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

! AIKEN. :. 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 to kill"
| Though the Beaches are reconciled
and apparently happy again, the pros
ecuting attorney says he is confident of
convicting the wealthy member of the
winter tourist colony and showing the
fashionable set that it can not violate
South Cardinals laws with impunity.
Beach and his wife have been guests
at party on J. Pierpont Morgans
| yacht, the Corsair, in Newport harbor,
the last week. They left the yacht yes
! terdaY and went to Dark Harbor for
short stay before coming to Aiken,
| where Beach will consult his attor-
neYs. He declares the charge is alb
surd.
| NJ. S. Baughn, of Atlanta, a special
agent who acted rs detective in the
case. testified at the preliminary hear
| ing that he had heard Beach make in
! eliminating statements against him
self. A small gold handled knife,
which Mrs. Beach said her assailant
had used, was afterward found in
Beach's 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 a
mysterious affair. which disrupted the
colony Of miItonaires 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 a strange man, sup
| posed to have been a negro, sprang at
! her knocked her down and then
sIashed her throat with \ sharp knife.
The screams Of Mrs. Beach when her
assailant first sprang at her attracted
attention. and lie was pursued, but
lodged into an alley and escaped. She
swooned and was taken into the house,
where she was attended by physi-
clan. Afterward she declared that 1t
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, rumor
soon gained circulation which involved
Mr.. Beach in the attack on his wife.
1t was the subject for 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 a letter to
Mavor 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
! Iselin letter openly rebuked the gos-
sips. but. instead of allaying the ru-
mors. it had tendency to increase
them.
! Tried to Hush 1t Up.
The latter spurred the mayor to make
thorough investigation. He did not
! issue a statement of the disclosures
which he succeeded in bringing about,
and he'd allowed the colony to think the
matter had been allowed to die nat
ural death when, without intimation. he
!
| "Reauty" Beach, charging him with as
isault 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 was
found that Mayor Gyles was deter
mined to bring out the true facts in
! the case.
Nj and Mrs. Beach have a summer
nome at Rosyn. l.. l., but spend the
/ greater part of the winter at Aiken
or Palm Beach She was married to
| Mr. Beach on November 2S, 1899, at
Grace church. The wedding was at
tended by a large number Of prominent
| society folk from New York and other
Eastern cities. William X. Vanderbilt |
acted as best man.
Mrs Beach was the widow of Charles |
T. Havemeyer to whom she was mar
ried in October. 1890. Mr. Havemeyer !
died suddenly at his home at Islip in |
May. 1898. She carly became famous |
as horseWoman and was an inveter- |
ate follower of the hounds.