Sherman Daily Democrat
Monday, November 4, 1912
pg 1

LEE SIMMONS SHOT BY WOMAN
Dastardly Attempt To Assassinate Democratic Nominee For Sheriff
WOUNDS ARE SERIOUS
Condition Now Favorable, However, and Recovery Expected -
Complaint Against Pearl Forester Charging Assault to Kill.

Shortly before 11 o'clock Saturday night an attempt was made to assassinate Lee Simmons, Democratic nominee
for sheriff of Grayson county.
Five shots from a 32-caliber automatic revolver were fired at Mr. Simmons, two taking effect. One bullet entered Mr. Simmons right shoulder, high up, and passed entirely through the shoulder. The bullet was found and is now in possession of the county attorney. Another bullet entered the left leg at the inside near the thigh, passed entirely through the leg and came out at the outside.
Dr. E.J. Neathery, who was called gave the wounds surgical attention and pronounced them dangerous, though
not necessarily fatal.
Pearl Forester, a white woman, was arrested soon after the shooting by Patrolmen Jap Phillips and L.B. Shipp
and is now in the county jail, formal complaint having been filed against her charging her with assault to murder.

History of the Shooting
Saturday night November 2nd will be the date long remembered in Sherman and Grayson county. That was when one of the boldest crimes of modern times was committed. Mr. Simmons has been chosen in the Democratic primaries for sheriff, and was about to enter upon his duties in the office.
A woman wearing a black coat or cloak and with a black scarf tied around her hair, appeared in the office of the
Smith Hotel, on East Mulberry street near the ____ station, a little after 10 o'clock and asked to use the telephone.
Soon after that a woman attired the same way came in the drug store adjoining the hotel and asked to use the phone. H. H. Cousins, proprietor of the drug store, remembers hearing her talk about sending a cab for her and getting after the party for delay. A few minutes lapsed, then this same person came and used the phone, again this time also calling the Sherman Transfer company.
Her actions caused comment in the drug store, not because of her seeming nervous, but because of the lateness of the hour and her impatience. Several men witnessed the affair but thought little about it. However, at the time comment was made that she was the woman connected with the theft of diamonds some time ago.
L. C. Wilson, manager for the Sherman Transfer company, answered all three calls and he says they were within twenty minutes at the most. The last time she asked about the rig, not mad but in a joking tone. Mr. Wilson asked where she was and when told him he remarked to the effect that she occupy one of those little stools, make herself comfortable for about a half minute and the carriage would be there. To this she laughed and left the phone. She asked for the cab to be sent to "where the T & P crosses Mulberry street," Mr. Cousins remembers. At the time he reflected that the T & P does not cross Mulberry.
The call happened to be given to Driver Bill Hutchinson and he was told that a woman would take the carriage at the depot office for the Wells-Fargo Express Co., which is situated at the end of Mulberry street where the Central crosses it.
When he was driving on East Mulberry street just before he got even with the hotel a woman wearing black met him as she was coming up the middle of the street. She entered the carriage, saying something of having a lame foot, and giving orders to be taken to the residence of Lee Simmons.
When the carriage halted immediately at the end of the walk leading from the front door of the house, the passenger informed the driver to notify Mr. Simmons that he was wanted. This was done. Mr. Simmons had retired but got up and asked that the party be shown in. The reply was given that the person in the carriage had a crippled foot, and wished him to come to the carriage. As soon as possible Mr. Simmons prepared to respond. As he was about to leave the house it was suggested that he take his gun with him, but he refused.
The driver had returned to the carriage before Mr. Simmons came out. Meanwhile the woman told him that she wished to speak privately with Mr. Simmons, and for him to stand at the head of his team, instead of holding the lines at the side as customary.
The sheriff-elect appeared and approached the carriage. The woman asked if it was Mr. Simmons, and immediately on being assured that it was began shooting. Three shots were fired in rapid succession, the two others in an instant. Mr. Simmons ran and dodged behind a tree, of which several are in the yard but being unsuccessful abandoned the spot and ran North on Elm street. Mr. Simmons called for his gun, but when he got it the woman had disappeared and when he started to run after her found that his leg was paining him fearfully. He recognized his would-be assassin and told those attending him to look for Pearl Forrester.
Two bullets took effect, one going through his right shoulder and the other through his left thigh. Neither struck a bone or severed an artery. The bullets were of steel, and from a 38-calibre pistol. At first it was debatable as to whether it was a 32 or 38. Physicians were immediately summoned and they said that the wounds were not likely to prove fatal.

