New-York tribune., 1909-01-03

but she had not It for two weeks before ths
tragedy. as Erb had taken it from her.
On one ocasion." Mrs. Ero said. my husband
dismissed colored maid. The maid was angry and
sad several things the captain Then she turned
20 Pouison the coachTnan, and called him snake
In the grass. I said Yes, know he Is
You ara a liar,' said Pou!son TO me. and Cap
tain Erb stood and laughed. and never resented
that niger calling a liar"
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY
Court here took the noon recess At the efter-
noon session Mrs. Erb. coming down 10 the day OF
the tragedy told OF visiting Olney near Philadel-
phia. to look a house. intending TO live apart
from her husband after she had succeeded in max
ing a settlement with him. She and her sister
returned to the house late IN the afternoon, and
learned that Captain Erb intended coming home
that night. Mrs. Erb said her husband had planned
90 remain in Philadelphia several days. When she
learned he coming home she advised her sister
10 return 10 Philadelphia, but It finally decided
that Mrs Beisel should stay at the Village Green
Hotel by
When Captain Erb came home. she continued, he
learned from OF the servants that Mrs Beisel
had been at the house. and he few into rage and
began TO make search for her swearing and
making threats Prior TO this Erb had legal
paper served upon Mrs. Beisel warning her to keep
off his premises
Mrs. Erb said she avoided her husband and in
the evening went TO the hotel. with two maids and
remained there with Mrs. Beisel until late in the
evening She told her sister that Erb not in
humor make g settlement
Going back the house, Erb went the
second floor ty way Of the back stairs Captain
ETb, she said, wanted 70 know who there, and
she replied it was she She hurried her steps,
but Captain Erb rushed out OF his room. fully
dressed.
He struck me on the breast said she. and he
tried 10 pull me into his room. I fought him and
finally got away. and picked up a brass cuspadore
and threw Z az him. l did not stop to whether
It struck him. but 10 my room. 1 heard him
following cursinG He was almost upon me.
when I grabbed UP = OF flowers and hurled
II at him. Then l got into my room and locked
door.
Presently al was quiet and l heard
sweeping the carpet. as though the broken glass
being swept up. After H while looked out
and q one and ! ran the telephone and
summoned my sister.
When she came she went into the la throom. and
I went TO my room. My sister came out OF the
bathroom Just my husband left his room
dressed IN his pa1amas and carving a revolver
Captain Er5 aimed the pisto! at me as I came
my room and exclaimed: III get rid OF you
now l screamed and into my room
Mrs Beisel." continued Mrs Erb she
urged by her counsel few my husband.
heard shutting of feet and then I heard a shot.
Then more shots. When all quiet looked out
OF my room and 7 my husband lying his
face and my sister unconscious the floor be-
side him ran wildly down the stairs TO call for
help"
AS Mrs Erb finished her story she broke into
tears and wept bitterly.
on cross examination Mrs Erb admitted that
she had lived with Erb before she married him.
and in explaining why she did not leave him when
he treated her brutaIIy. she alleged che
said that she all the time trying TO force him
TO marry her. After they were married, she de-
Clared. she decided to stay until he made some
provision her. she did intend to be
driven out into The cold.
Mrs. Erb stIn the stand when court ad-
tourned until Monday.