Daily Republican., 1883-04-26
Letter from Maryland.

DENTON, Caroline Co., Md, April
M.-The Circuit Court of Caroline
County met in special session at 1880
.. IN. to-day to try Mrs. Frances Belle
Beachamp, for killing her husband at
their home at Concord on Sunday, De-
cember 81, 1852. Precisely at 10o'clock
Judge Stump took the bench and was
Joined by Judge Wickes at l.SOp p. N.
Immediately after the Court was called
the prisoner was placed in the dock, and
to the Indictment answered "not gull
ty." OF the SO regular and tally list
not one half was exhausted until y jury
was obtained. Only an hour and Q
quarter was spent in obtaining the
fury. The gentlemen selected are re-
garded as very intelligent and fair
minded men-a first class jury. The
States Attorney, Col. Joshua G. Bry-
ant, commenced his Introductory ad-
dress at 1910 p. M, and spoke for As
minutes, when George M. Russum
made an eloquent appeal in behalf of
the defendant, occupying 36minutes.--
Col. Bryant's plea was strong, clear and
comprehensive. One of his sentences
was that, unfortunately Martin Beach.
amp few years ago had moved to Con-
cord where wickedness was past
time and crime fascination" He sta
ted that on the oath Of April, 1873, they
were married and that now, on the day
Of the 10th anniversary of their mar
riage, she was arraigned and on trial for
her life for administering strychine in
his coffee, and thereby causing his death
in a few minutes. She was then 18, now 20;
he 26 now in eternity. He pictured
her infdelity to her husband, her in
timacy with Mr.. Carlisle, and her para
mour. James Ahearn.
The following gentlemen compose the
jury
Thomas +. Cochran, Matthew Carey,
John r. Griffith, John G. Fleeter, JOS
eph Douglass, Henry G. Culbreath
Earnest Downs, William H. Mowbray,
Charles H. Whiteley, Joseph Dorrell,
William Massey, Richard j. Carter.
The first witness called on the part of
the prosecution was Thomas Lewis, who
testified that he lived about 400 yards
from Beachamp was sent for, and
was there about six minutes before his
death, which took place between 8 and
9 o'clock. a. m. None present but hsr
little child and boy, who came for him,
who before Beachamps death he sent
for Pat. Wright. At his death she
seemed greatly distressed-stated that
her husband came home the evening
before sick and that they were both ill
and ate no supper or breakfast-she OBJ
jected to an inquest said that if he was
poisoned she didn't know how he got it.
At p. IN. Court adjourned until 6.
EVENING SESSION.
Pat. Wright testified : Arrived at
Beachamp's before nine o'clock Sunday
morning, December 31st; Homer, the
boy, came for him; found Mrs. B. in
great distress at her request went to
Ahern's store for burying clothes also
attended to other arrangements for
funeral; Ahern went with him to
Beachamp's.
DR.. John w. Hignett testified that he
was sent for; arrived at Beachamp's at
/ or 2p. IN. on the day of his death
Mrs. Beachamp in great agony said if
her husband was poisoned she didn't do
it; had never seen strychnine in her
life; objected to a post-mortem exami-
nation; said her husband had always
objected to being cut open after death;
was present at the post-mortem exami-
nation on Monday; Mrs Beachamp was
in great distress; had nervous convul-
sions Ahern was there, held her by
the hand and endeavored to calm her.
DR.. w. H. Downs, of Denton, testi-
fed that he conducted the post-mortem
examination on Monday put the
and the contents of the stomach
in a glass jar and took them to Balti-
more, and delivered the same to Prof.
VIM. T. Tousey, of Baltimore; two
weeks subsequently exhumed the body
and removed the liver, the two kidneys
and spleen, and also delivered the same
to Prof. Tousey; was his opinion that
he died of poisoning.
The fact was brought out by the wit
nesses that she had great fears that the
would be blamed on her, and
that she was innocent, and also that
both she and Ahern objected to post
mortem examination, and that they
were in great hurry to get him buried.
Attorney Gibson, of Easton, an able
lawyer, is assisting States Attorney
Bryant in the prosecution.
At o'clock p. IN. the court journed
to meet at 930 a. m. tomorrow (Wednes-
day. Some one hundred and thirty
Or more witnesses have been summoned
to court, and the trial bids fair to be
lengthy The courthouse was over
and the excitement very great.
VIDI.