Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
DID NOT SEE ERB SLAIN
Wife Found Him Dead and
Sister in Faint.
TELLS OF TRAGIC NIGHT
Dramatic Recital Occupies Seven
Hours in Telling.
STORY OF SAVAGE BRUTALITY
Did Not Leave Erb Because She
First Wanted Him to Wed Her
and Then to Settle.
STORY OF SAVAGE BRUTALIT.

MEDIA. IA, January tn urd-
matte recital of wrongs alleged to have
been inflicted upon her, Mrs. NJ. Florence
Erb. who. with her sister, Mrs. Catharine
Beisel, is charged with the murder of
Capt. J. Clayton Erb, at the Erb country
home on the night OF October 6. told a
story of almost savage cruelty that ere
ated sensation today in the Delaware
county courtroom, where the trial has
been in progress since Tuesday.
Capt Erb, her husband, prominent
member of the National Guard of Penn
sylvania, confidential man to Israel w
Durham. the republican leader of Phila-
delphia, and, by virtue of his political
affiliations, well known all over Penn
sylvania as a good fellow" was held up
by his wife today having committed
deeds OF brutality that startled all who
heard it.
Mrs. Erb was on the stand for seven
hours. She is one of the first witnesses
called by the defense, which opened it's
side of the case today.
The commonwealth claimed the shoot
ing of Capt. Erb was deliberate. The
defense is trying to show that Erb was
killed by Mrs Beisel in self-defense.
Mrs Erb told Of her life at Fed
Gables. the Erb country home, since
1906, when she first went to live there
with Erb. She told narrowing story
of having been beaten, thrown out of the
house on cold nights and Of having been
called vile names by the husband on
many occasions. Quarrels, she alleged,
were Of daily occurrence. Even some Of
The servants in the house, she further
alleged, insulted her. and she was only
laughed at by her usband
She did not see the actual shooting, she
declared, but recounted the quarrel she
had with the captain prior to the shoot
ing, during which she threw several
household articles at him when lie at
tempted to shoot her. Fearing for her
life. she went on to say. she sent for her
sister. who came to her assistance, and
the shooting followed.
Lived With Erb Before Marriage.
On cross-examination the widow admit
ted she had lived with Erb. before she
married him In explaining why she did
not leave him when he treated her so bru-
tally, as she alleged, the widow said she
was all the time trying to force him TO
marry her After they We're married she
declared she decided to stay until he had
made some provision for her, she did
not intend to be driven out into the cold.
Mrs Erb was still the stand when
court adjourned until Monday. Several
times during her seven hours ordeal she
broke down and wept Historically. The
proceedings had to be suspended until she
had Gained herself.
Mrs Erb was dressed in deep mourning.
When she took the stand she removed her
veil and revealed her face for the first
time during the trial. Her skin was I'm
usually white. and there was a slight
flush on her cheeks.
With her eyes riveted on w. Roger
Fronefield chief counsel for the accused
women, Mrs. Erb took up day after day
when her life was threatened or her body
bruised by her husbands alleged terrible
assaults.
District Attorney Macdade seldom en-
tered an objection. reserving his attack
as to the truth OF the woman's story
until dis chance came TO cross-eXamne
her.
Mrs. Erb told Of her husband having
a warrant sworn out for her, alleging
that she attempted to poison him and of
his withdra wing the charge. She also told
OF other charges the husband made
against her and Of his having men watch
her.
Erb Wanted to Be Single Again.
The witness story grew more interest
band told his friends never to get mar
ried. He said to his friends, the widow
continues:
TN soon be a bachelor again-soon be
back to the happy hunting ground with
you. I'll get rid of this woman using a
vile name.
Mrs. Erb said her sister had been to
Red Gables only on rare intervals. She
further said that the revolver used to
kill Capt. Erb was her own. but she
had not seen it for two weeks before
the tragedy, Erb had taken ii from
her
.On ore occasion" Mrs Erb said.
my husband dismissed colored maid
The maid was angry and said several
things TO the captain. Then she turned
to Poulson, the coachman. and called
him snake in the grass.
II SAID, Yes. l now he is
"'You are a liar said Poulson TO me.
Capt. Erb stood and laughed. and never
resented that niger calling me a liar"
District Attorney Macdade won a tech
meal victory. just before court adjourned
for recess when the judge sustained his
objection to Mrs. Erb telling of the pow
derS carried by the captain, which, the
defense contends. caused his alleged ILL
ness from poisoning on September IL Mrs.
Erb told of the charge made by the cap
tain that she had attempted to poison him
and declared it TO be not true
Mrs. Erb was still on the stand when
court took recess.
AT the afternoon session Mrs. Erb re-
freshed from her ordeal OF the morning.
continued her story of the happenings
about Red Gables.
Prepared to Leave Erb.
Coming down to the day of the tragedy,
Mrs. Erb told of visiting Olney.' near
Philadelphia. to look at house, intend
ing to live apart from her husband after
she had succeeded in making a settle
ment with him. She and her sister re-
turned to the house late in the afternoon
and learned that Capt. Erb intended COM
ing home that night.
Mrs. Erb said the captain had planned
TO remain in Philadelphia several days.
When she learned he was coming home
she advised her sister to return to
Philadelphia. 1t was finally decided that
Mrs. Beisel should stay at the Village
Green Hotel, nearby.
When Capt. Erb came home, she con-
tinued, he learned from one of the serv-
ants that Mrs Beisel had been at the
house. He flew into a rage and began
to make search for her, swearing and
making threats all the time. Prior to
this, E.rb had a legal paper served upon
Mrs. Beisel, warning her to keep off his
premises.
Mrs. Erb said she avoided the captain.