by Reverend E.L. Gunby in the parsonage of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, this followed the unsuccessful attempt to be married the previous night at 11:00.

May tells the press, “We have had our little trials, but they all seem mere trifles now.  A couple can be happily married only after they have looked deep into each other’s hearts.  One has to pick out the best that is in the other and overlook the faults.  I am glad that have found each other and can in faith say that there will be no more thorns strewn on our path.”

Well, at least for 5 months…

December 5, 1910, Freddie publishes in the Chicago Examiner that he would not be responsible for any debts other than his own and headed to Florida.  This was at the time that May was in San Francisco visiting her mother.  Apparently at some point the pair were reunited. 

Divorce #3 – May and the 14 Lovers

March 21, 1912, Freddie sues May for divorce due to infidelity. 

Deputy Sherriff John E. Olis waits for 27 hours outside of May’s home to serve her with divorce papers.  “I had an awful wait, Olis said woefully, “and only a ham sandwich to break my long fast.  Two detectives hired by John M. Roach her father in law, tracked her to the Edelweiss and to Buxbaum’s.  She had been away from home since Sunday, and I didn’t dare stir for fear she would make for home suddenly.  We thought she was in a taxi, but she hopped out of the car and then I served her.  She laughed kind of queerly when she found out who I was and only said ‘This isn’t the first time in my experience, my friend.'”

May was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune after the divorce was filed and said. “My gas is turned off, my husband has not given me any money in three months, my telephone has been taken out, and my credit at the grocery store has been stopped.  My maid who has been with me for five years has not been paid but refuses to leave me.  I am sustaining myself by pawning my diamonds.  I have instructed my attorney to file a cross bill tomorrow, I will charge abandonment, nonsupport, and infidelity.  I will name a girl in another city.” 

She then further stated that Freddie’s suit was a result of May threatening to file for abandonment.  “Immediately afterward, he was taken to Florida by his father and mother.  He came back two weeks ago last Sunday and came to our apartments in a taxicab. He brought a large box of roses for me and said that he wanted to talk things over.  I excused myself, went to a telephone, and called my attorney.  He had officers from Municipal Court sent out with the warrant which they served on Mr. Roach. “

The trial was scheduled to begin May 1. 

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Frederick and Mary (May) Roach

Frederick Roach
May Roach

Marriage #1

And now we begin the love story?  of Frederick and May Roach.

From here on in, references to May will be about Mary Rutherford Roach, to avoid confusion! 

May and Freddie are married in St. Joseph, MI on October 23, 1905, after an automobile trip there from Chicago.

Mary E. Roach sued Frederick Lyon Roach for divorce citing cruelty on September 28, 1906, less than a year from when they were first married.  Friends and family of the Roaches said that there was nothing to the charges.  Frederick said that the suit was a laugh.  Mary Roach says that soon after her marriage to Freddie, he began to be abusive seeking to humiliate her especially in front of their friends.  She tells about the time that they were driving from Chicago to Crown Point, IN when he stopped the car and was going to make her get out and walk before friends travelling with them intervened, also that he had hit her a few days later when they were entertaining friends.  The last straw occurred on a train trip from New York to Chicago in the train dining car where they were eating dinner with Mary’s mother.  Freddie became angry with the way that May was wearing her hair and hit her.  She screamed and several people came to help her.  She also asked for an injunction prohibiting Freddie from selling his real estate in Chicago and Florida and for disposing of any personal property. 

On September 30, 1906 to prove her seriousness about the divorce, May locked Freddie out of their home.  Freddie was giving a chicken dinner for a party of friends at a hotel in Chicago.  He returned to his home to change into evening clothes and found the doors barred.  He stood in the pouring rain for over 2 hours. He stood singing and pleading for May or her mother to let him in to get some dry clothes.  All his begging fell on deaf ears.  So, Freddie showed up to the dinner in clothing which if one of his employees had worn would have been cause for instant dismissal.  He whined to his guests that he had over 2 dozen suits and all the accessories found in the chiffonier of a millionaire!  He went home the following day and still was not allowed to go in the mansion.

But, three weeks later on October 20, 1906, May drops the divorce suit and reconciles with Freddie.

Divorce - Again!

April 26, 1908 Freddie sues for divorce.  May counter sues charging habitual drunkenness. 

This time Freddie locks May out of the house.  Furious, in a Midnight Raid, May broke into Frederick’s house and stole $2,500 in household goods.  Justice Julius Timke presided over the case. 

At the end of the trial, May addressed Justice Timke, “Say, judge, can’t you give me my dogs?”

