The evening times., 1898-02-26
UNDER GHOSTLY INFLUENCES.
The Peculiar Ha1iucinations OF
Wealthy New York Woman.

.NN" AOh ''p''o's
New York, Feb. 2s-Whether Mrs. Har-
ret E. Beach Rogers, widow of Alfred f.
Beach, and now the wife of Henry Rich
ardson Rogers, a well-known spiritualist,
is sane or insane is a question to deter
mine which an inquiry was begun yester-
day i'm the supreme court before COM
missioners and sheriff's jury
Mrs. Rogers who 4s seventy years old,
and for years has made no secret OF her
spiritualistic tendencies, was not IN
court but was near by and subject 10
call in case of need. She was represent
ed by w W. Niles and Albert Bach-
Her children, Frederick G. Beach ana
Mrs. Jennie Beach Casper. who believe
their mother is incompetent to manage
her property and have Instituted the pro-
ceedings, were on hand, attended Dy their
counsel Elihu Root and Nhiiah H.
Hamilton.
Mrs Beach was married to AIRED II.
Reach more than fifty years ago. 1t was
noticed that she was eccentric III Iso''
and for a time she was confned III an
ASYLUM in Hartford, Conn. She became
a convert to spiritualism some years ago
and in the latter part of 1880. at the Ia
stigation of her husband, upon the GER
Y
! en- to the Bloomingdale Asylum. Her
/ commitment had the effect of removing
! her from the influence of Nine. Diss DE
/ Bar who at that time was causing
/ sensation in this city on account OF her
/ influence over Luther r. Marsh. prom
| inent LAWYER, and others. Her present
husband Mr.. Rogers, IL is said, was at
( that time power among spirituahsuc
! mediums.
! Alfred f. Beach died intestate on jan
! uary /, 1896. He left a large fortune FOR
4 his wife and children. Mrs. Beach went
! TO Europe. and was soon followed by MI
i Rogers. Mary Eleanor Rogers. his wife,
who had been his assistant In many Sc
| ances obtained u divorce from him on
! January g. 1897, and twenty days later
Rogers and Mrs Beach were married IN
/ Alexandria. Egypt Her children assert
she decided to him all her property the
next day.
She returned to this country with her
! husband Who is twenty years younger
than herself, several months ago. and
went TO Philadelphia. The authorities
have been looking for Mr.. Rogers on a
charge of assault. but he has thus far
eluded them.
Mr. Hamilton. in opening the case TO
/ the Jury, stated that he did not contend
that mere belief in spiritualism was in
/ itself evidence of insanity, but the fact
that a person had disposed of herself and
. property at the bidding OF medium.
who claimed to represent the wishes of
/ departed relatives, was evident of men
( tai incapacity.
DR.. Samuel Il. Lyon, medical superin-
Z tendent of Bloomingdale Asylum, testi-
fled that Mrs. Rogers asserted she was un-
der the guidance of supernatural persons.
She showed him photographs Of several
/ East Indians. one of whom she called
Z "Amaroua" She said he was her guil-
ing star. She declared she was a woman
of great fascination. and that she had
communications With her mother.
%. What did she say about her person
al charms? A. She said that she was fas-
cinating. and could easily influence peo-
Pile. She also said she had the advice OF
Daniel Webster and Voltaire, and that
her husband would drop dead.
20. Did she claim that she could sing
A. Sha did.
DIR. Lyon stated that she had delusiOns
Of sight and hearing. and was victim of
chronic mania and could not recover.
DR.. William r. Dold, assistant superin-
tendent in the same institution. testified
that she was egotistical boasted of her
powers of fascination. and Of her ability
as a singer writer and speaker. and of
her wonderful brain power. She told him
the spirit of Henry Ward Beecher was
guarding her.