Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-19
INSANITY THE PLEA
Defense Commences in the Beam Murder
Trial
Testimony as to the Prisoners Mental
COHditiOn-PeOple Who Thought
Him Cranky. .4

The trial Of Joseph A. Beam, charged with
the murder of his stepdaughter, Annie L.
Leahy, on the ODD of last December, was
resumed before Judge Cole in Criminal
Court No. this morning.
After The Stars report of the case closed
yesterday afternoon, Policemen Chas. ].
Wagner. James T. Roelf and Henry p. Cat
tell testified as to the actions of Beam
shortly after the tragedy. The former saw
Beam run after the screaming woman, and
after she fell. saw him kick her and stamp
upon her. Beam, said Officer Wagner,
turned upon him, and, covering him with a
revolver, exclaimed: "I'll kill you, too
With the testimony of the policemen the
government rested its case. Mr.. Samuel d.
Truitt opened the case to the jury on be-
half Of the defendant, explaining that they
would show that Beam had been of I'M
was not responsible for the woman's death
because of his insanity. AS their first wit
ness the defense called Jas H. Coster of
Baltimore, Nd Beam, he stated, possessed
violent temper and the witness related
an instance. when.a Beam being left to care
for a girl who had fallen in fit, both were
discovered to be engaged in hair-pulling
match few minutes later. Two days after
Beams first marriage, said the witness.
Beam remarked that he intended to kill his
wife or reform her.
The lrst witness called by the defense to-
day was r. Bowie HOLLAND. Beam he re-
gardeo as very peculiar man, and once
said the Witness, when Beam was asked
10 give an estimate on some work the
the administration, DECLARING that Cleve-
land was running the country. The wit
ness admitted to District Attorney Birney
that he could not say that Beam was not
Jas NJ York stated that the general be-
lief among people who knew Beam was
that the mans mind was not sound. VIM.
g. Goodwin, stating that he had known
Beam for fifteen years, and had worked
with him, declared that the man. was not
right. Once Beam had told him that he
could build stairs UP to :he moon. He
met Beam a short time before the muir
der when the man appeared to be wrong
in some way, so much SO, said the wit
| ness, that he became alarmed and en-
deavored to get away from him. While ne
had known Beam to take an occaslonai
drink. he had never seen him intoxicated
Beam would easily lose his temper, and
used vile, abusive language.
Very Peculiar.
Geo. W. Schneider. a clerk in the city
post office, stated that he considered Beam
"ratty"
What is the significance Of that term?"
inquired Judge Cole.
well, a little off, not of right mind" ex-
planned the witness.
Beam, he said. was very peculiar, ram
bling in his conversations.
Ibid you ever see him intoxicat ed?' ask
ed Mr.. BirEey.
"Qh, yes, often" replied the witness.
staggering drunk?'
Eyes, sir.
VIM. E. Sebur spoke of Beam being Pc
culiar, although, he said, the man was In
owl q RI
queer ideas, stated the witness, and was
difficult to take orders from. Once he knew
of Beam going. to work In a SILK nat and
kid gloves and his very best clothes.
To Mr.. Birney the witness stated that
Beam was a very profsne man. OFTEN talked
upon religious matters. but never knew him
to lose his temper, and never was AFRAID
of him.
Henry s. Jean Of Maryland stated that he
knew the defendants father well, and the
father was generally regarded as crazy,
although he never was confined as or legal
ly declared insane. He also knew the De
PENDANT as a boy, and while he regarded
him as peculiar, he knew Of no specific acts
of insanity or unsoundness of mind.
You regarded MIN as general bore
did you not?" inquired Mr. Birney-
/ Yes. sir; and j. always avoided him, the
boy not being. in my opinion, altogether
right" explained the witness.
John H. Lewis, a builder, testified that
| Beam at times would be unusually polite,
| and at other times would suddenly fly into
passions and become profane and abusive
| He had peculiarities, but always was a
good workman, although he would never be
| dictated to by any one. He was always
| tenacious in holding on to his own ideas
| and when he found fault with his fellow
workmen, would curse and abuse them, and
| he often drove them out of the building
| He had seen him intoxicated.
| James A. Rodbird stated that he hao
| worked with him and had employed him
| He regarded him as crazy. ..e.,7.-
IN
| pIoy a crazy mani" asked Mr.. Birney.
| II do" replied the witness.
7 What did he do or say to induce you tc
| believe that Beam was crazy?'
| Cant remember"
did his work well. did he not?'
| Eyes. SIR" --r"-- "
| Further Testimony.
| Henry w. Smith related an instance
when Beam called for an estimate on ma
| terial, and, when 1t was being made, sud
| denly declared that he did not want it.
Thomas Dawson spoke of Beam wearing
| glass studs and rings, which the man de
clared were diamonds. He knew Of Bean
suddenly discha-ging his helpers in the
| morning and taking them back before
noon.
John L. Clokey, for whom Beam hat
| worked, stated that he considered the :laI
singular or cranky. On one occasion Bean
| met him and became so wild that witness
| suddenly left him.
| His actions and remarks then were not
| inconsistent with those of drunken man
were they?" asked Mr.. Birney.
| mo. sir; but 1 didn't think he wa:
| drunk answered the witness.
| Ward Morgan said he knew Beam ent
| always regarded him as peculiar. He
| would start off discussing one matter ant
| run into others Without finishing any CT
| them. The man appeared to be peculiar
only in conversation. He belonged to 6
| labor union, and often made gooc
| speeches.