New-York tribune., 1908-10-08
CHARGE MRS. BEISEL
HELD FOR ERB MURDER.
Wife and Sister Nay Both Be In
dicted-Tale of the Tragedg.
rBy Telegraph 70 The Tri6un.I J

Chester. Penn oct. Charged with the k,r,,,z
Of J. Clayton Erb. private secretary Of Israel "
Durham AMI one OF the most widely known ma
chine Republicans in this state. Mrs Catharfr.
peisei Frb's sister-in-laT was committed 10 Msds,
tau tonight without bail by Alderman RoSs-,
Smith after a coroner's jury had declared hsr n
sponsibe.
expected that the grand jury VIII oe asked to Index
both women for murder
Tba evidence submitted against the two zor,.,
was strong but IL the stories they themselves
had told earlier IN the day that revealed 10 tia
authorities how they had engaged Captain Erb in
a quarrel attacked him. disarmed him and shs,
shot him as he ran to his bedroom door. The zifs
admitted having hurled heavy articles at her hrs
band. so severely in1urfng him that he was CON-
neI1ad IN seek safety behind the locked door ~
his bedroom
Mrs Frb made no secret OF the fact thst sra
called into the house her sister. VINO had been e-
raIIv barred from the place And Just az freely
d4d the sister of Mrs Erb admit that she forced
her way into the house and fred six bullets point
blank at the owner. who had ordered her away
from his home and had taken Iese4 steps 20 nd
himself Of his wife
Most important OF the links weaved around the
women by Detective Berry IS his discovery OF Cap
tain Erb's revolver locked in the dead mans 5u-
resu drawer unIoaded- This revolver. which has
never been discharged. and probably never loaded.
Ia believed Sby the police authorities 20 furnish
proof that Mrs BeiseI was not telling the truth
when she confessed that Captain Erb was ad-
vsncfnx toward her with his revolver n hand and
threatening to kill when she oVerpowered Ain-
vrested the weapon from him and shot aim.
At the inquest, which held n Alderman
Smiths Office the alleged details OF the tragesy
at Erb's country home were brought out Mra
BeiseI who was taken into custody last nignt,
and her sister. Mrs Erb. who was placed IN Media
iaiI this afternoon. were brought here E a ea5
by Sheriff Mcclure Both maintained their com
posIIrs we'll al the hearing
District Attorney McDade called as the first VT
ness Beatrice Matsen. servant in the Ero house
hold who said thac Captain Erb came home ahour
: o'clock last evening. and shortly afte-vrart Ms
Erb told her that she was going out and that the
servant was TO meet her the Village Green Hotel
al o'clock The witness went 70 the hotel with
Susie McKeown the hOusemaid- There they saw
Mrs Erb and Mrs Beisel drink a glass OF porter
After they returned to the house Mrs Erb vent
upstairx Shortly afterward the witness heard the
crashing OF glass and screams. followed oy SIX
pistol shots in rapid succession She went upstairs
and saw Mrs Bese lying IN faint on the floor
in Mrs. Erb's room Mrs. Erb vas also present
The sleeve OF her waist was torn She said; For
Gods sake. keep quiet to her sister who began
TO cry after she revived her Mrs Ero told the
witness TO call the coachuan, saying The captain
is shot-my sister killed him
William Adams the coachman. gave similar evt-
dence and County Detective Berry stated that
Mrs Erb told him that her return home from
the hotel she went upstairs. and that she and the
captain had words. He heard her sister n tne
bathroom and he came out into the hallway with
a revolver in his hand. She screamed, and Nrs-
Beisel ran toward the captain. took the pistol rroa
hin, and shot him Berry found revover N MS
E-b-s sitting room with all six chambers empty
and a lot Of broken glass the floor n captain
Erb-s room the door OF which was battered Ac-
cording to Berry Mrs. Erb told him that The re-
,over belonged to her-that the captain had bought
If for her. so that she could have some p1otecton
when he was not at home
Thomas Simpson. the constable VINO nlads uls
arrest testified that Mrs. Beisel informed MN mat
she shot Erb that she was sorry she had AI!sd
him but that she had to do it,
Counsel for the defendants made strong arsu-
nent for the discharge OF Mrs Ero. eontsndlns
that there was no evidence 20 connect her Win
the crime and that il would be injustice 70 keep
her In tail until the December term Of court Dis
trict Attorny McDads declined 10 argue the case.
saving that Mrs. Erbs counsel could try haoeas
corpus proceedings, and that he could produce
abundant evidence II necessary Mrs Belsel was
much crestfaIlen when the verdict was announced
and Mrs. Erb showed disappointment. but seemed
cool and collected as she taken back 70 tail
PHILADELPHIA Oct 7--Ex-SenatOr Durham e1-
messed the belief to-day that the Erb murder was
nrAu,editated He expressed a determination 10
prosecute the slayer OF his secretary and friend 70
the limit of the law, and to that end he obtained
the services OF one OF the most expert criminal
lawyers in the state 70 aid the Delaware county
authorities