The Arrest
The time following was when the thoughts of everyone in the vicinity were in a panic. While the shooting was going on "Six-shooter Bill" Hutchinson was running. He soon returned and then aided in notifying the police and the doctors. During this time the woman disappeared.
Policemen Bart Shipp and Jap Phillips responded to the call. The carriage was there and as soon as they could learn anything of the situation directed to be taken to the spot the woman called the carriage.
On nearing the hotel a woman and a man were discovered on the opposite side of the street walking towards the railroad. Mr. Shipp was first out of the carriage and demanded "hands up Pearl." He recognized the woman by her walk for she is well known among the officers of Sherman and by all who watch the habits of those who frequent the city. She complied willingly and the couple were hauled to the police station.
The woman when arrested was bare-headed, wearing a white kimono which fell loose about the body and it was thin, although the night was cold. She also wore a light colored skirt. She was unarmed, not a single thing being found although searched carefully. At the station she laughed, talked to anyone but claimed ignorance of the crime. She occupied a seat on the office desk, facing the crowd that soon gathered, smoked cigarettes, one after another, and cursed her luck. Most of the time she was laughing.
Immediately following the arrest the police asked Mr. Cousins if a woman had used his phone a short time before and asked if he could identify her. He said he could, and when she was marched in the store he gave assurance that she was the same.

Evidence in the Case
Pearl Forester, or Pearl Foster, left the home of Emma Creed, a woman who was in jail here at the time with Pearl some time ago, and said that she was going to use a phone. Her brother was there and she told him that she was going to wear his overcoat and was given the permission. The overcoat was not to be located; neither is the pistol. This is the clue that there is for a possible accomplice in the scheme.
The woman arrested was seen running north on Crockett street soon after the shooting. She was attired as when arrested. She turned at Pecan street and again at Travis. At the corner of Travis and Mulberry she was met by Ed Chambers, a man who resides near the city, and the couple were later arrested. Mr. Chambers is believed to be innocent of any part of the affair and has been released having been only temporarily detained.
Mr. Hutchinson said that he could not identify the woman. The one arrested was not dressed like the one that got the carriage and drove to the scene of the shooting. He did not have an opportunity of seeing much of the one that claimed to be crippled.
Her brother, R. W. Fanning of Mt. Pleasant, admits that his coat is gone and that she wore it. He was here until late
yesterday and tried time and again to get the prisoner to tell him something of the affair, but she only pleaded ignorance of it. He said that he did not think she is guilty or he could have learned something. The reason he was here was because the girl is out on bond for alleged theft at Paris, and the case was set for today, so he was to get her to go.
The time of the shooting was 10:25 or 10:30 o'clock. The arrest was made a short time before 11 o'clock. About 12:30 Sunday morning she was registered in at the jail, charged with assault to murder. She phoned to Emma Creed and gave instructions to send her clothes, toilet articles, and two bottles of cold soda water to the jail at once. She was locked up about 1 o'clock yesterday morning.
May people were her guests yesterday. Officers and newspaper men as well as others tried in vain to get her to make a statement. She would merely laugh and say, "I haven't any case; they have the wrong one while the other gets away. But I always was accommodating."

The Prisoner
Pearl Forester, an assumed name of the daughter of an ex-county judge of Franklin county, ray away from home when she was about fifteen years of age and she is not much over twenty now according to the best information to be had. Her family is prominent, and she is well educated and good looking. It is said that the family knew nothing of her until she was placed in jail here several months ago on a charge of theft of diamonds at Denison. She plead guilty to a similar charge at Waco and was given two years in the penitentiary, after which she was again brought to Sherman and on August 8th, when Sellars Vines and Wood Maxey were hanged, Gov. O. B. Colquitt pardoned her of the Waco crime. The cases here were dismissed because of insufficient evidence to convict.
Since then she has again got into trouble at Paris. She has been seen on the streets every few days here during about the last three weeks. She was present at the hanging of Sam Jones on October 16th. Mr. Simmons was also present at that time.

