Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-27
WAS IN JEALOUS RAGE
Condition of SiIas Putnam Last
Saturday.
MURDERER OF MRS. BEAVERS
Followed Woman and Children Home
From Alexandria.
TRAGEDY NEAR FALLS CHURCH
Result of Coroner's Inquest Yesterday
Morning-Plans for Interment
Of the Remains
TRAGEDY NEAR FALLS CHURCE

Scores Of curious persons visited little
white frame house on the top of a hill
about one mile from Falls Church, Va,
yesterday to obtain glimpse of the bodies
OF Silas Putnam and Mrs. Emma Beavers,
the victims of the tragedy there last Sat-
urday night. Hundreds in addition probably
would have made the trip had the weather
been fair
William Lynch. Elmer Crump, 8. 1.
Rinker, E. J. Northrup. II. E. Brown and
DR.. G. T. Mankin, composing the jury Of
inquest, appeared at the house yesterday
morning, and listened to the testimony of
the witnesses who had been summoned by
Coroner ]. w. Taylor The six jurymen
viewed the bodies of the man and woman,
were shown the revolver that Silas Put
nam had used. and in few minutes rem
dered a verdict reciting that Silas Put
nam had murdered Mrs. Beavers, and that
he had afterward ended his life. Putnam
had left practically nothing for the sheriff
to do, his suicide having avoided the ne
CesSty fer making an arrest and saving
the county the expense OF criminal trial
The funerals were held today, and all
that remains to be done is to make ar
rangements for the care of the five chill
dren of Mrs. Beavers. The body OF the
man was buried in lakewood cemetery this
ceased. Ernest Putnam, having charge of
the funeral, while the remains of Mrs.
Beavers were taken to Manassas. Va, her
former home, for interment.-
Scene Of Four Violent Deaths.
1t is said that the little white frame house
in which the double tragedy was enacted
has been the scene of four violent deaths.
The second wife of Silas Putnam was killed
by lightning and a daughter of the man
committed suicide two years ago in the
room in which the shooting was done Sat
urday night. The husband Of Mrs. Beavers
also met violent death, 1t is reported, hav
ing been killed by another man at Fairfax
few years ago.
AS the inveStiga ton progressed yesterday
it became more and more apparent that
Putnam had intended killing Mrs. Beavers
before Saturday night, but that he post
poned the murder until such time he
under the influence of liquor and when
he hardly in his right mind. 1t is said
that the weapon used by the murderer IS
the one that used by his daughter when
she ended her life. The revolver was not
in the best condition. and few days ago
Putnam took it to d blacksmith and had
it repaired, saying he might have occa sion
to use it before long.
w. Silas Putnam, 1t is said was inSanely
jealous of Mrs. Beavers. Many times he
had proposed marriage to her, and almost
many times she had refused him. He
became persistent in his attentions to
her that she finally consented to become,
his wife if he would make some provision
for the care of her children,
Arrange to give them one-third of your
property" she said, and I'll marry YOU.
Ordered to Leave House.
Putnam regarded her suggestion as a
joke. He could not think of making any
provision for her children, he said, when
he had a boy of his own. Unless he would
m kn provjSjtD the widow told him
she would not entertain a proposal. Her
positive refusal made Putnam angry and
he ordered her from his house. He even
went far as to obtain papers to legally
GUST her from the premises, but he after
ward changed his mind and told her she
need not go. The widow was in dilemma.
She was there with her five children and
was without much in the way of means
of support. AS Putnam's hOuSekeeper she
managed to care for her children and
joy home, except at such times as Put
nam was drinking Then he was ugly and
disagreeable. but she put up with his con-
dust. Despite all she said to him, Putnam
would go to Alexandria, imbibe freely and
return to his nome in bad humor.
Putnam went to Alexandria Saturday on
horseback, Mrs Beavers and her daughters
May and Ruth. fifteen and twelve years of
age, respectively, also going there The
woman and her two children were shopping.
Putnam was also shopping but, it is stated,
most of his purchases consisted of liquid
refreshments. He happened to get a glimpse
Of Mrs. Beavers and the children, and he
followed them from store to store his con-
duct indicating that his jealous feelings
We're getting the better of him. May
Beavers felt the annoyance Putnam was
causing, and asked her mother why he was
following them. The mother told the child
that he was jealous of her, and that he
had asked her to become his wife. Her
refusal, she told May, had caused him to
show his jealousy more than formerly.
But why is he watching u.s." the child
enxiously inquired.
Because he's jealous the mother said,
and he wants to see if any man speaks to
me-"
Followed on Horseback
When the mother and two children had
finished their shopping tour they started
to drive over the muddy road to Munson's
Hill, Putnam following on horseback The
woman became nervous while on her way
home and told the girls she feared she had
only short time to live. She had reached
the conclusion that Putnam was going to
kill her, but she went on home without
taking any extra precautiOn to protect her
self from violence. The children became
nervous and excited, but there was nothing
for them to do but to accompany their
mother home and make an effort to defend
her in event Putnam should attack her.
Seeming to realize that she was in danger,
Mrs. Beavers repeated the words of advice
she had often given the children and told
them if anything happened to her that
tneS Sloulu seek lile assistance Oi tneif
aunt, Miss Lizzie Beavers, who resides at
425 l. street.
When the carriage in which the woman
and the children rode arrived at Bailey's
Crossroads Putnam was close behind them
He said nothing. however, until the house
was reached. The occupants of the car
riage were first to alight and enter the
house. Putnam following closely. He had
hardly entered before he started the row
which ended in the tragedy. His first act
of violence was to grab Mrs. Beavers hat
from her head. ruin it and throw it into
the stove. When the housekeeper remon-
strated Putnam dealt her a blow on the
face. The daughter May went to her as
sistance with a carving knife, but before
she could lie it Putnam pointed the revolver
at the girl and frightened her. Turning
from him the child ran out the door. mar
rowly escaping bullet sent after her The
other children became frightened and went
to the far end of the room.