The Washington times., 1909-05-08
DESPERATION, PLEA
WILLARD WILL Use
Father of Beck's Child-Wife
Feared Disgrace, Coun-
sci Hints.

That the defense of Albert willard,
who lies today in the District jail, held
by the Coroner's jury for the killing of
irving w. Beck, the n street grocer
who recently married fourteen-year-oId
Dorothy Willard, viii allege the faith
er's desperation" EeGause he thought
his child was in dalsger of disgrace,
and because of brooding over alleged
past relations between his daughter and
Beck, was the assertion made this
morning by persons interested in VIII
lard's case.
Willard IS at present awaiting the ac-
tion of the grand jury. It is not known
when that body viii take up his case
At present the District Attorneys Of
fee is busy gathering evidence.
According to the story OF the defense.
Beck had been acquainted with Dorothy
Willard for almost two years previous
to the shooting last Thursday. In that
time, it is asserted. he wrote the child
many letters, directed either to her
home or to a letter box which he secur-
ed at a postoffice substation. Also he
frequently took her out in the evening.
Learns Of the Case.
It is asserted that Willard first be-
came aware Of the friendship between
his child and Beck many months ago.
Mrs. Willard said on the day of the
shooting that people had commenced
to talk about Dorothy and Beck and
it had come to the ears of Willard that
the child and the man had been seen
coming out Of questionable places.
Last September. according to the de-
Tense, Willard succeeded in getting Beck
TO say that he would have no more to
do with Dorothy, and that he would
break off all relations with her Just
how long the grocer kept his promise
is not known today, but some time later
he began writing letters TO her ONE
more.
The father, however, according to the
story, did not become desperate until
recently, when he feared some disgrace.
When his daughter left home with Beck
all the months OF worry eliminated in
the frenzy which led to the shooting.
Must Child Wife Testify7
There will be a decision OF great inter
est 10 attorneys in the District, and Ia
fact, to attorneys everywhere, when
Justice Anderson on Monday gives Dis
trict Attorney Baker a hearing on the
question of whether or not he has the
r1ght to require Mrs. Beck to make a
statement before him.
The right of the District Attorney to
require persons to make statements be-
fore him, has never been questioned be-
fore In the District. so far as is known
T. c. Taylor attorney for Willard, sur
prised the District Attorney yesterday
afternoon when that official tried TO
get a statement from Mrs. Seek. by cit
ing a New York case similar to this
In the New York instance District At
torney Jel ONE tried to get a statement
from an interested party.
Counsel for this party APPEALED TO the
courts, which decided that the district
attorneys office had no legal right to
require any person to make a statement.
Attorney Taylor believes that with due
consideration Of that decision Mrs. Beck
cannot be forced to make statement
before District Attorney Baker.
So far as any trial may be concerned,
such a decision would not hold, but Mrs
Beck, according to Mr.. Taylor, can not
be made to testify TO anything that
might tend to disgrace her"