 “Don’t worry about your dogs, I’ll see that they’re turned over to you.”, responded Freddie’s attorney Thomas Symmes.  May had two Boston Terriers, Bridget and Terry. 

“Oh, thank you ever so much”, gushed May. 

Then her attorney, John Wayman, attached Justice Timke in a speech lasting over 30 minutes. accusing Justice Timke of his so-called illegal interference with Mary when she tried to have her property removed from her husband’s house.  “You were the dupe were you not, of these men? You were a convenient sort of fall guy.  You now say that you have no jurisdiction in this case.  Didn’t you know it they?”  Timke said nothing.

On July 9. 1908 May is awarded her divorce due to habitual drunkenness.  She was awarded all her personal property, furniture, and pictures from their joint home, along with her dogs.  Freddie tells the reporters as he leaves the trial that he is going to remarry his first wife May Magee. 

Coming next…  Marriage #2, Divorce #3 and 14 Affinities!

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Frederick and Mary Roach

Frederick and Mary Roach

Frederick Lyon Roach and Mary E. Roach were married three times, divorced 3 times – 2 finalized, and went through scandalous trials.  Here’s their story!

Freddie’s first marriage – Not to Mary

Frederick was married once before he and Mary started their marriage binge.  This story is somewhat confusing because both of Freddie’s wives went by the name May.  Freddie’s first wife was May Marguerite Magee, Freddie and May met in grammar school and became High School sweethearts.  Freddie was a high school athlete and May cheered him on.  A year after high school graduation they announced their engagement.  May and Frederick are married on January 26, 1897.  The ceremony was performed at 7:30 pm at the Church of Our Savior in Chicago.  The bride wore a gown of corded white silk, the bodice veiled tulle and cut décolleté, a tulle veil and carried bride’s roses.  The bridesmaids wore white silk covered with white tulle and the maid of honor wore pink silk covered with white tulle.  After the ceremony, a reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents. When the couple returns from their wedding trip to New York and Florida, they will be “at home” the first and third Thursdays in March.  The wedding was also attended by Emma Simpson’s mother, Eliza Spackman and her sister Mrs. Mott. 

John Roach, Freddie’s father, was the President of Union Traction company, later Chicago Railways Company which controlled all the street cars in the North and West side of Chicago.  He was instrumental in building Chicago’s El.  Because of this, Freddie and May were often written up in the Society columns of the Chicago papers. 

One example was a fancy-dress ball that May gave.  Quoting from the Inter Ocean Newspaper, “The fancy-dress ball has been planned by Mrs. Roach whose charms of person and manner delight her friends in equal proportion, in the form of a leave taking as she and her husband are going to Canada for a long stay.  It is hard to imagine a jollier or more brilliant goodbye.  The invitations have been limited to 100.  With artistic costuming that number should be quite enough… Fancy dress balls are rare.  I’m sure that this will be one to dream about.”

The Fancy-Dress Ball was held.  Only the elite were there. May dressed as a gypsy and Freddie as a cavalier of the Middle Ages.  Mary’s mother dressed as a Colonial Dame.  Many of the other costumes were described including women importing gorgeous silk robes from Japan, men dressing as women, along with plenty of nymphs, dairy maids, knights in armor, courtiers of the French court, and pink and white Dresden china shepherdesses.

All seemed well in the marriage until September 3, 1904. 

In a secret hearing 20 minutes after May Magee Roach had filed, she received a divorce from Freddie.  The grounds for the divorce were desertion, Mary Rutherford (May) was named as co-respondent. It was alleged that Freddie had met May at Miller’s Roadhouse on September 3, and that he was with her for many days. May had hired Private Detectives to prove the charges.  May is said to have received a substantial settlement and alimony even though the terms were not disclosed.  Their son John Millard Roach, age 6., was given into the custody of his grandfather, John M. Roach, Mary is to have visitation every other Saturday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

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Emma Simpson – Part 3 Closing Arguments and Sentencing

Emma Simpson

The trial is coming to an end.  Will the “Unwritten Law” be upheld or will Emma go to prison?  Emma Simpson’s  Sentencing comes right after closing arguments.

Prosecutor Murphy asked for life imprisonment saying, “Something needs to be done about willful, malicious, and deliberate murder.”  He then pointed to Emma and called her a Jealous, angry gun toter. He followed with, “The state of Illinois asks you, gentlemen, to put an end to these killings by these women wild with jealousy.  We have shown there is no insanity in this case.  This paragon of virtue in her own mind was always right and her husband Elmer wrong–“

At which point Emma jumped up and shouted, “Mr. Murphy, he was not all wrong, — he was all right until that woman Jean Webster got hold of him.” 

