The Washington herald., 1909-05-07

Shooting Of q husband by his irate IA
ther-in-law yesterday assumed the Fro
portions OF a murder last night with the
death Of Irving " Beck.
A few minutes after physicians pro
aOunced him dead. a charge OF murder
Sas substituted for the charge Of assault
Eith intent to kill against Albert Il VIII
Erd. accused Of the shooting
The next chapter in the tragedy. which
kas created a sensation in the southeast,
where both men lived. VIII be the inquest
over the body OF Beck at the District
norgue. where the story Of the events
leading up to the shooting viii be re-
cited
AT this inquest # is probable an un-
usual story viii be told by Mrs. Beck.
fourteen years old. who was Dorothy
Willard until three months ago. The girl
Is stunned by the tragedy which robbed
her Of a husband and placed her father
behind the bars Of a cell. charged with
a crime often punished with death.
Two Principals silent
Around this child wife is woven a tale
far more romantic than those usually told
IN novels. and only she can tell the story.
for her husbands lips are closed by
death and her father Is forbidden 10 speak
By attorneys.
For three months Willard has harbored
in his breast the anger Of a father who
believes his daughter had been wrong
fully taken from him This pent-up Ire
sm0ldered within him. bursting out sud
denly. Almost before ne himself knew
H. his hand went to a hip pocket, drew a
revolver. and three shots rang out each
shot sending a bullet into the body Of the
man whom he believed 10 be responsible
for his sorrow.
TIE shooting happened IN a grocery
store conducted by Beck al 30 y street
southeast. about 19.30. o'clock in the after
noon. The Willard family lives at oak
street Willard IS employed as q crane
man al the navy yard. Until April I9
last Beck was good friend Of the VIII
lard family, but on that date he married
Dorothy Willard. then a pupil in the
sixth grade al the LenOx School Beck
was thirty-tbree years old
Willard declares Beck took his child
away from her home and refused 10 di-
vulge the girls whereabouts. Both he and
Mrs Willard were crazed by the untimely
marriage Of their daughter, and they
we're made frantic when Beck would not
tel them where he was keeping the girl
For three months these relations con
tinued
Father Buys RevoIvers.
About 10 O'Clock yesterday morning.
Willard went 10 the navy yard and re-
oeived MS salary, and then. according TO
his own admission, proceeded 10 saloon
where he drank . glass Of whisky and a
stein Of beer. It is thought the father
broOded over his sorrow 50 that he did
not know what he was doing In some
manner he procured two pistols. but he
cannot recall where he obtained them or
fVr what purpose.
Excited and agitated he went to Beck's
grocery store and entered. The sight OF
his son-ln-Iaw enraged the father
Standing across the narrow floor. he con
fronted Beck and demanded:
What are you going 10 do about it7''
Beck answered: The girl Is not com
ing home. and am not going to tell YOU
where she is
Beck's answer was his death sentence.
Three shots were fred from the revolver.
which Willard had drawn. and Beck was
mortally wounded. He did not faU but
ran 20 the street. probably with the idea
of eluding the vengeance Of his father-in-
law. He was followed BY Willard. who
carried the Smoking weapon in his hand
Beck reached the street. and collapsed
Willard saw the man fall, and then
pitched headlo1g down fight OF steps
leading from the doorway OF the store 20
the pavement. He sustained 4 deep cut in
the face. and his features were badly
bruised by the fall
Gilbert Jackson, employed by the Dis
trict engineer department. was passing.
and heard the shots. followed by The ap-
pearance Of Beck and Willard. Jackson
wrenched the revolver from Willard.
while A. E. Arneson. who was aIso. near
went C the assistance OF the wounded
man.
The only witness Of the shooting IS said
70 BE- Frederick Zuschnitt. a brother-in-