Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-06
ERb CASE WITH JURY
Defense Is Hopeful of Verdict
of AcquittaI.
MAY KNOW FATE TODAY
Attorney Rhodes Makes Final Plea
for Accused Sisters.
DISAGREEMENT IS POSSIBLE
Mrs. Beisel, on Stand Yesterday,
Gave Graphic Story Of Her
Struggle With Erb.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MEDIA, January 6.-Mrs. NJ. Florence
Erb and Mrs. Catharine Besel, OH trial
for the killing of Capt. j. Clayton Erb at
Red Gables October g last, may know
their fate this afternoon.
Frank b. Rhodes of defendants counsel
made the closing plea for the defense
this morning. In an impassoned address
he called upon the jury to acquit both
Mrs. Erb and her sister. proclaimns that
the testimony showed unequivocaliy that
Mrs. Beisel shot Capt. Erb in defense of
herself and her sister.
The defense is confident that both ac-
cused women will be acquitted. Con-
sentative Media is not so sure.
While opinion seems to favor Mrs Erb
strongly, there, nevertheless, is marked
feeling that the jury will disagree. 1t is
thought here that the fate of Mrs. Beisel
will be the point upon which the jury Will
split.
has made out strong case of premedi-
tated murder. Nevertheless it is not
thought likely that all the jurors will be
inclined to give Mrs. Beisel her freedom.
Still, it is regarded as probable that the
plea of absolutely sef-defense has found
acceptance with some, if not all, the
twelve men.
Mrs. Beisel's Story.
Mrs. Beisel yesterday re-enacted on the
witness stand the tragedy of Red Gables
as she said she remembered it. She
swore that she killed j. Clayton Erb, her
brother-in-law. in self-defense and that
her sister and codefendant took no part
in the killing.
civ ,1,ir fac
10 tell of the actual killing, but so rapid
was her recital and dramatic in its
accompaniment of gesticula ton that it
seemed that not half that time was con-
sumed.
o actress of long years ironing in the
players profession could have held an
audience in such breathless tensity as did
this woman. who has had few advantages
OF education and most OF whose life has
been spent in a bookbindery. The court
room was crowded more than on any
previous day during the trial
Most of the spectators were women. As
the defendant on the witness stand broke
into her narrative of the struggle with
E.rb outside his bedroom on the second
floor of Red Gables. everybody even
Judge Johnson, pressed forward and be-
came quiet.
When she finished a great sigh of relief
went up from the body of the courtroom.
Many women half rose from their seats
and the moment found Judge johnson
standing. with head bent forward, I'M
aware, seemingly, that the story was
done.
Opening the Story.
Mrs. Beisel began by telling how she
had gone TO the Village Greer Inn, a
five minutes walk from Red Cables
there TO spend the night because E.rb
had forbidden her his house. She would
have stayed at Red Gables If Erb had
not returned Unexpectedly from Phila-
delphia.
Between $50 and $40 O'Clock Mrs. Erb
had telephoned her to go TO Red Gables
Mrs. Erb told her that apt. Erb had
beaten her terribly: that she had never
seen him so savage
Mrs. Beisel hurried 10 Red Gables and
Mrs. Erb met her the porch She
listened TO her sisters tale of ill-treat-
ment and suggested that Mrs Erb had
better spend the night with her at VII
lage Green Inn. Mrs. Erb said she would
stairs with her while she got some
things.
They went to Mrs. Erb's bedroom. and
the mistress of Red Gables left her there
while she went TO the bathroom.
"A few minutes passed" said Mrs.
BeiselS land then l heard my sister
scream. stepped to the bedroom door
and opened it, l beheld siSat that
paralyzed me. Capt. Erb was at the
His right arm was outstretchea and in
I y hand he held Il revolver. He was
pointing il at Florence.
Mrs Beisel was standing and her right
arm was extended toward the jury. -