Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-18
EAM ON TRIAL
The Principal Of Sensational Murder Ar
raigned for His Crime.
II begun Showing How
Annie Leahy Was Brutality Killed
by Her Stepfather.

The sria1 Of Joseph A. Beam, charged with
the murder of Annie l.. Leahy. his step
daughter, at ner mothers home, 22G Mary
land avenue northeast, on the cd of last
December, was commenced this morning
before Judge Cole in Criminal Court No. 2.
The court room was crowded, and the de-
fendant white man. abous fifty years Of
age, sat back in mis- chair. back of his coun-
sci, Samuel D. Tr'litt and Jos. T. Dufrey
either twirling a pair Of old gloves or curl
ing or stroking his short auburn beard,
paying close attention to all said or done,
and apparently was one of the least con-
cerned men in the court room. The gov
eminent was represented by District At
torney Birney and his assistant Mr..
Tracey L. Jeffords. Contrary to general
expectation, little time was expended in Sc
curing jury, the following being selected:
Geo. w. Pitcher, John T.. Purcell, Danl. ].
Weyman. John Breen, Douglass Allen
VIM. g. Belts Charles Earl. Harry D. Cor,
w. Pittmaa and VIM. r. Bradford.
The District Attorneys Opening.
In opening the case. Mr.. Birney stated to
the jury that he expected to show that on
the day of the killing of the woman Beam
had called to see his wife. The deceased
met him at the door, refused to allow him to
enter, when she was shot down and kicked
by the man, who carried at the time two
revolvers The woman died almost instant
ly. said Mr.. Birney. and he would show
that her killing was the result Of Beams
hatred of her, and that the man had COM
mitted a most brutal, malicious murder
The defense reserved their opening, but it
is known that they will contend that Beam
is not guilty, because of insanity.
AS his first witness, Mr.. Birney called
Deputy Coroner GlaZebrook, who testified
to the making Of the autopsy. There was
found, he said, a bullet wound in the alb
domen, in the right breast and in the left
side, and bruises on the face, which, he
stated, could have resulted from blows Of
the mans foot.
He Saw the Crime.
DR.. D. Olin Leech testified to seeing Beam
about the house as he drove by, and Lizzie
B. Goetz, sister of the woman killed, tes-
titled as to relations of Beam with her sis
ter. Beam, she stated, neglected her mother
and the girls were compelled to support
their mother. The deceased, she said had
incurred enmity of Beam, and he would
strike at her and apply vile narnes to her.
He vas at length compelled to leave the
house.
Walter A. Bryan testified to seeing Beam
enter the house, and shortly afterward he
heard two shots. He ran across to the
house and saw Beam standing over the
woman, who lay dead in the yard. Beam
held a revolver In each hand. and In his
mouth held burning cigar. To the crowd
which was attracted Beam cried: Come
on. if you want more of 1t.
Benm's Behavior After the Shooting.
The witness stated that Beam subse-
quently told the crowd that II they want
ed him, to come on and take him. He con-
tinued to smoke the cigar until he was
carried off in the patrol wagon. To one
man, Beam, sticking one of the revolvers
1T, oh 10 hop 1c vv-ifh
the man. Representative Meiklejohn. said
the witness, subsequently caught Beam and
turned MIN over to the police.
VIM. H. Brown, young colored man,
gave similar testimony, and DR.. Jos. j.
kinyon Of the revenue marine service tes-
tilted to seeing the woman who was killed
run through the yard of the house scream
ing. The woman fell and witness ran to-
ward her, when Beam came around the
corner of the house, swearing chat he
would kill anybody who interfered. Beam
leveled revolver at him, and threatened
to kill him. Witness retreated, and shortly
afterward Beam was taken charge of. Wit
ness put him in a wagon and drove him to
the police station. On the way Beam said
that he had killed a brute and had done
justifiable thing.
Ready to Hang.
On cross-examination witness repeated
the story of the shooting and said that
Beam made the remark, Il have done a
pious deed; am ready to hang" He also
made the remark, "She has made my life
a hell"
Charles A. Darling was the next witness.
He was attracted to the scene of the trag-
edy by seeing a crowd. When he got off
his bicycle he saw Beam standing on some
thing. and when he got close to the fence
he saw the woman lying on the ground
AS his foot fell upon the wonan's head he
said, die, d. you, die
The prisoner threatened to use his pistol
on persons at the fence, and afterwards
he said. IF you people follow me I'll
shoot"
When witness had told of the arrest of
Beam he said Beam made use of the lam
guage I've put five bullets N you; I've
killed you. and I'm ready to ang.'
Witness was asked how ma ny times he
had seen him stamp on tive woman's
head, and he said two or three times, at
least.
when you saw him stamping on the
young woman's head, what did you do?'
he was asked on cross-examination.
Il said, - - stop that, answered
witness, land Beam said, Go away from
the fence, or I'll kill you"
did you go?'
Il did at that time
Policeman Wagner was the next witness,
and he was on the stand when this report