Officers Busy
County Attorney Cal T. Freeman, who is to be succeeded in office by tomorrow's election by B. F. Gafford,  has been constantly on the case together with Mr. Gafford. Members of the police force and of the sheriff's department have been tireless in their searching. Immediately after the shooting officers began to search and keep watch on every road or train, which was continued.
Lee Simmons is getting along nicely today, although his wounds are serious and painful. Drs.  E. J. Neathery and E. D. Neer, who saw him about the middle of the morning and dressed the two wounds, said that he is doing fine. It cannot be told yet how long it will be before he can be allowed to leave the bed. An X-ray examination will be made as soon as he is able to be moved to the office of the physicians. It will probably be a day or two there is no probability of the wounds proving fatal.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, corner of Jones and Elm streets, has been the center of interest in Sherman since the shooting. Constantly the many friends of the wounded man are seeking to pay him a visit. This morning Mr. Simmons was allowed to sit up in bed, propped with several pillows in order that he might rest himself. He said that he was feeling very well but the wound through the right shoulder is paining him the most. That through the left thigh is not hurting so much, but the doctors think it possible the most serious. The former severed several nerves in the shoulder while the latter passed through the fleshy part of the leg, luckily missing the large arteries and the bone. Mr. Simmons was not allowed to sit up yesterday. He rested very well last night, getting naps for about thirty minute periods.
The sheriff-elect reiterated today that he recognized the woman, although he had only seen her a time or two before. After he hid behind the tree she searched for him and in doing so she turned and walked south directly facing a street light.
There is no suspicion against the man taken in custody at the time Pearl Forester was arrested or 'of the hack driver that drove the carriage which figured in the assault.'
The time for the examining trial has not been set. It depending on when the wounded man will be able to attend. The charge of assault to murder was entered against the woman and the examining trial will be before Justice T. W. Hudson.

pg 4
KNOWN IN DENISON
Pearl Forester's Beauty Was the Cause of Comment
Denison, Tex., Nov. 5 - Pearl Foster, or Pearl Forester, as she was known in Denison, came here last February. She registered at one of the leading hotels and remained several days. She made frequent visits to the local jewelry stores and appeared to be anxious to purchase diamonds. She called at Linn Bros.' establishment three times and shortly after her third trip a pair of diamond earrings, valued at more than $200, was found to be missing and a cheap glass pair substituted. The woman was also gone. Several days later she was arrested in Dallas and on February 20 she was given a preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace A. W. Mixson on a warrant charging her with theft of diamonds. She waived preliminary hearing and her bond was placed at $500 pending an investigation by the grand jury. She refused to answer the court's questions. Her striking beauty and daintiness of attire produced much comment when she was brought into court. Later she was released on bond and left Denison. The diamonds were never recovered. It is said that she has since been in Denison, having been seen on the streets here only a few weeks ago.



Sherman Daily Democrat
Tuesday, November 5, 1912
pg 1


MR. SIMMONS BETTER
WOUNDED MAN IS GETTING ALONG NICELY

There Have Been No Developments - Date Not fixed for the Preliminary Hearing of Woman

There has been no developments in the Lee Simmons shooting affair. Pearl Forester, the woman arrested Saturday night shortly after the shooting, and against whom a charge of assault with intent to murder was made, is still the only one arrested.
Sheriff-Elect Simmons rested well last night at his home, corner Elm and Jones streets, and today is feeling better.
Until yesterday afternoon the wound through the right shoulder pained him the most,  but today neither that or the one inflicted in the left thigh is hurting badly. It is not known when he will be able to be moved from his residence,
to undergo an ex-ray examination and to attend the preliminary hearing. The examining trial of the woman will not be until Mr. Simmons is able to attend.
At the jail Pearl Forester refuses to talk about the assault upon Mr. Simmons. She will talk of any other subject,
but continues to say that she knows nothing of the crime.



The Daily Herald
Weatherford, Texas
November 14, 1912
pg 1

WOUNDED SHERIFF TAKES OFFICIAL OATH IN BED

LEE SIMMONS, NOT YET ABLE TO BE OUT OF BED, PROPPED UP WHILE OATH IS ADMINISTERED.

