Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-04
Eager Crowds Pressing For Sight
of Miss Biechler.
THE DEFENDANT MAKES A SCENE
Several witnesses Are Introduced
Who Tell Their Tedious Stories
Again and Again--Notcs
and Incidents.
The Hecnnd DnY.

iuB W hhOW tudb bht Juipis, WIN puc pAtoP-
ton, reside within the corporate limits Of
Omaha. Every one of them had heard more
or less about the case, had read extended
newspaper accounts of it, talked about it,
formed opinions, but have no prejudices,
conscientious scruples or set notions, that
cannot be changed or removed entirely by
es mony. The jury sizes up very, credit
ably. II is an intelligent and good looking
body Of men. L. Shply is the only country
man or farmer. He lives in the north part
of the county, and had been in
the city about, fifteen minutes when
him. He has $50 worth of fruit
trees lying at the depot, and
came down to get them. "You bet ex-
pected to return home,"' said Mr.. Shiply,
land was in any other than q summer sigh
humor when they caught me on this thing"
THE SPECTATORS.
Thecrowd began to assemble in the morning
very early. At O'Clock four dizzy looking
females were knocking at the door and iani-
tor Mike Lahey, let them in. BY 8 O'Clock
the auditorium seats were filled, the compe-
ment of feminnity of all shades and degrees
of styles, beauty aud loveliness, being much
greater than Tuesday. During Clerk
Moore's reading of the journal, Judges Croft
Doane and Hopewell occupied the bench
Sheriff Coburn brought Miss Biechler in and
gave her the seat she occupied Tuesday.
She looked much better, chatted cheerily
with her attorneys, smiled and looked about
the crowd and the jury. She acknowledged
having had a good nights sleep, and to
feeling free from the nervousness natural to
the opening days proceedings. While con-
versng with General Cowin the prisoner had
her attention called to movement
on the part of County Attorney Mahoney,
who arose and commenced an address to the
jury in which he related the story of the
great tragedy, enacted on Saturday morning,
November II last, at the Paxton hotel.
While listening to the recital of this exciting
event, Miss Biechler sat with her eyes closed
evidently revolving in her mind her inter-
view with young King the shooting and
wild scenes of that morning in which she
played such a terrible part. Two or three
tunes the lids of her eyes lifted and she was
noticed to glance rather wickedly at the
county attorney.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Mr.. Mahoney's presentation Of the
case was in substance a verbal
review of facts that have already been told
in print and are familiar to the public. He told
how she came to Omaha from Chicago, sought
young Kings quarters at the hotel, what is
known to have passed between them there
and described the shooting. According to
Mr., Mahoney's information, and as he will
attempt to prove, the first shot was fired
while King was In the act of pushing bell
button in the parlor of the hotel 1t took
effect in his back. Two more shots were
fired while both the victim and his slayer
were passing from the paror towards the
going down to the first landing. There and
in front o. large plate glass mirror he fell
and died. Her arrest and incarceration fol-
lowed.
''What the motives for this murder were
willn said the prosecutor "be shown in the
testimony to be introduced. What the rela-
tions between young King and this defend
ant were, and the. cause leading up to his
violent death, will be brought out through
letters and Witnesses to be introduced" Mr.
Mahoney went over the story Of their meet
ing in Cleveland, subsequent domestic life
as husband and wife under the name of LIE
Garde at Quincy, H., at which time he was
travelling representative for the firm Of
Browning, King s. Co. After a year or SO
there. they became separated. Young Kings
friends in Chicago learned of his career with
her and broke it off as far as they could.
After they had been living apart awhile,
she wrote him letter, pleading to be taken
me, God help you, / will kill you"
The remainder of his address related prn-
cipally to the character of the testimony
which would be introduced.
In answer, Mr. Gown said: 'If the court
please, gentlemen of the jury: For great
many years discarded the practice of max
ing opening statements in the criminal de-
fense. That is an old practice. L don't pro-
pose to detail to you the testimony now
one going over the narrowing story will an
swer. You will see that this,s not the case
of the State of Nebraska VS. Elizabeth Biech-
leF OT flllZdDtlu hlHBy Dut, VIC pTOoCCu-
tion, or case of Henry w. King against
Elizabeth Biechler. She has
NO OCCASION TO BE PROUD
OF her marriage with Henry W. King"
At this declaration Miss Biechler buried
her white face in her handkerchief. Her
frame began to tremble, and it was.plain
that she was severely affected. Then as the
attorney was about to continue she leaped to
her feet with startling suddenness and,
with q shrek that rang through the court
room, started almost every one to his feet,
She followed this with shriek after shrek,
staggering bhndly backward until her head
came in contact with the bench, when
Sheriff Coburn rushed forward and grasped
her in his arms. Shrieking like maniac,
she fought him off, and, had it not been for
the prompt assistance of the deputies,
the sheriff to control her. When in
the grasp of two or three men
she struggled desperately, crying in piercing
tones. "Doht! let me alone! oh oh don t
mercyp There was nothing OF the actress
In this thrilling scene. 1t was real ana ter.
rible, case of genuine acute hysteria, and
something
THAT WILL sTARTLE
many of the audience in the midst of their
nightly slumber for many year. The
wretched woman was finally carried into the
consultation room and u temporary delay
took place in the proceedings of the trial.
In about five minutes Miss Biechler was
escorted back INTO the courtroom, and the
sharp lines upon her face told of the terrible
strain she had just gone through She
quietly resumed her seat.
"This defendant" continued Mr.. Gown,
sis now about twenty three years old and
was born in England. She came to this
country at the age of fourteen. She met
King about the time of the Haymarket riots
in Chicago, and he asked her hand in mar.
riage. The DOOR, helpless thing told him her
life; told him how, under promise of mar.
riaee, she had been betrayed. She promised
TO marry him. Together, they went to scme
point In Missouri and were made
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
They then went to Quincy and lived under
the name of lie Garde. This was done to
prevent young Kings father knowing OF
their marriage. When II did become known
their relations were forcibly broken up"
The transaction, heretofore made known
by which she, for consideration, signed an
agreement releasing Henry King from all
rotations, was characterized by MIR. Gown
as piece of forcible effort ON the part OF II.
". King, sr., aud lawyer cver weak
woman.
The attorney caused another sensation in
the audience by asserting with much display
of feeling that, from October IL, 1886, to the
present time, he deted any man to say
nught against tho conduct or character oi
this woman. "And wish TO serve notice
here aud now that II any witness is intro
daeed ON this stand TO blacken her character
he 10 q
KiNG-BouGHT PzRJuREg."
Judge Groff interrupted the attorney with
.l.sa..,asiau M tho affact that an eh IN M