The Washington times., 1909-05-07
Child Widow Greets Father
at Morgue Without Any
Emotion.
WITNESSES RECOUNT
SHOOTING OF GROCER
Neither Accused, His Wife, Nor
His Daughter Pay Attention
TO Proceedings.

While the fourteen-year-old child
widow, on account of whom the
tragedy occurred, looked on in child
ish wonder today, Albert Willard
faced a coroners jury at the District
morgue and answered to the charge
of shooting down yesterday Irving
w. Beck, who recently married
Wizards daughter, and whose death
resulted because he refused to reveal
her whereabouts.
After but a few minutes delibera-
ton, the jury held Willard for the
action of the grand jury, and he was
taken to the District Jail. The body
Of his victim had been removed from
the Morgue but a few minutes be-
fore.
Wife Leaves With Mother.
Doubtless advised that the Jury
probably would hold Willard for the
action of the grand jury, Dorothy
and her mother left the morgue be
fore the verdict was returned.
Beck's body has been taken to an uu-
dertakIng esta blishment. The funeral
viii take place from the Beck family
residence 202 y street southeast. at ?
o'clock, Monday afternoon
The cOroner's jury was composed Of
H r Meader, L H. Johnson, W. H
Hooper, William n. Darlington, NJ. A.
Tanzer, and F. L. Osterman.
Assistant District Attorney Charles
Turner was present at the inquest. but
asked few questions Of the witnesses
This policy wGs pursued by Mr. Taylor.
neither side showing its full hand ar the
preliminary hearing.
Willard, who Wrenched his ankle
when he fell out Of the door of Bscks
store after the shooting, had to be as
sisted into the hearing room at the
mOrgue this morning by two policemen
He Is q short, thick-set man. with
eyes set back in his head. surmonnted
by shaggy eyebrows His demeanor dur
ing the inquest was one OF composure.
4
brought TO the District Attorneys office
upon a special subpoena. and a state
mert was secured from her. At the
inquest. an unsuccessful effort was
made by Assistant District Attorney
Turner to interview the child. Attorney
Taylor and willard both objected 10 the
young widow being Interviewed by the
authorities.
A detective from the District attor-
neys office, detailed to follow her. sue
ceeded In locating her in a lunch room
after she left the protection Of the
lawyer. and served the subpoena upon
her.
Are Not Witnesses.
Neither Willard, his wife, nor the lit
tie girl, who returned to the parental
roof last night, were given an oppol-
tunity today TO be heard. Their pres
enee in the court room, however, while
the witnesses for the Government told
how Beck had been shot at his place
Of business, 200 n street southeast, was
a story within itself Twice Attorney
Thomas c. Taylor. representing the de-
fendant, had the girl bride arise from
her seat in the rear of the court room
in order that Sue might be identified by
witnesses as Lle cause of the fatal
affray-
Demands His Daughter.
The witnesses were all practically
agreed as TO the manner in which Beck
net his death Willard. they said, en-
Tered the store shortly after noon. aud
demanded to know II Dorothy, ais
daughter, anJ the bride of three weeks.
was to be allowed to return home.
Beck, waiting on a customer at the
time, simply replied,
Dorothy says she is not coming home,
and TO tell you that she does not want
YOU to know where she Is.
Then Willard. the witnesses testified.
whipped pearl-handled revolver from
his pocket and fired three bullets into
his son-in-law.
The meeting between the father and
the girl widow which occurred hair
an hour before the inquest began, was
affecting IN Its simplicity. Her eyes
dropping, she entered the ante-roOm OF
the mOrgue, where two big policemen
stood guard over her father, and with
a queer little smile, extended her hand
The nervous parent took II, held II a
moment shook IL twice, drew the girl
toward him and bowed his head. There
was no other greeting Not word
passed between the two and moment
later the girl and her mSther walked
TO the opposite side OF the room and
took their seats. 4
Ike a Child.
The little Widows figure and bearing
are extremely girlish, in fact almost
childIike. She wore dress OF white,
coming barely to the top Of her shoes.
Her hair was half way down her back
Her features are small and delicate;
her ewes are large and have at ali
times a look Of childish innocence and
amusement, rather than the reelection
of a woman's understanding.
She is scarcely five feet tail and rot
well developed for her age. An eXcia-
nation Of surprise came to almost eE-
cry lip as she stood for the first time.
the center OF attraction. in the diuSs
little mcrg1e room this morning.
Even while Coroner hewitt and Tie