Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-25
BEAM WAITING FOR DEATH
His Lawyer Calls on Him to Bid Him Fare
we'll.
The Condemned Man Seemingly Con-
tented to Die-NOw in Guitenu's
Cell.

With less than twenty-four hours be-
tween him and eternity, Joseph A. Beam,
the murderer of Annie L. Leahy. his step
daughter. talks today as calmly of his step
irto the world beyond as if it were but an
earthly journey. Like Christ" he eX-
claimed to Mr.. Samuel d. Truitt of his
counsel this afternoon. II am to be cruel
fied-made example of; but my death
will be less painful than crucifixion, and
am content to co.
In company with a Star reporter. Mr..
Truitt called at the Jail this afternoon to
bid Beam farewell. The lawyer was ap-
parently much more moved than Beam,
and the murderer observed it. for he re-
marked: Don't have any fears about me.
I have none. If had, do you suppose that
L would be as steady as l ann" And to
show that he was unmoved the man held a
book upon his hand, balancing it without
the slightest tremor.
His Wife Did Not Call.
The unfortunate mans wife, the mother
of the woman he killed. did not call upon
him today, as was anticipated, and Beam
expressed himself being glad that she
did not. Not that do not love her," he
explained, but because poor mother could
not bear the ordeal. She is the only tie
which binds me to earth, and l would do
anything to spare her pain. Tell her that
L
that 1 have made my peace with God. and
will die bravely and confident of peace and
rest hereafter"
Beam, speaking Of the suit of new
clothes which the warden had provided for
him tomorrow. thought that the money
had been uselessly expended. 81 want to
be cremated and would like to walk to the
scaffold in a white robe. So the money
could have been saved. But II they will
see that 1 am cremated l won't object to
wearing the clothes"
The murderer told his counsel that he
as going to make will. not that he had
much to dispose of, but that he wanted to
en- Join therein upon him that his wishes
as to cremation should be fully carried out,
and begged Mr.. Truitt to be sure to see
that 1t was done. The action of the Presi-
dent yesterday in declining to interfere
was made known to Beam last evening.
but he was apparently not disappointed,
and SO remarked. Today, however. he re-
ferred to the President in any but COM
plimentary terms, remarking that the
President was too stubborn to listen to his
appeals.
In Guiteau's Cell.
Beam now occupies the cell occupied by
Gulteau when Sergt- Mason shot at him,
| and when he was removed to 1T few days
ago, the prison cat, between which and the
| man a great friendship exists. followed
| him there and now spends all of its time
| in the cell, sleeping on the mans cot.
Beam IS unusually iona OF the amman. anu
| remarked today that he would rather have
| it with him than any human being. Here
| tofore Beam has been very profane. but
| today he gave way to profanity in but few
| instances. Fathers McAtee and Dolan
were with him several hours this morning.
| and he assured them that he was prepared
| to die, and would die repentant. He told
| his counsel this afternoon. however, that
| he was going to come back after he had
| been hanged, solely for the purpose of
| rasping the feet of those here who had, he
| declared bounded the life out of him. He
| felt that all had been done for him that
| could have been done. and thanked Mr..
| Truitt and Messrs. Duffy and Cranshaw,
| who called later in the day to bid him fare
| well.
Warden Leonard has everything in read
| mess for the execution, and Beam will be
hanged about IL 30 tomorrow morning. The
| crowd will. 1t is expected. be smaller than
| at. the execution of Travers last Friday.
| although the warden has had many more
| applications for invitations to the execu-
ton. Beam scouts at the idea that he will
| weaken, and today he is quietly awaiting
the hour when he will pass from this to the
| world unknown. He eats as heartily as
| ever and enjoys a tremendous ap-
| petite. When not conversing with the death
| watch. who sits just outside his CELL Beam
| is reading his Bible and prayer book He
| assured The Star man that he had nothing
| to say for publication, remarking that the
world was hardly interested in him, and II
| it was he would be totally forgotten in q
| weeks time.