By Associated Press
Sherman, Texas, Nov. 14 - Grayson county now has Lee Simmons for sheriff. He took the oath of office Wednesday at his home, corner Jones and Elm streets, while propped up in bed with pillows on account of wounds received in the right shoulder and left thigh Nov. 2, when he was shot by a woman. It is the first instance of the kind in the history of this county, or of any other recently. Mr. Simmons said that although he is not able to get about for several days, he is satisfied that he has a corps of deputies that can carry out the full requirements of the office.
Sheriff Lee McAfee retired from office yesterday and with him his assistants. The new force has taken full charge of affairs. However, members of the old force are showing the incoming crew the ropes.
County Attorney Ben F. Gallord, who assumed his official duties yesterday to succeed Cal T. Freeman, and County Clerk T. E. Goff officiated in administering the oath to Sheriff Simmons and his several deputies, most of whom were present at Mr. and Mrs. Simmons' residence when the oath was taken, and theirs was administered just following.



Amarillo Daily News
Amarillo Tx
Sunday, November 24, 1912
pg 1

WOMAN SHOOTER OFF TO PENITENTIARY
Special to Daily News
Paris, Texas. Nov. 23 - Linnie Davis, alias Pearl Forrester, the shoplifter who is charged with attempting to kill Sheriff Lee Simmons of Sherman left here tonight in charge of an officer bound for the penitentiary. Governor Colquitt having revoked her pardon recently granted by him for a conviction in Waco, Texas.
The woman was handcuffed by the officer in charge.



Sherman Daily Democrat
Monday, November 25, 1912
pg 1

GOVERNOR REVOKES WOMAN'S PARDON

PEARL FORESTER MUST SERVE TIME FOR CONVICTION OF THEFT AT WACO.

Pearl Forester, charged with assault to murder Sheriff Lee Simmons on Saturday night before the general election on Tuesday, is again in the Grayson county jail. She was brought here Saturday night by Deputy Sheriff Henry deSpain from Paris, where she was tried in one case for theft and given $1 fine and one day in jail. Two other cases against her there were continued.
Gov. O. B. Colquitt has revoked the pardon that he granted her after she was convicted at Waco some time ago. It was a conditional pardon based upon her agreeing to live the life of a law-abiding citizen. Since she has gotten into trouble here, at Paris and San Antonio he has ordered that she shall serve her term of two years sentence received at Waco. The governor sent the papers to the Sheriff at Waco, but he sent them to Sheriff Simmons who received them Friday, but no one was allowed to know anything of it until after Pearl had been brought from Paris.
Sheriff Simmons says the prisoner must be delivered to the penitentiary and before she is tried here. He will not say when she is to leave here. County Attorney Ben Gafford says it has not been decided if any examining trial will be held before she is taken away, but it is doubtful if there will.
It is learned that the sheriff at San Antonio holds a bench warrant for the woman to answer a charge there. The woman will likely be sent to the penitentiary right away and then she can be taken away from there to stand trial here and other courts when her cases are ready.
Pearl Forester, Pearl Foster, Minnie Davis, Mrs. Wm. Frost, etc., as the woman under arrest is known at different places, is not changed in the least since she left here two or three weeks ago to answer her case in Paris. She still refuses to talk about her case with reference to being under arrest for shooting Lee Simmons in the left thigh and right shoulder.
She knows that her pardon has been canceled, and laughingly said that just before she is taken to the penitentiary the Democrat may have her picture taken and print a big story. "Why man, you have known me long enough to know that I won't tell you anything," she said.



Sherman Daily Democrat
Thursday, November 28, 1912
pg 4

PEARL FORESTER
BOND IS $2,000

HELD FOR GRAND JURY ON THE CHARGE OF SHOOTING SHERIFF SIMMONS

TESTIMONY IN CASE

Sheriff Simmons Makes a Positive Statement That Woman
Held Fired the Shots That Wounded Him.

