Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
Mrs. Erb Reiterates Her In
n0cence of Crime.
NO PART IN THE KILLING
Subject of Merciless Grilling on the
Stand Today.
CONFESSED TO C0WARDICE
Did Not Have Nerve to Emerge
From Bathroom While Husband
Grappled With Sister.

MEDIA. Pa, January 4.-Judge john
son. in the trial Of Mrs. NJ. Florence Erb
and her sister. Mrs. Catharfne Beisel, for
the murder Of Capt. j. Clayton Ero. In
October last, appears to be determined to
keep out Of the proceedings any unnec-
essary scandal not directly bearing on the
case. Mrs. Erb. who was under cross
examination when court adjourned Satur-
day, was again on the stand today. Dis
trict Attorney Macdade continued his ex-
animation in an attempt to break down
her story that she had been cruelty treat
ed by her husband.
The district attorney endeavOred to
find out from the witness whether she
had lived with another man before she
went to Red Gables. the Erb country
home. but the question was objected to
by the defense.
Mr.. Macdade said he asked the ques-
ton because Saturday the witness said
she had stood for Erb's treatment be-
cause she did not want her mother to
know of her relations with Erb. He
wanted to show, he said. that Mrs. Erb
could have had no such twtnges Of
conscience"
No tthe Innocent Claimed.
Il want to prove" he said, that she
was not the innocent she pictures herself
to have been; that she had no reason for
staying at Red Gables, and that, there
fore, she could not have been so cruelty
treated as she says"
The court, however, sustained the OBJ
lection.
Mrs. Erb denied having been unduly
familiar with certain men whose names
were not mentioned, and said she had
fired a revolver out of window to scare
Capt. Erb from coming back to the house
after he. had dragged her out OF bed one
morning.
Following a long series Of questions re-
garding the events of the night. Mr.. Mac
dade asked:
Never Encouraged Sister.
will you declare upon your oath you
had no hand In the killing Of your hus-
band in any PARTICULAR
Il had not"
do you mean to say you never en-
couraged your sister to kill him?'
Never encouraged her. My sister al
ways wanted peace"
Mrs Erb," said Macdade sternly. IT
you had no hand in 1t how did your hus-
band get that wound on his hand?'
Il don't know how he got them"
You cannot throw any light on the
actual killing?"
L
Was a Coward From Abuse.
You say you remained locked in that
bathroom while your sister grappIed
alone with Capt. Erb?"
II was q coward from abuse and Ill
treatment and l dared not go to my sis
ters assistance. l did not have the
nerve
You. the fox hunter. accustomed to
firearms and horses; you lost your
nerve?"
Yes" said Mrs. Erb.
BAH said Mr.. Macdade in apparent
disgust, and he gave up the cross-exams
ination.
w. Roger Fronefeld, of her counsel,
took her. in hand LOT redirect examina-
ton.
Heard Thumps and Bumps.
Here the judge asked:
What did you hear after you got in
side?" he asked.
II heard thumps and bumps, then one
shot, then more bumps and thumps q
groan as II from Capt. Erb, then more
shots, then silence"
Mr.. Macdade again went over the de-
tails.
What exactly did he call you
II don't care to say
What did you hear after you were in
the bathroom? Did you hear any words
spoken?'
NO, it was all confused. sounding
sound
Then. when you came out, you saw
the captain lying on the foor''
Il saw his face" Mrs. Erb answered
with a Shudder,