The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-03-02
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alarm was sent ont and a large crowd
was soon az the scene. which Is only
about half mile out from the yillaBe.
The people locked 20 the place by hun
dreds. and business Of all kinds was
neglected The woman was found 20
be yet alive. and was taken 10 the house
OF Mrs Stephen Nudge where an exam
nation was made. n was soon dis
covered that the wounded person was
Mrs Ellie Goodwin who wac employed
at the home OF Mr. C. ]. Beach as a do
nestle As soon as the Identification
was sure the excitement rose to fever
heat. Suspicion pointed 20 her hus-
i'and. Wafer Goodwin. from whom she
had parted several months ago. Mrs
Goodwin was hurried to the Cottage
hospital at BlossbuFg where she died
at an early hour the following morning
without regaining consciousness The
spot where Mrs Goodwin was found Is
on a rise OF ground lS7 feet from the
house OF Mr.. Stephen Nudge.
The story leading up to the murder
Ia as follows: Efie Copley was the
bright. intelligent and pretty daughter
OF Mr.. William COpley. a well-to-do
farmer who resides In Charleston town
ship. near what Is known a. Marden
postofiice. Efile was full OF life and
fun. She had been a student at the
Normal school and II was while attend
ing that institution that she first began
TO receive attentions from Walter Good
win. promising youth who resided
In the locality About two years ago
he led her 10 the altar as a bride. and
his numerous friends congratulated
him on receiving such a pretty and
modest wife They went 10 reside with
Walters father and mother Soon trou-
BILE began Finally there was separa-
ton and Efe went 90 work for her
husbands sister last October. who re-
sides nedr Marden On April n. 1897.
she went 20 work Cor Mr. and Mrs. c.
J. Beach 40 which place she remained
up to the time ~ her murder. Four
weeks ago she sued her husband for
non-support re eEdeayor1d to get her
tc withdraw the case. BAT she would
not unless he would promise 10 make
home ana live a. man and wife
should live. Matters went on In this
way until the morning OF the crime.
when Goodwin called at the house OF
Mr. Beach between 1880 and 1850
o'clock lie was admitted by Mr.
Beach. who went ~ stairs with light
and Informed Ellie that her husband
was there ard was DESTROYS Of seeing
her. She said "let him come up.
whercupon Mr. Beach handed the
lamp 90 Goodwin and he went up stairs
TO his wffos room They we're heard
talghg Tor an hour or two. The next
-merning Mrs Goodwin told Mrs Beach
that her husband desired her 10 with
draw the case, and that she was 10 give
him a decided answer the next night
friday. Mr.. Goodwin displayed
nervousness all day Friday and ire
quently referred TO her husband COM
ing that night. when asked what she
would do II he did not come she replied
oh. yes. he'll be here. and then add
ed. I'VE cant live this way. II must be
decided tonight" She let the Beach
home about o'clock Friday night. 10
agreed upon. for the purpose OF meet
ing her husband to give the answer she
had promised. She left by the front
door That was the last seen Of her
until found dying on the afternoon Of
the next day. Mr.. and Mrs. Beach say
that the reason they did not become
alarmed at her absence was because
they helleyod she had agreed 20 return
% her husband and had gone to Wells
horo for the purpose Of Withdrawing
the ease. The distance from the house
NJ MIR. stephen Nudge 10 where tho
murder was committed Is l37 feet. and
almost directly In the rear Of H. Mrs.
Nudge was aroused by what she
thought was pistol shot about 10. 30
o'clock but she was uncertain. and FIN
ally decided II was the cats that had
disturbed her. thus no investigation
was made The distance from Mr.
Howard Lewis aouse 10 whore The
body was found Is 900 ie'L The
iewiscs heard four pistol shots and
woman's scream. about the same hour
that the Mr'ses heard g. They told