The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-07
FREDERICK BEACH
RE|TERATES DENIAL
OF ATTACK ON WIFE
Takes Stand in Own Behalf
and Again Swears His
Innocence
WIFE BEARS OUT
BEACH'S TESTIMONY
In Voice Trembling With Emotion,
Wife of New York Millionaire
Tells Story of Assault Upon
Her-Case to Jury Today


Beach the New York society man, today
took the stand and swore that he did
not commit an assault upon his wife.
Mrs. Beach took the stand and testified
Mat her husband did not assault her.
Tomorrow the jury of Aiken county farm
ers before which Beach is being tried
for the offense is expected to decide
whether or not he did.
Al the evidence in the case was in when
court adjourned this evening. Three hours
tomorrow have been allowed for sum-
ming up arguments, after which Judge
Spain will deliver his charge, the last act
preliminary to giving the case to the
jury.
After the defense had rested late to-
cay, the state offered several Witnesses
In rebuttal to contradict portions of the
testimony of Mr.. and Mrs. Beach, and
during this proceeding the identity of the
mysterious IMAM behind the bookcase
was revealed. He turned out to be Had
don johnson. young newspaper man
of Aiken. who is alleged to have over
heard conversation between Beach and
his wife in the mayors office about the
assault. Mr.. Johnson was not permit
ted to give an explanatory answer to
the prosecutors question as to whether
Beach had not asked his wife to lay the
offense upon the brother of a negro SER
vknt. and he declined to make any an
swer whatever.
Tells Story Simply
Both Beach and his wife told their story
to the jury in simple way. The pros
III.
length, and called their attention con-
stantly to statements they are alleged to
have made previously. differing in some
detail to their testimony today. They
bravely stood by their guns at all times,
and would not admit that any part of
their narrative today was incorrect
Alas. Beach said she was assaulted by
ginger bread colored' negro, who ap-
preached her on pretense of having a
message for negro servant. She de-
cared fi1at the negro laid sioienr hai.ds
upon her, siashed her throat and hit her
on the side OF the head with the stick:
that she was too much frightened to
scream at the first attack, and that when
she did scream her husband came prompt
~ to her assistance as the assailant fed.
AT no time Mrs. eBaeh said. had she
e tertained any idea that the negros mo-
tive was robbery.
Beach did not remember any conversa-
tion with his wife in the mayors office,
neither did Mrs Beach. Both Indignantly
denied the suggestion that there was any
suggestion of fastening the crime on any
known person.
Delivers Narrative Calmly
Though her face was fiery red and her
voice trembled with emotion, Mrs. Beach
delivered her narrative calmly, deliberate
ly and with an amazing memory for de-
tails of all that happened except during
those few moments when she was strug-
Cling with her assailant
''The life was terrified out of me-" she
said. Il could not utter sound. Then
suddenly | found my voice and l yelled
end screamed historically
During her cross-examination. Mrs.
Beach leaned forward in her chair, shoul-
ders slightly stopped, and gazed squarely
at the prosecutor. Her manner was al
most defiant at times when he asked her
a question that she regarded as impertl-
nent.
I'm sure don't know was her IA
vorite answer at such times and she would
repeat the phrase over and over, when
ever he would press for an answer.
No one within the radius of Mrs
Beach's smile could fail to feel the ef-
feet of her personality. Beach told his
story slowly, but well. He impressed one
as belonging to the familiar English
type. Slow to grasp the import of some
of the questions put to him, he would
hesitate until the matter had had time
to revolve fully In his mind When the
prosecutor would remind him that cer-
tain points in his testimony were at vari-
ance with the story he had told at the
time of the assault, he would insist that
the way hettold II today was the way
1t happened, and that he never had re-
lated it differently.
Introduce Character Witness
A large part of the afternoon session
TODAY was taken up by the defense with
The Introduction of character witnesses.
Men of high and low degree. mon who
had known Bech in New York and III
Aiken for years--he has spent II winters
here testified as to his reputation for
l.eing quiet and orderly.
Thomas Hitchcock, Jr.. of New York,
who belongs to Beach's set, was chal-
lenged by the prosecutor when he said
1leach had a reputation for being orderly.
II don't suppose you have ever dis
cussed Mr.. Beach in this way. have your
asked Mr. Gunter.
"Oh yes responded Mr. Hitchcock.
with a smile, I'VE often discuss our
friends regulations"
Another of those witnesses, d. w. Gas
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