Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-03
Mrs. Frederick Beach.
Mystery Of Cutting of Society
Woman Stirred Aiken, S. c.,
Millionaire Colony.

AIKEN, S. c., Sept. 3.-Frederick G.
Beach and Mrs. Beach are expected in
Aiken within a few days for the trial
set for the September term of court. in
which the millionaire clubman is
charged with attacking his wife one
moonlight night last February with
intent tosklik'
Though the Beaches are reconciled
and apparently happy again. Inc rros-
ecutlng attorney says he is confident Of
conVicting the wealthy member of the
winter tourist colony and SHOWING tbo
fashionable set that it can not violate
0outh Carollna's laws with impunitv
beach and his wife have been a1ests
at party on J. Pierpont Morea MS
yacht the Corsair, in Newport harhor
the last week. They left the Yacht YES
terday and went TO Dark Harbor for .
snort stay before coming to Aiken
where Beach will consult his attor-
neys. He declares the charge is ali
surd.
M ). Baughn. OF Atlanta, A sneciaI
agent who acted as detective in the
case. testified at the preliminary hear
ing that he had heard Beach make in
terminating statements against him
SELF small gold handled knife
winch Mrs. Beach said her assaiIant
nao used, was afterward found in
Beachs possession, covered with blood
stains. Beach denied any knowledge
OF the assault and his wife supported
him in his contention
Attack Was Mysterious.
The attack on Mrs Beach was =
mysterious affair, which disrupted the
colony OF millionaires who make Aiken
their winter home. The story that
first gained circulation was. to the eff
feet that Mrs. Beach was returning TO
her home when strange man. SUD
posed to have been a negro. sprang at
her, knocked her down and then
slashed her throat with sharp knife.
The screams of Mrs. Beach when her
assatlant first sprang at her attracted
attention, and he was pursued. but
lodged into an alley and escaped. She
swooned and was taken into the house.
where she was attended by a physi-
clan. Afterward she declared that #
was a negro who attacked her-one
that she did not know and did not re
member ever having seen before
In spite of many denials, a rumor
soon gained circulation which involved
Mr.. Beach in the attack on his wife
1t was the subject for "A great deal Of
discussion and speculation among the
members Of the New York colony and
local society folk, and was commented
upon in the local press.
The gossip became so pronounced
that c.. oliver Iselin sent letter to
Mayor Gyles, in which he offered a
reward of $500 for the apprehension
and conviction of the person response
BILE for the assault on Mrs Beach. The
Isein letter openly rebuked the gos-
sips, but, instead e allaying the ru-
mors, it had tendency to increase
them.
Tried to Hush 1t Up.
The latter spurred the mayor to make
a thorough investigation. He did not
issue a statement of the disclosures
which he succeeded in bringing about,
and had allowed the colony to think the
matter had been allowed to die a nat
ural death when. without intmation. he
caused a warrant to be sworn out for
Beauty" Beach, charging him with as
sault and battery on his wife,
The members Of the colony lined up
solidly against the Aiken authorities
and baked the Investigation as best
they could. Everything possible was
done to hush up the affair when it Vas
found that Mayor Gyles was deter
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