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. Frederick G.
Beach and Mrs. Beach are expected in
Aiken within 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 Morgan's
yacht, the Corsair, in Newport harbor,
the last week. They left the yacht yes
terday aud 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, special
agent who acted as detective in the
case testified at the preliminary hear
ing that he had heard Beach make in
eliminating statements against him
self \ small gold-handled knife,
which Mrs. Beach said her assailant
had used. vas aftorWard 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 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 a strange man, sup
posed to have been negro, sprang at
her, knocked her down and then
slashed her throat with a sharp knife.
The screams Of Mrs. Beach when her
assailant 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 physi-
clan. Afterward she declared that it
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.
II 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 Iseln sent letter to
Mayor Gyles, in which he offered
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 Cf allaying the ru-
mors. it had a tendency to increase
them.
Tried to Hush It 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 had allowed the colony to think the
matter had been allowed to die a nat
ural death when, without intimation, 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 was
found that Mayor Gyles was deter
mined to bring out the true facts in
the case.
Mr.. and Mrs. Beach have a summer
home at Roslyn, l., l., but spend the
greater part of the winter at Aiken
or Palm Beach. She was married to
Mr.. Beach on November rs, 1893, at
Grace church The wedding was at
tended by large number of prominent
society folk from New York and other
Eastern cities. William K. Vanderbilt
acted az best man.
Mrs. Beach was the widow of Charles
F. Havemeyer, to whom she was mar
ried in October, 1890. Mr. Havemeyer
died suddenly at his home at lslip in
MAY. 1898. She early became famous
as a horsewoman and was an inveter-
ata follower Of the hounds.