The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-01-04
Keeper of Hospital Faints
When Taken Into
Custody
DENIES BOYS STORY
Edna Needham's Body to
Be Mute Witness at
Inquest

Mrs. Wilhelmina Wagner caused
the death of Edna Needham; the girl
died in my arms at 2 o'clock Wednes-
day morning. and then Mrs. Wagner
told me to leave the city. The act
which resulted IN the death of the
girl was committed Friday night, and
I did not learn of it until Saturday
morning. when Mrs. Wagner and
Edna told me OF it"-Statement to
the police of George Beckett, the 10
year old youth who was responsible
for the condition which led to the
tragic death of 8 year old Edna
Ncedhsn1.
e Mrs. wagner was arrested at y
O'Clock midnight at her home, 2el2 Fol-
som street, by Detectives W. D. Moltke
and James Gallagher. acting under the
direction Of Captain Kelly. The woman
was taken to the city prison IN faint
ing condition and was entered on the
detinue book The police are now
searching for Dr. 3. H. Baufneister, 2os
Twenty-ninth street, who consulted
with Mrs. Wagner over the girls con-
dition on Tuesday night, shortly before
her death. Baumeister has not been
home for two DAYS. and the POLICE are
watching his place constantly. In Bau-
neister's statement TO the police
Wednesday he shielded Mrs. Wagner.
DENIES ALL CHARGES
After her arrest Mrs. Wagner made
p complete denial OF the charges made
by Beckett and adhered rigidly to her
original story. which is at variance in
every important point with Becketts
stateraent.
George Beckett surrendered himself
into the custody OF the police last night
1t the city prison. After reading in
The Call OF yesterday that the detec-
tives desired him chiefly as a witness
b and not as principal in the murder OF
the girl, he consulted with his attorney
~. ". sanderson OF 2s Montgomery
street. and was advised to go to the
sail and surrender. He was locked W
IN detinue and spent the night behind
the bars.
After going TO his cell Beckett gave
e frank statement Of his relations with
Edna Needham. Throughout the story
he insisted that he wanted to marry
1her.
He accused Mrs. Wagner, keeper Of
che California confinement home, POI:
Folsom street. where the girl died, oi
r-- --.,.--~sLsz - -. z-.L II,
also implicated DR.. George W. oDon.
nell. who is now awaiting trial for z
similar crime. As soon as Beckett told
his story 10 the police Detectives James
Gallagher and W Afoltke went to the
swsgnei woman's house and arrested
her
MET GIRL At RINK
According to Becketts story. he frsr
met the girl at the Mechanics pavilion
skating rink. on washington's birth.
day. 1905 After the fire he went e
his home in Quincy. H.. but returne,
10 san francisco in September OF that
year He says he became engaged K
the girl Christmas day, 1906. and CAV.
her q signet ring, which she returned
10 him shortly before she died
TIE youth admits that from the tim,
OF their betrothal until the time of he
death lie and the girl had permitted
their love affair to assume a perilou4
aspect and that shortly after the en-
gagement the girl experienced a fore
shadowing OF the tragedy of New
Years day.
7 wanted 10 marry the girl" sail
Beckett last evening but for a Ger
tain reason which ] Will not divulge a
present she would not consent A
FIRST she would not tell me why sK
would not marry me, but later she did
For three weeks previous to he
death she was under treatment by D1
C~.ffuund IN Page 2 Column <