Later when Mr. Murphy was telling the jury that Emma while insane was earning her own living, she cried out, “I did not!”

Mr. Murphy’s final statement was, “Gentlemen, there are many women in Chicago waiting to see what you will do.  

Clarence Darrow followed.  “You may lock Mrs. Simpson up for the rest of her life, but that won’t stamp out happenings like this.  Does it seem to you, gentlemen, that a person in his or her right mind would pick out a court, a temple of justice, where a dozen persons are gathered to do a murder? It is not only murder, but more serious, contempt of court.” 

Darrow went on to uphold his plea that Emma was insane as it related to Elmer.  “A man would not worry about troubles with his wife but would worry about making money and go crazy on the subject.  A large number of women under the same conditions as Mrs. Simpson faced, would go insane.  If a man died his widow might go insane, but if a woman died, I would need proof that the husband went insane.  If a woman lost a million dollars, I doubt she would go insane, but a man would.”

Clarence Darrow closed by stating to the 12-member male jury, “You’ve been asked to treat a man and a woman the same — but you can’t, no manly man can.”

The jury was sent to deliberate. The Prosecutor left the courthouse.  The judge went into his chambers, and Clarence Darrow was gathering up his papers when there was a knock on the door and the bailiff told him the jury had reached a verdict.  It had taken half an hour.  Emma came back in the courtroom having changed from the white she had worn throughout the trial to a black velvet gown. 

“You have the verdict, gentlemen” asked Judge George Kersten.  “Let it be read.” 

The jury foreman stood and read. “We, the jury find the defendant, Emma Simpson, committed the act charged in the indictment, but at the time of the commission of  said act she was a lunatic or insane person and that she has not permanently recovered from such lunacy and insanity.” 

After the trial one of the jurors, Max Leviton was questioned by the Chicago Tribune and told them, “We had been undecided until this morning as to whether she was insane — but when Mrs. Simpson interrupted the prosecuting attorney twice, we figured a sane person would have acted differently.”  He further told them that two ballots had been taken, the first one stood 6 to 6 on the question of insanity.

When she was back in her cell, she told a reporter when asked if she was happy with the verdict, “Yes, but that won’t bring my husband back.”

The story was not just covered all over Illinois but also appeared in newspapers in Kansas City, Topeka Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bartlesville, OK, Fort Worth, TX, St. Joseph, MO, Davenport, IA, Meriden, CT, Beatrice, NE, Little Rock, AR, and even in Canada. 

September 30, 1919, Emma sentenced to the Elgin Insane Asylum, where her father had been and died.

November 24, 1919, Emma Simpson is freed from Elgin Insane Asylum.  In an Elgin City court packed with a sympathetic crowd, Judge Frank Shopen declared her sane.  Emma stayed in the hospital for fifty-one days.  During this time, she made surgical dressings and combed the other patient’s hair.  Following the decision Emma approached the judge and held out her hand.  “God bless you!” he smiled. 

Coming Next...

Remember Emma’s uncle John Roach?  Well he had a son Frederick.  Frederick was involved in a HUGE scandal!  No murder, no real crime, but lots of sex!  My daughter says the story is salacious!  Love that word!  See you Sunday with a new story!

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Emma Simpson – Coconut Macaroons

Easy Coconut Macaroons Recipe

Servings: 12

Coconut was a favorite in the early 1900s

After the last complicated recipe with lots of ingredients and lots of steps, I thought I would give you something easy-peasy.

Ingredients

14 ounces sweetened coconut flakes
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large egg whites
¼ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 C Let the eggs whites warm to room temperature.

Combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl.

Whip the egg whites with the salt until you have soft peaks.

Line your sheet pans with either a Silpat or Parchment Paper.

I like a larger cookie, where the coconut is crunchy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside, so I use a large star tip and pipe the macaroons onto the sheet pan. You don’t need to pipe them and can use a scoop to make them a consistent size.

Bake for 15 -20 minutes depending on whether you like them golden and crunchy or white and not so crunchy.

If you make smaller cookies check them at 10 minutes for the desired color.

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Emma Simpson – Part 2 The Trial

Clarence Darrow
Clarence Darrow

Emma Simpson’s Trial begins.  Attending with her attorney Clarence Darrow, yes THAT Clarence Darrow. Attired in a fetching plain white linen frock, white pumps and a sable sailor, Emma appeared for the first day in Judge George Kersten’s court to undergo the ordeal of a trial before a jury of twelve men selected from a group of 200 prospective jurors called. 

