The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-10
DEFENSE ENTERED
PLEA OF INSANITY
In BeiIStein Murder Trial At
Pittsburg.
THE DEFENDANT CALLED
In Her Own Defense. and Told of the
Great Affection Existing Be-
tween Herself and Father.
Killed Her Father

Pittsburg, Pa, May 9-The common
wealth rested its case today in the Bertha
Beilstein murder trial. For the defense
Attorney Burleigh, in opening, said the de-
Tense in the case would be insanity the di
rect result of shock sustained at the time
the prisoners father dropped dead at the
breakfast table some months previous to
the murder.
Miss Bertha Belstein was the first wit.
ness 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, ut
was an exceeding great shock; one from
which I have never recovered and never
will. l lost interest in everything. l lost
sleep. fell off in weight many pounds.
Witness said her mother and herself were
firm believes in spiritualsm
"I believe" she said, that persons in
tn s world can communicate with persons
in the other"
While in Chicago last year she visited
two mediums. 1.-The first, a Mrs. Cowan,
told me that my father was lonely and
would not be happy uatil my mother and
l were with him. Nothing entered my
mind then about taking my mothers life"
Inc Witness says she NlSlleu Il HidlS illt-
dunn. 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 remained in Chicago
about week after that. She is in very
bad condition physically. She thought
about what the mediums told her. Her
mind seemed to be unbalanced on that one
subject Still she did not think of destroy
ing her own or her mothers life. She cut
her visit short and returned home expect
ing to get better. She could not sleep. She
said: 81 did not seep at all until the night
of the killing" and told Attorney Bur-
leigh she wanted the jury to understand
1t Literally. On Saturday afternoon, the
day before the shooting, she went to Pitts
burg and bought an ounce of laudanum.
She went home Immediately, getting there
about p. She ate light supper, with
her mother They spent the evening at
home. The witness went to her room at
$50 o'clock, her mother retiring few min
utes later The relations between the wit
ness and her mother had always been very
affectionate and there had been no misun-
derstanding between them whatewcG--
On the night before the shooting she laid
out her-elothng intending to kill herself
Sl.estossed about all night and walked the
floor. Il had bought the laudanum with
the intention of taking my own life in
stead of that of my mother she said.
when l heard the clock strike 8, l arose
| and getting the bottle of laudanum
| started to pour it into the glass Before
L had finished this the bottle dropped from
| my hand. My arms became like steel and
| knew l must take my mothers life. I
went to the bureau, took the revolver and
going into mothers room, discharged it,"
Mr.. Burleigh: do you remember of dis
charging the weapon more than once?"
NO"
do you remember about shooting your
self?'
II remember shooting myself once"
Miss Beilstein gave her testimony
throughout in a clear tone of voice.