Evening star., 1895-03-20
DRAWING TO A CLOSE
Evidence in Rebuttal in the Beam Muir
der Trial
Government Attacking the Insanity
Plea-The Prisoners Actions in
Jail Since the Crime.

The efforts of counsel for Joseph A.
Beam, charged with the murder of Annie
L. Leahy, his stepdaughter, on the 22d Of
last December, to show that the man was
not responsible because of insanity, were
continued today before Judge Cole and a
jury in Criminal Court No. 2. The trial
attracts quite a large attendance, and the
conduct of Beam in court is closely watch
ed by the curious throng. The man con-
tinues to be apparently the least concern
ed person in the court room, and, as he
strokes his red beard and gazes out Of the
windows, paying little attention to the
testimony, his appearance is that OF man
decidedly bored by the proceedings. YES
terday and today DR.. John B. Chaplin of
Philadelphia, the expert in insanity, who
testified on behalf of the government IN
the Schneider murder case. occupied seat
in the court room, for the purpose OF con-
sidering the testimony Of the defense and
to observe the conduct of the alleged muir
derer. 1t is understood that DR.. Chapin
has examined Beam at the jail. and ne Is
expected to be a witness for the govern
ment in rebuttal of Beams insanity.
Regarded as Insane.
After The Stars report Of the case closed
yesterday Oliyer T. Beaumont, an inspector
in the health office, stated that he had
known Beam from boyhood. and he regard
ed him as insane. Beam was peculiar in
boyhood. and often read the Bible over a
pauper's grave near the school house, ex-
planning that the dead man could hear
him. Several times he saw Beam address,
ing cattle, he claiming that the beasts un-
derstood all he said. About ten days be-
fore the killing Of Mrs. Leahy, said the
witness. Beam told him that he had just
returned from England. where, at the re-
quest of Queen Victoria. he had investii
gated the labor question. Beam stated that
in his report to the queen he had held the
trouble. and that he intended blowing them
to hell.
did you then regard Beam as insane?"
asked Mr.. Birney.
II did, replied the witness.
Ibid you inform the health officer or
the police Of the mans threat"'
mo, sir; did not 3
Don't you think you neglected your
duty as public official in failing to do SOP
"No sir, for I didn't believe Beam would
do anything of the kind
Several witnesses were examined yester-
day and this morning on behalf of the
defense, tending to show Beam to be
cranky or insane. and shortly before noon
today the testimony for the defense was
concluded.
In Rebuttal.
AS his first witness in rebuttal. District
Attorney Birney called Policeman Charles
]. Wagner. who stated that Beam talked
intelligently at the time of the tragedy,
and the officer also stated that Beam had
several times been arrested for assault
and threats, and that he had seen Beam
intoxicated several times. Justice Of the
Peace Sam1 c. Mills stated that he had
known Beam for several years, and re-
garded him as an intelligent man, and of
sound mind. He had seen him under the
influence Of liquor.
Fred. W. Pilling. a builder. for whom
Beam had worked, stated that he did not
consider him insane, but peculiar. obsti-
nate and pigheaded. He was good work.
man, doing his work well.
At the Jail.
James w. Walters, jail guard, testified
as to Beams conduct and habits at the
jail, stating that the man ate and slept
well, talked intelligsntly, and conversed
intelligently last night about the trial.
The man enjoyed good health, and he had
increased In weight since his committal to
Jail. James Woodward. another Jail
guard gave similar testimony.
Daniel w. Shute. the Jail physician. stat
ed that he had conversed with Beam sew
eral times. but the man always declined to
discuss the shooting Of Mrs. Leahy, ex-
planning that he preferred to discuss 1t only
with his counsel The man slept well, ate
heartily and had no hallucinatiOnS. Last
night, however, Ream talked Tor half an
hour with DR.. Chaplin.
Police Sergeant e. ]. Wall stated that
Beam had been arrested several times for
assault and drunk and disorderly conduct.
He never noticed anything irrational in the
mans conduct or conversation. Policeman
Frank p. Smith gave similar testimony,
stating that Beam went on Sprees and had
been convicted of assaulting his stepdaugh-
ter.
Station Keeper VIM. H Burkhart of the
ninth precinct testified to Beams several
arrests for assaulting his wife and like Of
fenses. The mans conduct was that Of a
man in liquor. Otherwise his conversation
and conduct were those of a sane man. Wit
ness talked with Beam few hours after
the killing of Mrs. Leahy. when the man
explained that the shooting Of the woman
was not premeditated, but the result OF
impulse.
MIR. Burkhart was followed on the stand
by Policeman Michael G. Flynn, Policeman
Henry Ehlers, Henry H. Fisher and DIR.
John B. Chaplin. The latter gave expert
testimony in regard to insanity.