The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-18

Beulah Carter Repeats
Story Told Mother on
Witness Stand.

HUNTSVILLE, no. July 1a-No
more remarkable story Of private ven
geance has ever come out Of a court
room than that told here at the pre-
Iiminary hearing in the case Of Irwin
Carter. charged with the murder OF
Thomas Bagby, the alleged betrayer Of
his sixteen-year-old sister, Bculah Car
ter.
BeuIah Carter. gowned in simply
made lawn dress with crimson figures,
and wearing no hat, on the witness
stand retold the confession she had
made 10 her mother. The girls testi-
mony was given in an effort TO show
that hcr brother. Irwin Carter, under
the ''unwritten law" was justified IN
shooting Baghy- She said that before
her. confession to her mother. b;It after
her parents had warned her to have
rothing more to do with Bagby, she
wrote a note asking him 20 meet her.
This was about two weeks before the
tragedy. and was the last time she saw
him until the night of his fatal visit.
Refused to May Her.
Il told Tom what my parents had
said" testified Beulah- and told him
he must marry me. He replied ne
never had any intention OF marrying
me-"
Beulah Carter is remarkably pretty.
Bagby, who was only twenty years
old, was a good looking young chap,
the son Of a neighboring farmer. For
months the two had been desperately
in love with each other.
Recently Bagby went away for short
time and he and Beulah wrote TO each
other daily. Some Of Bagty's letters
fell into the hands OF Mrs Carter. and
through them she learned the truth
about the relations betwe IN her dauSh-
ter and the young man. She questioned
Reulah, who finally broke down anC
made a full confession.
Mrs Carter called in her brother.
George Harris, and told him the truth,
Harris. with Old-fashioned ideas OF
family vey geance. counseied death for
Bag-bv- Ms. Carter's son, irwin, agreed
with his 1i-lcle. and plan to kill Bagby
was lail-
Lie in Wait For Man.
Each night Harris remained in the
house. sleeping in a room with Ar.
Carter. Young Carter kept watch part
OF the time in his sisters room, and
mart OF the time out of the house. The
vigil Of death continued night after
night for weeks, and dnaliy, a few
nights ago, the watchers were rewarded
bv seei..x the girls sweetheart coming
light-hea rtedly across a moon-lit lawn
to the mouse.
Young Carter slipped out Of doors
armed with a revolver. and with shot
gun near at hand
When carter reached the front of the
house Bagby was standing on the TOP
rung of a ladder leading 10 her w1ndoW'
FRAMED in the window was the dis
tracted girl who knew OF her sweet
hearts danger, imploring him 70 ny.
Shot While Talking to Girl
Ragbv did not believe there was plot
10 kin him. and he was talking TO the
girl when a shot rang out, and a re-
volver bullet plowed its way into his
side.
Although mortally wounded. Bagby
clung to the ladder. He stood there,
swaying, with the girls terrified face
above him, when there was another
shot. This time the shotgun was used,
and a load Of shot was buried in his
body. His hands relaxed and he fell
/ from the ladder to the ground Inc
| girl sank to the floor of her room, un-
/ conscious
Leaving the body where it lay, young
! Carter saddied a horse and rode TO
| town. There he cOOlly told of the trag-
edy and surrendered himself to the
/ authorities.