Evening journal., 1903-12-10
SELF DEFENSE
SAYS MRS. BEATTY
She Admits She Killed He
Husband Saying He Was
Abusing Her
STATE ABAND0NS FIRST DEGREE

lit. Holly, n. j., Dec. 10.--In the
court room, where two women ~ as
many years have been freed of the
charge OF murder, Mrs. Sarah n.
Beatty, Of Bordentown, was placed on
trial before Justice Charles G. CARR.
son. Of the supreme court accused OF
causing the death OF her husband
Samuel @. Beatty. by shooting. on
July 6. last. The crime OF which she
ts accused was committed three days
after Mrs. Annie Phares was declared
innocent OF the murder of her hus.
band
In the cell occupied by Mrs. Phares
the Bordentown woman has been in.
carcerated while awaiting trial. and In
the same chair used by Mrs. Phares
and Mrs. Mabel Haines she now sits
while Prosecutor Atkinson unfolds the
case Of the commonwealth.
The trial lacks the intense interest
Of the Haines and Phares proceedings.
inasmuch as there is not the same ele
ment Of mystery. the probability OF
sensational disclosure is small, and
finally the defendant admits that she
shot her husband, but pleads that she
did II in self.defense. because he was
drunk and was abusing her SO con
vinced is the prosecutor that there are
extenuating circumstances that he told
the jury In his opening address that
he would not ask for a verdict OF mur.
der in the hrst degree, but that he con.
sidered q second degree conviction,
with a maximum penalty OF 20 years
Imprisonment the proper punishment
With the rApidity for which Jersey
Justice has become noted, the proceed
fngs were carried on, and Il Is believed
the case will be in the hands OF the
Jury tonight.
Mrs. Beatty and her husband con.
Quoted an eating house in Bordentown
She worked hard that success might
attend their efforts, and was the buBi-
ness man Of the establishment, her
husband being illiterate and unsafe to
transact business. This threw extra
responsibilities upon her, In addition
70 her I'VE years OF constant toll in
the kitchen. where she labored 70 keep
down expense.
Their daily life was made unhappy
from the result OF strong drink. as
both indulged too frequently for their
own good. Liquor was a bone OF CON
tention; in fact. It is said Samuel J.
Beatty was drunk when the nuptial
knot was tied to the woman who killed
him.
Lewis N. Palmer. who was in the
Beatty oyster house lust before Beatty
was shot, testified that Mrs Beatty
came to the front door and said: Here
7 am. Sam Beatty; you can see II I
am drunk" Then she turned TO the wit.
ness and said: "Am drunk. Lew7" Ho
told her ne had nothing 10 say.
I.'r.llsnss.'- --,.s-s.- - rT-tin1 -r--sf ofs
o-Ihss~ SefS Nd0sfh o4hgpr sam ttil0
her to get out OF this place or he'd put
her out Of business He made a lurch
toward her. but she got past him and
went into the back room. Then heard
more rag chewing, then a shot and
Sam saying, so aheadj shoot again;
you -. you can't hit me- Then
heard smother shot and a heavy fall.
Il ran into the room and found Sam
on the door, bleeding from a wound
In his shoulder. l saidt This is a
pretty messI shant get a doctor?
Then Mrs. Beatty came in from the
back kitchen and said: No. you
needn't sent for a doctor and am
ready 20 give myself up"
Under ross-examinRtion, Palmer re
peated some Of the oaths INDUCED IN
by Beatty and his wife, and said thai
Beatty was often under the influenc'
Of liquor.
''Hs was sleeping a jag on when
went in there the day he was shot"
He often cursed his wife anI
threatened her with bodily harm. didn'
he7" asked Mr.. Walker. Eyes. the
we're always flghting. He said sh
was a drunkard, and could not get o
the lounge that morning. That wa
what led TO the quarrel when she she
him." replied the witness.
Several other witnesses testified
Beatty drinking hard and frequentl
threatening his wife with bodily harm