The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-02
BEAT Her SIX HOURS
An ~EnglishWomans Story
About Her Naughty Ger.
man Spouse.
KISSES IN A PRISON CELL
The Husband Says His Wife Has
Wheels in Her Head
Nominal Penalty.
KISSES In A PRISON CELL


J. Herbert Beckin, a German who has
an English wife, was tried in the Special
Sessions Court this morning for assault
and battery upon her. The couple lived
at No. 365 Cliff street, West Hoboken.
Mrs. Beekin testified that on the night
Of March 6 her husband began to beat
her at 3 o'clock and kept IT up eontin-
uonsly until 3 o'clock the following morn-
ing He punched her in the back, stood
on her with one foot and kicked her
with the other. He beat her in several
languages. and when he got tired he
went 10 sleep, after telling her that he
had given her a good beating. Lawyer
Speer, who appeared for the defendant,
endeavored to inject into the case testi-
mony to show that the complaint was
~instigated by a Mrs. Davis.
you ind Mrs. Davis did talk about
this matter, didn't you?'
Il object to that question: said Mrs.
Beckin. She was instructed to answer
the question.
Didn't you kiss your husband when
you visited him in the cell?'
NO: sir; l did not; he kissed me-"
Did you not testify before the Re-
corder that your husband beat You 50
badly that electric sparks came out of
Yes. sir; but that was only a figure
of speech
The witness made several objections to
the lawyers. questions.
The defendant went on the stand and
testified that he never struck his wife.
He always petfed her and coaxed her
and was a model husband. His wife. he
said, was mentally affected. She inagin-
ed that she was a Princess. She had
a particular weakness for motormen and
conductors, wrote letters to them and
made them presents. One particular con-
ductor captured her fancy to such an
extent that she made several trips with
him nearly every day. She told her
husband one time that she was unable
to tell the truth. Every time she tried
to make a true statement it choked in
her throat. She told some one that
every time her husband tried to choke
q devil out Of her he only succeeded in
putting seven more devils into her.
Oscar F. CUM testified that Beckin
sent for him to consult him about his
wife's condition. Mr.. Gunz sent for Mrs.
Beckin with a view of rying to patch
up whatever difficulties might exiss be-
tween the couple. He became convinced
after a short time hat the woman was
highly and irrational. The first day she
confessed that she had held improper re-
lations with other men. The next day
she denied all that and said that she
had been guilty Of nothing more thai
flirting with motormen and conductors.
She admitted that she wrote letters to
them and made them presents. Mr..
Gunz testified that he had read the let
ters and he considered them fairy tales.
They were ~fanciful and fun of imagina-
ton. but cleverly constructed. Judge
Hudspeth found rhe defendant tecilnic-
ally guilty of simple assault and SEN
fenced Beckln to one day in the County
Jail and costs. The Assistant Prosecutor
wanted the sentence postponede because
It is alleged that Beckin is wanted for
other crimes and that the New York
Society for the Prevention of Crime
wants to get hold of him