Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-05-11
The Beilstein Case.

Bertha Augusta Beilstein was placed
on trial in one of the Allegheny County
Courts last Monday for the murder OF
her mother, Mary Margaretha BeIlsteln
on Sunday. October 2nd, last.
The Commonwealth proved the CIR
cumstances of the case that day. and
rested. On Tuesday the defense was
opened by Attorney Burlelgh, VINO SAID
the defense would be insanity.
Miss Bertha took the stand and told
her remarkable story as calmly as
though she was not at all interested.
She and her mother were great spirit
ulists. Her father had died suddenly,
she visited a medium in Chicago and
was informed that he was lonesome and
wished for the company OF herself ana
mother. her father face often appeared
to her. and she was commanded by the
snirits TO take her mothers life and her
own.
On the fatal Saturday night, she s4ld'
she disrobed about 9 o'clock and lay
down on her bed.
What did you do frsty' she was
asked.
Il went to my trunk and laid out the
clothes in which / desired to be buried.
Whose life did you then intend to
takeg'
My own 81,
She said she did not sleep at all She
put the laudanum in glass, ana lay
down again. waiting TO take it. Her,
story again become graphic as 1t leo 70
the hour of the murder. Every syllable
was distinct and audible all over the
room. Her voice, in spite of her IN
inries and sickness, was strong and
clear retaining many of the hne quah
ties il had wnen she sang IN the cholr OF
Trinity Lutheran church, Stockton
avenue. Allegheny.
4 knew" She told the jury, that at
some time there would be command
an order. come to me to take mothers
life When heard the clock strick } l
rose to take the poison. | was pouring
some brandy irto the laudanum when
the bottle fell from my hands. My arms
stiffened and | knew it was the order
went TO the dresser in mother room,
got the revolver, and began.
There was intense silence in the court
room The girl told this part OF the
story with the same appearance OF com.
posure with which she told the rest OF
her startling story. She went on:
4 remember shooting mother once
and discharging the weapon once upon
NV own body. From that time until
long afterwards, abodt month, l re
member nothing of what happened.
This last statement, that she remem-
bered nothing of tine other two shots,
or three fired at her mother and the
three others put into her own body;
nothing of taking the laudanum and
nothing of going into her mothers room
or opening the door when Rev. Mr. Bru-
beck knocked had great effect IN the
court room. To many it was an absolute
surprise. 1t made her, if the jury &c
cents her statements, at once lrrespon-
sible for what she did and for all she
told about the affair afterward to Der
relatives, the physicians and her friends
until month after the shooting.
"What made you do it, Bertha?'
gently asked Mr. Burleigh, and she
answered steadily and simply;
Il did it because | thought 1T was my
dutv." There was no bravado in her
manner no defiance in her voice. she
was modest and womanly in every way,
vet apparently unaffected by any tear
of consequences or horror of her crime
A more remarkable recital was proDaDiy
never heard in any court room In 1ur-
ther explanation of her motive, ana the
mower which drove her to the killing OF
her mother, she said:
1.-The moment dismissed the thought
of killing mother from my mind, my
father appeared at night and | saw
other things. During the time between
nv arrival home and the day | destroy,
ed her life he appeared - or 20 times
Yesterday Miss 'Beilstein's cross-ex,-
animation was finished, and she stood
the ordeal very well, and showed 4 re,
markable memory for details. Several
of her relatives and neighbors were also
on the stand tnat day.