The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-23
SAY MRS. BEACH Is MAI.
MUSTER OF AFFIDAVITs AGAINST
A COMMISSION IN LUNAOY.

ApoAO" AN 1NNAO1s
Her Husband. RoGcrs. the Mediurn. Make. Ono
OF Thein. and she Tells the story OF Her
MnrrinEe-wanta Her Children TO Account
TO Her for Her Fortune or HAIR O Million.
The motion OF Frederick c. Beach and Mrs.
Jennie Beach Casper, the only children of Mrs.
Harriet Eliza Beach, widow Of Alfred @. Beach,
who was editor Of the Scientific american, for
an inquiry into tho mental condition OF their
mother, met with strong opposition yesterday
on the argument before Justice Lawrence In tho
Supreme Court, Tho children say that their
motheris unable to take care Of her property, and
that she 10 under tho influence Of Henry Rich
ardson Rogers, q spiritualistic medium whom
she married at Alexandria, Egypt, last January.
Mrs. Rogers, who is 90 years old, IL now in
Parls. She executed two afldavits in opposition
to the motion. She has believed In spiritualism
for several years, and her belief led to many dis
sensions with her husband. who diod in Janu-
airy, 1896. six days before her return from q
trip to Europe. She went to Europe again In
June. 1895, accompanied by her grandson.
Stanley Yale Beach, DR.. Harris, and Mrs. Wood
ward, and she has since remained abroad. Her
marriage to Rogers was performed by the Rev.
X. w. Mcfarland. an American missionary, In
the presence Of the United States Consul.
Elihu Root in moving for the inquiry said
that forty-ono letters which had been received
from Mrs. Beach from abroad, which had been
submitted to well known alicnists, would show
that che Is incompetent. Her property IL valued
at half n million dollars. Her children had been
managing the estate, and had allowed her 5000
q month while she was travelling abroad.
Lyman T. Warren, attorney for Mrs. Beach.
said that last February, at the request OF his
client, he had demanded an accounting OF the
estate OF Mr.. Beach from his children. The
children. he said. last summer lived In style at
Long Branch with a retinue of servants and
horses and carriages. ostcnsibly on their own
charged a third of the expenditure against their
m9ther's share In the estate. He said, he had
this City. London sdise.@ and Rf Paris. deeI % a That %e Mr lh
beaGh Is mentally competent. He added:
cred ndt thar Is is!T mntS, II , tnsSs loving owl gel children dd,sn e0nsid,
of to c E"ro 81 h sIoS. x thS, t sbeS should 3 %nd,s ship lp her
ESSpt: through Africa, Italy. and even 1 TsTie ~
without q guardian or even an attendant, ~.
What Lawyer Warren said was shown to be true.
Mrs; Rogers must DO mentally competcpt. Hc
Of the Week to submit their papers .''' - ''0'0
One OF the afidavits OF Mrs. Rogers. which
in London, and the other was executed June II
IN Paris. n these papers Mrs. Rogers states
are acting in this way in order to secure control
Il tbs neb beEP s soD ayi Sasv says THAT, that she Z. consented sen g
to soNs ad dni nGa sn6 her e'ShS ssSan sRoT esta 70 a on pUprsi
sentations that they would dispose Of the ad-
ministratiop in q year. Since her husbands
SHARE In the estate should be, us they have not
States, her income was Withheld held in neo order to- come sne
pei her to. return to this country. although
She gives a history OF her life since 1874,
when she was a passenger on a train that was
nervous shock. 4 year later her husband. Nj.
Beach, placed her In a Hartford retreat. al
though she begged him on her Blended knees not
nine months, and a physician told her husband
that Il she was not removed she would not live
literally kidnapped and taken to Bloominsdale
charged as sane. She denies that she processes
to hear voices from the spirit world and to sec
ments arc perversions OF her belief.
As to her present husband she AYERS that she
foand fh him to f be- a s se@fH nsSO an ana a t has S,MsSs
1T was at my express desire. uninauenced by
him. that he accompanied me on my departure
from England in September last. . He
has acted with strict honor and integrity to-
ward me. At the time OF my marriage to my
present husband ] felt and still feel that he was
necessary to my happiness and health. knew
he would carry out any wishes of mine, and I
consulted my own feelings in the matter. and so
married him Of my own free will. l have
found Henry r. Rogers Of great service to me in
u GlilHR i was very KIM ana attentive ana
smoothed all the difficulties OF travel. During
all the time that he has been with me l have
money, and spent it to the hest advantage. I
cannot understand why my children should OPP
pose me in my present marriage unless 1t is 10
secure themselves control of my property. |
have known my present husband twelve years
and / know all about the charge Of an alleged
assault. have read the scandalOus newspa- or
stories about him. knew all these things when
married him of my own free will. have not
principles which i know 10 be right and for my
best happiness. and I therefore, beg this honor.
able court TO leave me in nneaceable possession of
An Sfadayit Of Rogers will also be presented
old and was divorced from his former wife, Mary
+. Rogers, who had posed az his attendant in
spiritu1listio seances In former years. Last
Mrs. Beach. who had been a friend OF himself
and bis former wife for several years. asked him
her on Jan. % last: He says.
and. a student Of reforms for women. l have
Ssed no improper or other influence over her.
with her whom she could trust as a constant
sompaniSn. She has purchased many presents
lily. and has also paid out money to poor reia.
tions, She has used her money for her own
ben a. and ,pSx o9m1Srt com I ENACTED ~ . salary ~, from rom
am not now and have not been for two years
connected with spiritualistic work. ! have not
used any such influence with my wife. either
before or after my marriage. In connection with
her Affairs or as to our marriage. We married
after mature deliberation by both OF us, I hon.
estly believing ] could be OF benefit to her and
she acting entirely OF her own free will in ac-
cepting me as her husband and companion. We
live happily together, and my wffe's general
health has been much better than when she re-
sided In New York"
This affidavit OF Mr.. Rogers was executed
Juno 4 last In London.
Among those persons making afhdavits stating
that Mrs. Beach is sane are Cornelia y. Robin
fson. Mrs. Harriet l. BSstwiek. Mrs: Merton
and DR.. Robert A. Gunn, who have known her
for several years, and who say that while they
are not In accord with her spiritualistic belief
they believe that she Is a woman OF great intel.
lectuality. broad education. and strong mind,
and charilably inclined. Her only idiosyncracy
ia Spirituallsiu. which they do not believe IL
ground for declaring her insane.