The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-01
DAMAGING EVIDENCE INTRODUCED BY
STATE IN THE WRIGHT MURDER CASE
Mrs. the Step Mother Who sAccused Of Beaulah Wri6h
Murder, Had Threatened to Kill Her at Other Times
Say the States Witnesses
Story OF Brutal Treatment and AbuseHar Torn From Scalp
While Beain9s and Abuse and Taunts Were Part of
the Daily Life Of the Helpless Child

the Dai
Devils Lake, N. D., Sept. 1.-sen-
sational testimony has been introduce
ed in the preliminary hearing of Mrs.
Mary Wright, charged with murder
Ing her stepdaughter, Beaulah Cox,
which commenced Monday afternoon,
and was taken up again this morning.
Evidence tending to show that Mrs.
Wright and the deceased girl had
numerous quarrels, that the girl had
been Ill treated and was afraid of her
stepmother. was given by various wit
nesses that have been examined up to
noon today. Evidence has also been
given showing the face of the dead
girl bore number of marks and
scratches, as we'll as the neck. From
the examination SO far, 1t would seem
that the state is endeaoring to show
that the girl was chloroformed.
Upon the re-convening Of the jus-
tice court this morning by Justice
Jones, the defendants attorneys NOV
ed that all witnesses not examined be
excluded from the court room, and the
request was granted.
Mrs. Begle, who gave part of her
testimony Monday afternoon, was
then recalled to the stand. She said
that Mrs. Wright had attempted to
insinuate that Beaulah Cox was suf-
fering with goitre. The witness de-
clared, however, the the child's neck
was normal.
Mr.. Begle followed, corroborating
his wife's testimony with relation to
the girls neck.
Would Kill Girl.
Mrs. Walker of Lakota, for whom
Mrs. Wright and stepdaughter work.
ed, was next called. She said that at
one time while in her employ the two
thal become engaged In a. quarrel, and
that Mrs. Wright threatened to send
Beaulah to the reform school. One of
the hired men, r. Good, interposed at
this point, and Mrs. Wright then made
the statement that she would kill the
girl.
R. Good was then called, telling of
the quarrel but stating that Mrs.
Wright had said that she could kill
Tue SlFl II Sne wanted to.
Afraid Of Poison.
Anna Wonderlick, the deceased
girls companion the night before her
death, was recalled. She told Of the
loss of one of Beaulah Cox's handker-
chief, after she had arrived home,
She said that Beaulah had also told
her that she had things on Mrs.
Wright that would send her to the
penitenttary for life If she should tell
them. Babe" was also afraid that
Mrs. Wright would poison her some
time. In regards to the torn dress
worn by Beaulah, Anna Wonderlick
says that the dress was torn when
she was with her in the early part Of
the evening at her home.
James Wonderlick, father of the
girl, then came to the stand. He told
of the visit Of the Cox girl in the
evening, saying that she appeared
very happy and cheerful. He knew.
the witness said, that the girl was
afraid Of Mrs. Wright and had quar-
rels with her. At one time Mrs.
Wright is said to have pulled part Of
the girls hair out, and she had to
change the part in order to hide It.
Also claimed to have struck her with
mop stick and pieces of wood. At one
time while quarreling, It is said that
Mrs. Wright had said they were only
playing when someone attempted to
stop the quarrel.
In the re-examination of Mr.. King.
part owner of the farm, he stated that
he was not positive that all the men
had gone out of the house to the
fields on the morning Of the death of
the child. Mrs. Wright had sent
money away for insurance, but had
not told King that 1t was on Beaulah's
life. : :
Doctors Statement.
DR.. Cox, probably the most in1port-
ant witness of the day, was then
called. He told Of the first examina-
tlon and the post-mortem that had
been conducted. He told Of three car
boltc acid marks on the left side OF
the nose and one on the right side.
Tongue. esophagus and stomach tiid
not show presence OF carbolic acid.
Heart was congested on right side but
the veins were normal. This testi-
mony would tend to show that the
girl might have been chloroformed.
There was only a little blood In the
left side Of the heart.
At this point the morning session
was adjourned until 2 o'clock this
afternoon. The examination has al
tracted . big crowd. great interest be-
ing taken In the proceedings. .s q
1enday's Procedings
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