Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
I ran to the telephone and summoned my


When she came she went into the
bathroom and l went to my room. NJ
sister came out of the bathroom just -
my husband left his room. dressed in his
pajamaS and carrying a revolver.
Capt. Erb aimed the pistol at me as
came out of my room and exclaimed: 1'E
get rid of you now. 1 screamed and ran
into my room.
Mrs. Beisel." continued Mrs Erb as
she was urged on by her counsel flew
at my husband. | heard Shuff1ing of feet
and then 1 heard a shot Then more
shots
When all was quiet looked out OF my
room. l saw my husband lying on his
face and my sister unconscious on the
floor beside him. l ran wildly down the
stairs to call for help
AS the widow finished her story Of that
fatal night she broke into tears and wept
| bitterly.
After Mrs Erb had recovered her COM
posure she told of Incidents following the
shooting and was then turned over to
District Attorney Macdade for cross-ex-
animation. 1t had taken her four hours
TO tell her story.
Mrs. Erb Cross-Examined.
Mr.. Macdade at once began to try to de-
stroy the sympathy of the jury aroused
by her account of the two years a; Red
Gables. Forcing her to admit that she
had been operated upon several times
before 1900, the year she went to Red
Gables to live the district attorney
sought to show that the injuries she COM
planned of as having been inflicted by her
husband were really the effects OF
trolley car accident. This she denied.
Under fire OF questions the widow said
she met Erb in 1902, went to live with
him at Red Gables in 1906 and married
Erb November ,. 1907. In New York city.
She said she had trouble with Erb the
first night She went to live with him at
Red Gables, and further said that he told
her after their marriage that he was
going to get a divorce from her.
Didn't he make accusations, naming
certain PERSONS" she was asked
Yes But they were not true"
Who were these persons?'
Il don't want to say
why not"
Because there was no truth in the ac-
cusations. He insuited ME by making
them. and I told him So
She denied that she had man visitors
at Red Gables while her husband was al
the republican national convention in Chi
cago in June. or while he was with the
Sd Pennsylvania Regiment in the gov
eminent camp in New York state.
In Ter direct testimony Mrs. Erb told
of visiting a lawyer In cross-examna-
ton she said she went to see the lawyer
in regard to getting a legal separation.
Love Letters Tor Erb.
The district attorney then produced a
number OF letters which tended to show
that Erb entertained affections for his
wife Some OF the letters she admit ed
having received; others she did not re-
member seeing. Mrs. Erb said she did
not place much confidence in his letters.
Dropping the letters Mr.. MacDade took
up the subject OF fox hunting, of which
Mrs. Erb was fond. and then asked the
witness how she got money from the
captain.
IT absolutely refused to talk or eat
with him." she said.
when I wanted money put notes I'M
der his door or l got servants to ask
him for 1t. l had been instructed by
my lawyers to stay in the house until
settlement was completed
At this point the district attorney
brought out. in attacking Mrs. Erb's
story. the one thing that her testimony
had lacked-an explanation for the fact
that she had stayed at Red Gables and
endured Capt. Erb's alleged tyranny
You lived at Red Gables from May,
1906, to November, 1907, before Capt
ErD made you his Wife said the district
treated you brutally?'
HE held me up to the world as his
wife, replied Mrs. Erb with a sob. "He
had introduced me to his sisters and his
friends, and rather than let my old
mother know the truth I stayed to force
him to marry me. ] felt that I would
rather suffer death than have my mother
know.
We'll why did You stay after you
were married. asked Mr. MacDade
Il was sick, broken In health and spir-
its; l had no money. and I wished to
force him 10 make provision for ME. [
had been beaten. irsulted and derided in
his efforts to get rid OF me; I resolved
Did Not Aim at Bald Spot.
Taking up the night of the murder. Oc-
tober 6. Mr.. MacDade questioned Mrs.
Erb about the quarrel which preceded the
shooting.
Did you have any bruises after the en-
counter at the door when your husband
| struck you with a hand searchlight?''
Yes. bruises on my arm, on my body
and on my shins.''
| Ibid you hit Capt. Erb with the search
| Light
YES; hit him OH the head
You aimed a his bald spot?
NO: 1 struck out at random
Didn't you tell your friends that YOU
always aimed at his bald Spot:'
No"
Asked why she didn't call assistance the
night Of the tragedy, she replied that her
husband had instructed the servants
never TO obey her.
why didn't you get OUT?
Il didn't think OF II. I wish l had now"
Then followed long croSS-eXamnation
regarding the cartridges she used in her
own pistol.
The court then adjourned until Monday
morning with the widow still under crosS-
examination. She had been on the stand
seven hours.