Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-10

PAN Y--1NSAN1I1 I6E PLEA Of
DEFENSE.
Pittsburg, May 9.-The Common
wealth rested it's case to-day in the
Bertha Beilstein murder trial after
having produced number of witness
es, principally relatives of the prison
er, who detailed conversations had
with Bertha after the smurder. To all
of those witnesses Bertha said she had
killed her mother because she (Bertha)
was tired of living and did nOtWant
her mother to bear the disgrace of her
suicide
District Attorney Haymaker made
two of the witnesses, Miss Marie Bell
stein, a cousin, of Youngstown Ohio,
and Mrs. Emma Beilstein, sister-in-
law, tell of Bertha's visit to Chicago
last July, when she is said to have
had improper relations with her cous-
in, Will Beilstein, the result Of which,
Mrs. Beilstein testified was one of the
causes for Bertha taking her mothers
life.
Mrs. Emma Beilstein said she was
present at the meeting between Mrs.
Elizabeth Beilstein, of Chicago, "Will'
Beilstein's mother, who came here
from that city; Mrs. Voegtly and Miss
Bertha. At this meeting Mrs. Eliza
beth Beilstein asked the prisoner why
she had not told her of the Chicago
affair while she was there, when
marriage might have been arranged.
Miss Bertha replied that she did not
want the young man.
The defense opened it's case at 2: 80
this afternoon by Attorney Burleigh,
who said the defense in the case would
be insanity, the direct result of shock
sustained at the time the prisoners
father dropped dead at the breakfast
table some months previous to the
murder
Miss Bertha Beilstein was the first
witness called in her own defense.
She told of the great affection existing
between her father and herself and of
the effect his sudden death had on her.
she said: 1T was an exceedingly
great shock, one from which | have
never recovered and never will. lost
interest in everything. I lost sleep.
Tell off in weight many pounds"
She felt, ooh, SO melancholy" she
said.
witness said her mother and herself
were firm believers in spiritualism. Il
Deileye she said, that persons in this
world can communicate with persons
IN the other While in Chicago last
year she visited two mediums 'The
Hrst, a Mrs. Cowan, told me that my
father was lonely and would not be
nappy until my mother and | were with
him. Nothing entered my mind then
ABOUT taking my mothers Iife."
The witness next said she visited a
male medium. He told her a similar
story about her father being lonely. 1t
then became fixed in her mind that he
was lonely. Miss Beilstein said she re-
NAMED in Chicago about week after
that She was in a very bad condition
physically. She thought about what
Ne mediums told her. Her mind seemed
be unbalanced on that one subject.
Still she did not think of DESTROYING
her own or her mothers life She cut
her visit short and returned home ex-
pecting to get better. She could not
sleep. She said: Il did not sleep at all
until the night of the killing" and told
Attorney Burleigh she wanted the Jury
to understand it literally.
On Saturday afternoon the day before
the shooting, she went to Pittsburg and
bought an ounce of laudanum. She
went home Immediately, getting there
about p. m. She ate a light supper
with her mother. They spent the even
Ing at home. The witness went to her
room about $50 o'clock, her mother re-
firing few minutes later The rela-
tons between the witness and her
mother had always been very affection
ate and there had been no misunder-
standing whatever.
Mr.. Burleigh asked the witness if,
during her visit to Chicago, in July
last, there had been anything improper
between her cousin "Will" Beilstein
and herself.
No, sir; there was not" was the
reply.
Had there ever been anything i'm
proper between him and yourself?"
NO, there had not"
On the night before the shooting. she
iald out her clothing, intending to kill
herse1. She tossed about all night
ana walked the floor. Il had bought
the laudanum with the intention of TAX
lug my own life instead of that OF my
mother" she said.
When | heard the clock strike 8. I
arose, and, getting the bottle of lauda
mum, | started to pour it into the class
Before | had finished this the bottle
dropped from my hand Ny arms be-
came like steel, and l knew must take
my mothers life. l went to the bu-
reau, took the revolver, and, going into
mothers room, discharged it"
Mr.. Burleigh-"Do you remember of
discharging the weapon more than
Once?"
NO"
DO you remember about shooting
YOURSELF"
4 remember of shooting myself
once
MISS Beilstein gave her testimony
throughout in a clear tone of voice
DIEDERICHs ON LEAVE.