For the first day of court, Emma Simpson, wore a white suit, the whitest of shoes, and a black patterned veil in Judge Kersten’s courtroom.  The first witness was Elmer’s mother, Mrs. Anna Simpson.  Elmer had been living with his mother since his separation from Emma.  Mrs. Simpson’s testimony wasn’t much; she had kissed him goodbye in the morning, visited him in the hospital the next day and purchased a coffin the following day. 

Our friend Bertha Fischer then testified that Emma had a “look of hatred” as she pulled the trigger. 

Gus Villvock the bailiff added that she stated, “I hope he dies”. 

Another bailiff William Curran was charged with taking Emma down to the jail stated that she said, “You needn’t hold my wrist so tightly, I won’t try to get away”.  Emma also told him in the elevator, “You couldn’t get justice done in these courts.  Elmer had been lying about me.” 

Each time a witness was asked to point out the woman who had shot Elmer, Emma covered her eyes.  When the coroner James Simonds testified, Anna Simpson cried and Emma kept her eyes shielded and was very still. 

Clarence Darrow, attorney for the defense in Emma Simpson’s trial, stated that his defense was that Emma was only insane on the subject of her husband.  His cross examination included asking each eye witness the color of her face and the look in her eyes and whether or not they were wild. 

Several of Emma’s friends and neighbors testified at the trial.  Harry McCormick testified that Elmer used Emma as a “financial convenience” and that she had been insane for nearly two years.  Mr. McCormick was a co-worker of Emma at Chicago Surface Lines.  He stated “For five or six years she was worried over the troubles between herself and her husband.  After the divorce proceedings started her hair began to turn gray, her face haggard and she was unable to concentrate on the business matters with which she had previously been familiar.  For several months she haunted my office asking my aid.  After her divorce case started she became insane over the subject of her domestic life.  I often found her in her office , her hair disheveled, her eyes staring, using violent language.  I saw many of the letters written by Elmer Simpson to his wife.   It was apparent that he was using her as a means for money purposes only.  His letters were substantiated by the story she often told me that he regarded her only as a financial convenience for himself.  It was because of this attitude that I advised her to obtain a divorce.” 

Assistant State’s attorney Murphy asked Samuel Frielander, Emma’s divorce attorney, to identify the revolver used by Emma.  “Take it away!” screamed Emma, leaping to her feet and pointing at the gun.  After standing for a few seconds staring pointedly at the gun she fell back into her chair in a faint.  Court was adjourned for an hour while medical aid was called to revive her. 

Eighteen witnesses for the defense were called.  Neighbors testified that Emma was a hardworking, faithful wife that had nursed Elmer back to health from tuberculosis. 

Malcolm Webster, former husband of Jean Webster takes the stand.  On the stand Malcolm a pale, small, determined looking man, graphically described how he once grabbed his wife by the hair and flung her clear across the room when he found her in the company of Elmer.  He ended his testimony by stating his belief that Emma was mentally unbalanced because of the troubles with Elmer. 

John M. Roach

John M Roach, Emma’s uncle was the next to take the stand.  He testified that Emma was an excellent stenographer and secretary.  His testimony continued, “About five or six years ago, Mrs. Simpson told me her husband had gone into court and obtained a divorce from her without her knowledge.  She was an entirely changed person in every way from then on.  She seemed to want to be left alone and wanted no one to see her.  She cried and wept continuously after that.  She said a woman who did no wrong seemed to have no chance whatever in the courts, but a man who did everything wrong could drag her from one court to another.  Finally, she blew up entirely, is the best way that I can express it.  There was as much difference in her then and before her trouble as night and day.” 

Mr. Roach then said that he advised his niece to get a divorce as she was going insane on the subject.  She told her uncle that she did not believe in divorce.  She also told him that Elmer had threatened to kill her over the telephone, and she told her uncle where she had hidden some papers in case anything happened to her.  He ended his testimony by telling the court that her father CT Spackman had died in the Elgin Insane Asylum.  

Five physicians, Dr. H. I. Davis, Dr. William Stearns, Dr. Archibald Church, Dr. William Krohn, and Dr. Harold Moyer testified.  Dr. Moyer testified it was his belief that Emma suffered from manic depression, making her insane at the time of the shooting.  Dr. Church testified ” egregious egotism and lack of self-control which suggested insanity”.  Clarence Darrow then called rebuttal witnesses. 

Attorney Francis Callahan, a witness testified that he believed that Emma was insane. Elmer Simpson’s attorney, Israel Pearlman testified that Emma was “absolutely sane”. 

Click here to learn more about Clarence Darrow
Click here for the final part of Emma's story
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