Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-25
G|RL-W|D0W CALLED
Dorothy Beck Not Allowed to
Tell Story Of Wrongs.
WITNESS FOR FATHER
Recites That Willard Was Asked to
Get Marriage License.
HER MOTHER ALSO TESTIFIES
Husband Wrought Up by Her Ac-
count of Daughters Treatment
by Man He Afterward Killed.
HER MOTHER ALSO TESTIFIES

While the ruling of Justice liould-that
no evidence had been adluced to show
that Albert H. Willard. on trial for his
life in Criminal Court No. l for the muir
der Of his son-in-law, Irving w. Beck.
was mentally incapable at the time OF
the homicide, or that he was possessed
of mentality susceptible OF overthrow
by A statement of alleged wrongs done
to his child-excluded the introduction OF
the story narrated to him. Attorney
Thomas G.. Taylor did not overlook to-
day the opportunity to present the child
wife. Dorothy Willard Beck, to the jury.
She was on the witness stand only five
minutes and testified only that Beck had
directed her father to procure the mar
riage license. The jurors watched her
intently and seemed to observe the child
like appearance Of the girl, who. though
past fifteen years OF age, looks but little
more than twelve.
May Have Effect on Jury.
While the story of her alleged wrongs,
coming from her lips, would have
probably gone a long way toward freeing
her father, her appearance on the stand,
as living exhibit, is expected to have
some weight with the jury.
The defendant took the stand in his
driven mad by the details Of the mar
rative of his childs wrongs told to
him by his wife on the morning Of the
homicide. The government attempted to
prevent Willard telling the story, but
was overruled by the court.
The details include iDdigntfieS Offered
by Beck to the child before the marriage.
and his recourse to unnatural atrocities
subsequent to the ceremony.
A legal discussion. precipdtated by the
lard, wife OF the defendant, to tell the
story Of her child's wrongs as she had
narrated them to her husband. resulted
in a ruling to exclude the telling Of the
story.
Beck's Child-Widow Called.
Attorney Taylor called Dorothy Beck
from the witness room. Dressed In
white sailor waist. cut low in the neck,
and a blue skirt falling scarcely below
her knees: bareheaded and having her
wavy tresses gathered and held by a bow
Of black ribbon, the girl took the witness
stand.
To a casual observer she seemed a
mere child, summoned from play to tes-
tify in the important matter Of the life
or liberty Of her father. She was free
from nervousness, and answered distinct
~ and unhesitatingly the questions put
to her by her counsel. AS her testimony
was limited by the courts ruling. she was
not subjected to cross-examination
Are you married. asked Attorne!
Taylor.
Yes; / was married April 49,"
lat the time where were you iving?
"On 9th street southeast"
MIR. Willard Is your father!
Yes
Meeting in Beck's Store.
Were you at Becks store any tim'
April 16, Friday?"
Yes. sir; I was
WAS your father thereT'
Yes
WAS Beck there?'
Yes"
Ibid your father receive letter from
Beck, few days after, concerning you
MARRIAGE"
Yes. SIR
The witness then identified a letter from
Beck directing Willard to procure tn
license. The letter was offered In evi
dence.
Willard Speaks in Own Behalf.
After the child's testimony was com
pleted Willard was called to the stand.
He gave his age as forty-one years
his birthplace as Ellicott City, Nd. and
his occupation craneman at the nav,
yard, where he had been employed fol
eighteen years Asked as to his &C
quaintance with Beck, he answered thai
he had known him by the family having
dealt with him
In response to the inquiry If he knew
he had killed Beck. witness said:
Not then. But l know now.'
He declared that he had been driven
to his acts by the account of his daugh.
ter'S wrongs and did not remember the
purchase of the pistol or the homicide
which followed. He then proceeded to
relate the story it had come to him
He said on the morning of the kill
ing his wife told him Beck had taken
t he child to Fish alley. South Wash
ington. and had there forced her to
smoke and drink and also to do i'm
proper things. Similar actions on pre-
vious occasions. he seys, were includ-
ed in the wife's story.
Parents Hunt for Child.
He said he had hunted the child
after Beck had taken her from the
house where he had agreed to leave
her and pay IS a week for her board
He was unable to find her. The wife
went to Beck's store the night pre-.
ceding the tragedy. but returned with
out information of the girls where.
abouts.
The opportunities of his wife, added
to her story. overthrow his mental
equilibrium, he said. He could not, ht
| declared. recall the pistol buying o,
the shooting.
United States Attorney Baker cross-ex
amined the witness. and made him admit
that he had hunted the child In question
able localities before the narration to hin
of the details by mis- wife. Mr. Bake.
then detailed the purchase of the pistol
the visit to Becks store, and said:
rs this not so? Didn't you do that?'
I'm all mixed up the defendant an.
| swered. 4 may have. | guess that.
right. I'm SO muddled I don't remem
| her."
Defense Closes Its Case.
| With the testimony of the defendant
Attorney Taylor, for the defense, closed
his case. The government summoned
several aiienistS who testified that from