Pearl Forester was again brought into prominence yesterday afternoon when Justice T. W. Hudson heard the preliminary trial against her, charging that on the night of November 2nd she shot Lee Simmons at his residence, corner Jones and Elm streets. The defendant, represented by H. H. Cummins of Denison, announced that it was preferable to waive the examination and agree upon a bond. The state represented by former County Attorney C. T. Freeman and County Attorney B. F. Gafford, told the court that they wished the trial to be conducted. As a result the defense introduced no witnesses and did not ask but one or two questions on cross examination. After both sides announced finished, Judge Hudson asked concerning the defendant's financial circumstances allowing her to give bond and upon being assured that they were not good at this time, he ruled that she be bound over to await
the action of the grand jury on bond in the sum of $2,000.
Several witnesses for the state were not present for the preliminary hearing, therefore only a portion of the evidence was introduced in the hearing and the testimony brought on substantially the same points to have heretofore been recited through the columns of this paper.
Lee Simmons was the first witness. He testified that he is now sheriff of Grayson county, having assumed that office on November 13th. He said that he saw the defendant, Pearl Forrester, on November 2nd in front of his residence about 10:30 o'clock at night. Mr. Simmons recited the story of the shooting, saying that the first thing that he knows in connection with it was when a carriage drove up in front of his home. Soon afterwards a man appeared at his door and asked for him saying that there was a man in the carriage that wished to see him and that he was complaining of a lame foot so that he did not want to come to the house. Mr. Simmons, who had retired, dressed, and soon appeared at the cab. When he was close to the woman in it asked "Is this Mr. Simmons?" and as soon as he answered "Yes" she commenced to shoot.
He was shot in the right shoulder the first time, the he retreated from the carriage but received a wound in the left thigh, also a third shot took slight effect but was of minor importance. When he was wounded he dodged behind a tree in the yard and saw the person who assaulted him. She walked past him and to the corner taking pains to look in the ditch and under a culvert, all this time he was keeping the tree between her and himself. It was while the woman was searching that portion of the ground that he discovered who it was and he recognized her as Pearl Forester. This was made possible when she turned toward a light. Immediately afterward she began to run north on Elm street and he soon lost sight of her.
Mr. Simmons testified that the woman wore a black cloak or coat and had nothing about her head.
While Sheriff Simmons was telling the story as outlined above, the defendant gave close attention, all the while looking him straight in the face. When he answered the question stating positively that he recognized the woman who assaulted him as being Pearl Forester, the defendant, the expression on her face changed somewhat.
Emma Creed was the next witness called and she testified that her name was Emma Emmons but is commonly known as Emma Creed. She said that Pearl Forester was at her house on November 2nd. Witness was sick that day and when she saw Pearl she had on a gown, she did not know when she left the house that night, and did not know she was gone until just before she called her by phone - after she was in jail.
Victoria Quincey, colored, said that she saw Pearl Forester on the night Lee Simmons was shot. She was at the house with Emma Creed.
H. H. Cousins, druggist on East Mulberry street adjoining the Frisco Hotel, said that a woman wearing a black cloak and a black veil came to his store and used the telephone twice on the night of the shooting. Each time she called the Sherman Transfer company and asked for a cab to be sent to where the T. & P. crosses Mulberry street; her conversation indicated that she had called once before. He said that he would not swear that the defendant was the woman who did the talking, but in his best judgment and opinion she is.
L. C. Wilson, manager for the Sherman Transfer company, stated that he answered a call for a carriage three times on the night that Lee Simmons was shot, and from the same woman. He said that while he could not tell positively that the woman who ordered the carriage was Pearl Forester, in his judgment is was. Mr. Wilson explained that it was merely an accident that Bill Hutchinson happened to be sent on the call.
Bill Hutchinson, who drove the carriage that hauled the woman, from near the Frisco on Mulberry to the residence of Lee Simmons, was put on the stand. He said that a woman dressed in black stopped him near the Frisco hotel and responded affirmatively to the question that she was the one ordering a carriage. She told him to drive to Lee Simmon's residence and asked him if he knew where it was. He did not. She told him at the corner of Jones and Elm streets, from the interurban track on West Lamar on Elm south past a house and a barn, and being on the next corner. When the woman first got in the carriage she asked for the window in the door to be lowered, but for some reason it was hard to work and was not.
Upon arrival at the Simmons residence she told the driver to go to the door and tell Mr. Simmons that a party in the carriage wished to see him and that if he objected to coming out tell him that the party had a lame foot. She also gave him instructions to stand at the head of the horses when Mr. Simmons came out as she wished to speak to him privately. Mr. Hutchinson said that he heard only two shots, explaining that while the shooting was going on he was running. Everyone in the court room laughed when the witness testified about this, inclusive of defendant. Mr. Hutshinson could not say who it was that did the shooting.
Lucy Skinner, colored, who lives on Lamar street about a block from the Simmons residence, said that she heard the shots on the night of the shooting, and went out of her home to see if she could find anything wrong. She saw a woman cross Lamar street on Rusk street going towards the north.
E.S. Burdett and Jeff Reynold testified that they heard of the shooting Saturday night soon after it occurred and immediately left their rooms at the Y.M.C.A. and went to the Simmons residence.
E. A. Shock was also with them. Enroute each of them passed a woman dressed in white and bard headed. They gave close descriptions of her but could not say positively that defendant was the same. They saw the woman on Crockett and Pecan streets.
Ed Chambers, who was arrested with Pearl Forester soon after the shooting and taken to the police station with her but who was immediately released, was a concluding witness for the state. He said that he first saw defendant as she was crossing Travis street by the opera house and the federal building. He joined her at Walnut street and was with her when she was arrested.
Jim Brewster and Chas. Craig were two witnesses that were not present. Freeman stated that their testimony would be in effect to further trace her from the scene of the shooting to the place she was arrested.



