The Oval Ballroom, originally part of the historic Halliday-Williams House in Fayetteville, was the scene of a tragic and mysterious event in 1849. On that fateful evening, Alexander C. Simpson was served a dessert of syllabub and coffee by his wife, Ann K. Simpson, in the presence of two witnesses. The room, now a freestanding structure with octagonal architecture and elegant plaster cornices, would soon be etched into the annals of local history for a far more sinister reason.
Shortly after consuming the dessert, Alexander fell gravely ill. Medical examinations later revealed that he had been poisoned with arsenic. This shocking revelation sent ripples through the community, forever linking the elegant Oval Ballroom to a tale of deceit and death.
Who Was Ann K. Simpson?
Ann K. Simpson was a woman whose life would become engulfed in controversy and notoriety when she became the first woman tried for murder in Cumberland County. Little is known about her early years, but she gained infamy after being accused of murdering her husband, Alexander C. Simpson.
Described by some as charming and by others as calculating, Ann's character became a focal point of intense scrutiny.
After Alexander's death, Ann was thrust into the spotlight, facing allegations that would later extend beyond North Carolina. Her life took a dark turn when she was accused of murdering her third husband while living in Minnesota. During that trial, the mysterious death of her second husband was also brought into question, painting a grim picture of a woman with a potentially deadly pattern.
Ann K. Simpson's trial for the murder of her husband Alexander was a sensational affair that captivated Cumberland County. The courtroom was packed with spectators eager to witness the proceedings, as the case had all the elements of a dramatic story: love, betrayal, and death.
Despite the damning evidence of arsenic poisoning, Ann was acquitted of the charges. The trial left the community divided, with some believing in her innocence and others convinced of her guilt. The acquittal did little to quell the rumors and suspicions that swirled around her, leaving a lingering sense of unease in the air.
The case of Alexander C. Simpson's poisoning was fraught with conflicting evidence and rampant speculation.
The key piece of evidence was the presence of arsenic in Alexander's system, but how it got there and who was responsible remained hotly debated. Ann's defense argued that there was no direct proof linking her to the poison, while the prosecution painted a picture of a calculated murder.
Witnesses provided varying accounts of the events leading up to Alexander's death, further complicating the narrative. Some speculated that Ann had long planned the murder, while others suggested that she was being framed. The lack of definitive evidence left the mystery unresolved, inviting endless theories and conjecture.
The aftermath of the Simpson case left an indelible mark on the community of Fayetteville. Ann K. Simpson's acquittal did little to restore her reputation, and she eventually moved to Minnesota.
Her subsequent conviction and execution for the murder of her third husband cast a shadow over her earlier acquittal, leading many to reassess their opinions of her involvement in Alexander's death.
The Oval Ballroom, a symbol of elegance and refinement, became a macabre landmark, forever associated with the chilling tale of arsenic poisoning.
The story of Alexander C. Simpson's untimely death continues to intrigue and haunt those who delve into the annals of local history, serving as a grim reminder of the darker side of human nature.

(Photo: The Oval Ballroom, a freestanding round structure at Heritage Square, is the site of the alleged poisoning of Alexander C. Simpson by his wife, Ann K. Simpson. Ann was convicted of killing her third husband in Minnesota, drawing the death of Alexander into question. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)