Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-25
TELLS SECRET LOVE.
Actor Relates Story of a Philadel-
phia Murder.

-
MRS. BECKWITH'S SLAYER'S STORY
Husband of Participant in Tragedy
Is Known to Number of Ottum-
wa People-Love of Actor Proves
Her Undoina.
The husband of Kate Hassett, who
was the wife of Everett Beckwith, is
known to number of Ottumwa people,
former residents of Mt. Pleasant. Mrs.
Beckwith Cher stage name was Kate
HassetD, was shot and killed by Bar
ry tombstone, an actor in New York a
few days ago. Her husband Is a for
mer resident Of Mt Pleasant. A New
York dispatch tells of the affair and of
Johnstons story of the tragedy. 1t
follows:
In the course of a death bed con-
fession covering all the details of his
acquaintance with Mrs. Everett Beck
with, known on the stage as Mrs. Kate
Hassett, whom he shot and killed in
Philadelphia on December 1, Barry
tombstone declared to his lawyer that
he had not intended to kill Mrs Beck
with, but that when he asked her to
put into execution a proposal she had
often made to him that they die to-
gether, she snatched the revolver from
his hand and in doing so had sent a
bullet into his breast, then he shot her.
Lying on a cot in the Hahnemann
hospital in the agonies of suffering,
the actor on last Saturday afternoon, "a
few hours before his death, told his
story to his friend and counsel, Sam
uel HI. Wandell of So Wall street, who
had come to Philadelphia to defend
him.
1t is the tale of stage struck wom-
ans sacrifice of her husband to an
overwhelming infatuation for an idol
of the footlights, who finally ended her
life in an excess of insane jealousy.
In his account of their intimacy
tombstone said Mrs. Hassett made all
the advances. He saved apparently
every letter and telegram she ever
sent to him. They proved that her de.
votion to him and to his success was
boundless. Many times she wrote to
him to inspire and encourage him in
his work when he grew respondent OF
doubtful of success as he often seemed
| to be.
Double Suicide Proposed.
| She, too, had her fits of depression.
as was natural in view of the anomal-
Gus position she occupied and in some
OF her letters she alludes to the plan
they seem to have discussed on vari-
GUS occasions to commit suicide to-
gether. 1t was this suggestion of
hers that inspired tombstone with the
! idea of asking her to die with him
when he was convinced she no longer
loved him.
| In Letter written in Chicago on
May IL, 1901, the unfortunate woman
said:
do you remember at Winnipeg
how we resolved almost to end it?
Some moments | am sorry we didn't
but it's Drawer to live for each other
and be true and strong. Forgive and
love me, my own"
Since the season of 10000 the two
had been much together. In his state.
ment tombstone said that Kate Has,
sett many times suggested that they
commit suicide. This is borne out by
several letters which she wrote to
him, in which she made this state
ment saying that then our souls will
be knit together forever"
tombstone was taken to the hospital
after the Shooting with bullet in his
breast Although the physicians tried
/ to locate the ball with the Xray they
were unable to find it, and he died ear
ly Sunday morning.
Story of Tragedy Told.
4 His story of the tragedy was told
while he was in the shadow of death
and when he knew there was nc
chance Of his recovery. 1t was taker
by Mr. Wendell in shorthand. In plac
es it is disjointed on account of the
mans serious condition, but taken az
a whole it gives complete story Of
the steps which led up to the murder
tombstone says his acquaintance
with Kate Hassett began in the theat
rical season Of 1901 when she was
!. playing Lady Blanche in king John,
III NllllS. COMPANY anu iis
t was playing the role of Faulconbridge
She had paid him some attention, he
said, but it was not until they reach
} ed Louisville, KY, that she confessed
her love for him, seeking him out fol
the purpose. She asked him to pro
tect her against herself, he said ant
he did so until November, 1901. HI
then became very devoted to her. HI
mentions the fact that he met Everett
Beckwith, her husband, in Chica
, go, and speaks of him as "splendit
gentleman" tombstone confessed tt
some twinges of conscience after tina
meeting.
His confession goes on to relate il
; details their meetings while they wer
travelling in various parts of the coun
/ try. She visited him in Memphis AM
in Minneapolis, and seemed unable t.
keep away from him. AT the end o
the season she came to this city witt
Miss Mcdonnell of Chicago and the
{ lived in several boarding houses nea
the theatre district Afterwards the
went to live in West One Hundred an
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