The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-02
MRS. ERB DESCRIBES HUSBANDS DEATH Had Bitter Quarrel and He Was Shot Accidentally
 She Declares
Had Tried to Kill Her and Her Sister that Night Tells in Detail on Witness Stand Events Upon Night of His Death. ~
Especial from United Press.


 Media, Pa, Jan. '2.-"My husband was sister. He attacked me and when I fought him off he again tried to kill me. When my sister came to my as- sistance he tried to kill her. Then when she wrested the revolver from him he was accidentally shot. If the Captain had not attacked us time and again he would not have, been hurt. Even if he had gone to bed after the first attack there would have been no again to fight us. His killing could not have been avoided
 In a voice broken by sobs, but with defiant attitude which reverted her plainly to all present that she had done something for which she should not be blamed, Mrs. Captain Erb took the stand. Her story was dramatic nthe extreme and made a strong inn pressiOn on the jury.
 Mrs. Erb was the first witness of the day. As the stern tones of her attor- ney sounded out, Florence Erb take the stand,v the tears were rolling down her cheeks as she stepped for ward to take the oath. In a reason ably firm voice and clear enough to De nedrQ IHTOuSnOuI tno COuTI IOCIli she told her story. The widow was dressed in deep mourning and long crepe streamers gave mute evidence of her bereavement. She settled her self back in her chair, and with half closed eyes she awaited the first ques- tion of her attorney.
 She gave her name and the answers to the preliminary questions that brought her LID to the night of the tra- gedy in a subdued voice that was at times hardly audible. Then she be- came more composed and her ans- wers were clear and could be heard all over the room. She told of her meeting with the captain and of her life with him at "Red Gables" up to the early part of October. She swore that she was compelled to leave the house at times because of the abusive habits of her husband.
 Were you at home on the night of October 16?" she was asked. 1T was." What time did the captain come homer" 'I think it was rather late ''
 When did you first see him?" Y first heard him when he entered the house. He seemed to be drunk and heard him cursing as he came up the stairs He came into my room and demanded where my sister, Mrs. Bei- sel, was. I told him that I did not know and then he left the room. slipped on my clothing and went down stairs. I told the servants that was going to the village green hotel. went out for a time, returning la ter" -tt.
 Where was your husband when you returned to the house?' "I could hear him moving about upstairs. He yelled down, Who is that?' I replied that it was me and he rushed out of the room at me as I came up the &0;v hui on f011 r ed. Then, as he tried to grasp hold of me I hit him with the electric flashight that I was carrying. He snatched it from my hand and struck me on the head. We struggled hard and he tried to drag me into his bed room. Finally I broke away from him and as I ran into my room l picked up a big glass vases and threw it at him. It struck him on the head and broke, cutting him. Then he left me alone and I went to the telephone and called up my sister and asked her to come to me at once. I was very much unnerved by his attack.
 During our struggle the captain had pressed me against the edge of the bedroom door and had hurt me so that had struck him repeatedly over the face and nose with the searchlight and until I had bruised him considerably.
 
 was a very powerful man and did not seem to care how badly he was hurt.
 "I threw a heavy cup at him be- fore I threw the vase but he lodged it. The vase lay on a little table in corner of the room and I grabbed it up as I passed
 When you got your sister on the phone what did you say to her?'' T said, Sister, the captain is drunk and torrihlTy friohfnpnH a abused me terribly. Please come to me at once.'"
 Did she come?' 'Yes, she came over and I told her that I was afraid for my life. She said she couldn't stay there all night. that she wouldn't get into any row with the captain.
 My sister then asked me to accom- pany her to the hotel saying unless I did so she would leave me in the house. I asked her to wait until I got my things and slipped across to the bathroom. When I was in the bath room I heard a bolt slide and made up my mind that the captain was locking up for the night. But when I opened the bathroom door he confronted me ordered me to get out of the house. He then made as though to shoot me and I screamed and with him after me. The captain was overtaking me when my sister came out Of the room and interfered. He seemed to be very much surprised and asked her what the h. she was doing there. When my sister demanded that he let me alone he shouted at her. You devils will get all that is coming to you Then he made for her and she ran.
 Mrs. Biesel dodged under his arm and she caught the hand that held the revolver. AS she did so the re- volver went off. They tussled about the room. Finally he got her up against the door of the bathroom and pinned her there. She lost her hold on the revolver and I could see plainly that my husband was trying to gage the muzzle of the pistol so as to get it pointed squarely. 1t was a life and death struggle and there was no mis- taking the threats and curses the cap tain was uttering.
 ''The pair of them swayed back wards and forward, he trying to get full control of the revolver and she trying to get 1t away from him. Fin ally he stumbled.
 ''J could not see how or what caused him to lose his balance but he regain ed it and made for her again Final. ly I saw my sister with a superior ef- fort wrest the revolver from the cap- tains hands and the shooting began She fired five shots, three of which hit him. saw the captain fall to the floor. He tried to roll toward his