The Courier-Gazette
McKinney
December 7, 1912
pg 2

Pearl Forrester, adventurer, shoplifter, pickpocket and all-round crook, according to the report of officers in various
towns in which she has operated, and under indictment for a murderous assault upon the person of Sheriff Lee Simmons of Grayson county, has been taken to Huntsville to serve a term of two years for theft. She was convicted of that charge in Waco. As soon as she has served her time, she will be brought to other North Texas towns for trial on various charged.



The Whitewright Sun
Saturday May 9, 1913
pg 3

The Pearl Forrester case was called for trial in the 59th Dist. Court Monday and the work of selecting a jury began.
On account of the notoriety of this case the selection of a jury will probably take some time. It will be remembered
that Pearl Forrester is the woman accused of calling Sheriff Lee Simmons to his door and shooting and seriously wounding him just after the election last November.



The Collinsville Times
Friday, May 9, 1913
pg 1

Court News
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Pearl Forester Gets Two Years
Sherman, May 7, - Pearl Forester was given two years in the state penitentiary on the charge of shooting Sheriff Lee Simmons.
The jury came in at noon today, after being out since last night.
The defendant was brought into court, but seemed to be very little concerned over the verdict.
On the night of Nov. 2, 1912, just before the election a woman drove to the home of Lee Simmons in this city, who
had just been nominated for the office of Sheriff of Grayson county, and calling him to the carriage, shot at him
five times. Two bullets took effect, one in his right shoulder and the other in his left thigh. Pearl Forester was
recognized by Mr. Simmons, and was arrested on her way back to her room in Mulberry Bend, and later was indicted for the crime.
A number of witnesses testified to seeing her on the night of the shooting.



The Whitewright Sun
Friday, May 23, 1913
pg 6

Seventeen Off for Penitentiary

Bud Russel, state penitentiary agent, was here today and took away with him seventeen Grayson county prisoners for the state penitentiary. They were as follows:
I. W. Fox, burglary, two years in each case;
Carlton Vance, burglary, two years;
Clem Hardesley, local option violation, two years;
Leonard Williams, burglary, two years;
Roger Pepper, burglary, two years;
Will Hendrix, burglary, two years;
Henry Burt, local option violation, one year;
George Watkins, local option violation, one year;
Will Stanfield, forgery, three years;
Jess Wren, bigamy, three years;
Earl Spivy, local option violation, one year;
James H. Fetter, local option violation, one year;
James H Fetter, local option violation in two cases, one year in each case;
Noah Giles, local option violation, one year in each of two cases;
Avy Edwards, local option violation, one year.
Pearl Forrester, the white woman who was serving a term in the state penitentiary for theft in Waco and who was brought to Sherman and tried on an indictment for shooting Sheriff Lee Simmons, was also taken back to the penitentiary.



Sherman Daily Democrat
June 25, 1914

Judge Instructs Jury To Return "Not Guilty" Verdict

Judge W. J. Mathis of the special district court, before whom Lee McAfee was being tried on an indictment charging him with assault to murder in connection with the shooting of Lee Simmons by Pearl Forrester at his home in this city on the night of Nov. 2, 1912, last night instructed the jury to find the defendant not guilty and the verdict was returned from the box, the jury never having retired.