The Detroit times., 1909-01-06
WOMAN RE-ENACTS
DEADLY DUEL IN
COURT ROOM
MRS. eelsgL, ACCUSED OF MUIR
DER OF CAPT. ER6, GOES
THROUGH IMAGINARY BATTLE
FOR LIFE AS WITNESS.

MEDIA. Pa, Jan. 5.-Springing from
the witness chair in which she took
her seat this morning TO resume her
account OF the tragedy at Red Gables,
Mrs Catherine Beisel reproduced In
a remarkable manner the struggle out
side of Capt. Erbs' bedroom which end
ed In his death from the revolver
which she turned on him on the night
of Oct. 6.
Her hands clenched and her eyes
flashed The woman VINO Is accuseu
Of murder leaped to and iro on inc
little raised platform before the pa'
of the court. going through an iinasln
airy battle for life with the enraseo
owner of Red Gables.
II grabbed him like this she cried
while the courtroom audience "a'e"
ed her. spellbound.
Il seized the pistol like this ana
pulled II from his grasp. He sIppeu
and fell against the door. Then there
was roar OF shots. don't know
how many shots fired. | don't know
whether / emptied the revolver OF
not. Everything got dark. ! knew
nothing until q crowd OF people were
all around me. | did 1t to save my
poor sister.
"Oh. my God. how horribly she was
treated by that man. He would nave
shot her and he would have shot me
II had not been too quick for MIN.
Mrs. Beisel stood with face upturn.
ed as she said the final words. Her
hands were stretched appealingly to-
ward the jury. Then, placing them
over her face, she burst into hood
of tears and sank Imply into the VIII
ness chair.
JUDGE Rises From Seat.
Judge Johnson had half risen from
his seat during this remarkable scene,
the attorneys both for and against the
woman had as one man stepped To-
ward her as though fascinated. HAIR
of the six hundred persons In the court
room were standing. great sign ran
through the courtroom after IL was
over and there was not a SOUND LOT
several minutes as Mrs. beisel sat
weeping, her shoulders shaking Win
uncomfortable emotion.
Il was at the Village Green hotei
when my sister called me up, SAID
Mrs. Beisel at the outset.
you'll have to come over at once,
she said, the captain Is In a frightlui
humor. He has beaten me terribly. l
never saw him so savage. ! hung up
the receiver and got my coat told
the proprietor | was going to Red
Gables and might be back later In the
night.
IL threw my coat over my shoulders
and hurried up the road to Red Gables.
I found my sister pacing the porch.
She said: oh. Catherine, don't
know what | shall do; the captain has
treated me dreadfully.'
1--WE went upstairs and she went to
her bathroom. went into her room.
Presently heard her scream. | STEP
ped TO the door and saw sight that
paralyzed me. Capt. Erb was at the
door of his room in his pajamas. In
his right hand he held a revolver. He
was pointing 1t at Florence and he
said: Now, I'll get you. This time
I'll have you
Then he saw me, What, you hereT
he yelled. III get rid of you, too
81 ran at him. He threw his arms
I'D In the air. think the first shot
went in the air. We tussled all over
the hall. He pushed me around. l
tried to hold him. He pushed me up
door and the door Of the guest room
The Fatal Shots.
He showed his face against mine.
| hit him a blow and jerked away.
Somehow | got the gun and pushed
and pulled until | wrenched away.
started to run. He grabbed me.
struck at him with all my might. Once
again | got away and again he started
after me- Then turned and fired"
After It was all over do you know
what occurred?" asked Mr.. Fronefield.
Soon after there was a crowd OF
people there, but 1t seems like a
dream
when were you brought to Media ?"
81 don't remember just when. II was
dark. l. know"
DO you remember what you said
about the shooting to the detectves?"
NO"