The Portland daily press., 1895-09-05
Hearing on the Case Of Mrs. Beard
Of AndOVer.
WHO MADE A MURDEROUS AS
SAULT ON HER DAUGHTER.
At Their Cottage at Old Orchard Recently
She Will Be Committed to the Insane
Asylum at Once.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J

ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J
Old Orchard, Sept 4.-Dressed in sombre
attire her features shaded byEa black lace
veil and with her eyes fixed on the car
peted floor Mrs. Frances R Beard OF An
dover, Mass, occupied a plush cushioned
chair in the cosey Odd Fellows hall this
afternoon and meekly submitted to the
COURTS action in her case.
Since the early morning of Aug. g.,
when she used hatchet on the heads OF
her daughter, Miss Josephine Beard, and
her college mate, Miss Winona GRAHAM
of Andover, Mass. Mrs. Beard has given
evident proof of her insanity. by her
stoical GOODNESS and lack of emotion. EShe
is ever ready. to recall her murderous fact,
but whenever she is questioned regarding
the cause she repeats the answer made
to her custodian on the. day. OF her..arrest,
that the time spent in her daughter S
chamber with the bloody hacthet in her
hand, was all blank to her.
1t was nearly 2 o'clock this afternoon
when Mrs. Beard entered the hall, ac-
companied by her custodian and her nep-
hew, S. A. Dodge. She looked neither to
the right or left as she walked slowly
toward the fathermost corner, and there
was assigned seat. Her attorney, ex-
Mayor j. o. Bradbury of Saco, conversed
with her and read to her and the nephew
thai section of the revised statutes which
outlines the method Of procedure in Grim
%bo Iafo c q T,1t,q nf
insanity. Mrs. Beard appeared to under
stand the full purport of the statute. She
was willing, she said, to be dealt with
in whatever way was for the best.
About O. 80 O'Clock Trial Justice Ii. M.
Yates came in and took seat behind
the desk. After few minutes consulta-
tion of attorneys, Mr.. Bradbury announced
that, in view of the respondent S mental
condition, and acting according toathe
wishes of her friends, an examination
would be waived, SO that thescourt might
issue mittimus for hericommittal to
the county Jail. He explained that this
formal action must be ktaken. before the
Supreme Courtscan act on petition for
the respondents removal to the insane
hospital.
Justice Yates found probable cause,
and bound the prisoner over to the grand
jury of the September term of the Su-
prem6 Court, TO Do nelu db Ailfoo
The mittimus will not be issued till
Saturday Fearing that Incarceration in
a cell might cause her to become wholly
bereft of reason, she will be placed under
keeper in Sheriff. ..Hurd's apartments
at the jail Her confinement there will
be of very brief duration, as her counsel
expects to have the papers ready on Mon
day for her removal to the Augusta hos
pital.
The grand jury will probably indict
her on the charge Of murder, which she
is now held, but there is no liability of
the case ever being tried, as she is likely
to spend the remainder Of her days. il. an
asylum.
The daughter. who is still at the Nj Maine
General Hospital, is not yet beyond dan
ger but the prospects are in favor OF her
recovery. Miss GRAHAM, the Andover
young lady, who shared the hatohet
blows, has fully recovered, but she will
carry for the remainder Of her life scar
as reminder of her narrow escape from
being murdered.
Mr.. Dodge tonight was given the keys
of 'sSleepy Hollow" Mrs. Boards cot
atge, in which the murderous assault
took place, and he took charge Of her be-
lOngingS.