The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-04
MYSTERY CASE .
AGAINST BEACH
Wealthy New Yorker
Pleads Not Guilty
When Arraigned
Charge Is Assault on His
Wife With Intent to,
XIII

Aiken, S. c., Feb. EF'rederick o.
Beach, New Yorker, wealthy, a social
favorite and scion of a prominent
family, answered mot guilty today
to the charge of assaulting his wife
with intent to kill, opening what was
expected to be the legal unravelling
of one of the queerest of mystery
cases.
Beach was charged by the county
with cutting his wdfes throat. Mrs.
Beach was expected to deny the
charge when she takes the stand.
1t WAS on the night Of February %.
1912, that Mrs Beach was stabbed
while in the sideyard of the Beach
winter home. She says she left her
husband in the house going to the door
to let a. pet dog out. Her version is
that a mysterious man attacked her
plunged knife in her throat and
pulled her diamond earrings from her
ears. Beach said he heard his w1fe's
screams and, running outside, saw
man fleeing down the street. Mrs.
Beaeh's wound required 10 stitches to
close. The cash barely missed the
jugu1ar vein.
= Mrs Beach's version of the attack
was accepted at first. Then Detec-
tive Baugtan. of Atlanta, made an in
yes yestigation g Mrs B Beach's + diamonds
ing after the attack. A. K. Lorenz
found a bloody fence paIing. The
theory evolved by Baughn and on
which the county auth horities swore out
a warrant for Beach, was that the
millionaire heard his wife leave the
house, slipped out behind her. grabbed
who followed him and RAM toward an
outbuflding in the yard. Baughns
allegation was that he began pursuit
OF a man who fled from that building.
Then, he alleges, Beach came back to-
his wife, in the yard, and a struggle
ensured wherein Mrs. Beach received
her wound.
Beach was Indicted last summer,
postponing trip to Europe to accept
service of a warrant and Arranged
bail Both he and Mrs. Beach appar-
emily gave the lie tos any reports of
incompatabilfty by every evidence of
devotion to each other. Mrs. Beach
vehementIy denied Baughn's story.
No actual witnesses to the assault
could be found and the negro enaid
contradicted herself over and over
again:
outline just what evidence 1T expected
to elicit from eight witnesses whom
they have subpoena'ed.
The defense probably will not have
more than three with nesseS-MrS.
Beach, Miss Marion Rollins who was
a guest at the Beach home the night
of the attack, and possibly Beach him
self. No difficulty in obtaining a jury
is anticipated and Prosecutor Gunter
does not think the trial will last more
than two days.
4u0 Eec1Ic4Ly LO1 CO1AFICI4O41 OA
charge of assault with intent to kill
is from 80 days to 10 years at hard la
Dor. with the alternative of a fine, or
at the discretion of the jury, both fine
and imprisonment.
Mr.. and Mrs. Beach did not enter
the courtroom until 9 O'Clock. Then
they had to be assisted through a
crowd of spectators that packed the
corridors and the tiny hearing room
Some of the morbidly curious had been
waiting for admittance since O'Clock.
Mrs. Beach was becoming1y gowned
in a brown coat suit and a toque to
match. She appeared nervous. Beach
helped his wife and Miss Marion Hol-
nesses for the defense, who acconpan-
chair and then conferred with his at
torney Mrs James D. Y. Taylor
Mrs Beach's mother sat with the de- |
fendant and his party.
Some delay was experienced in clear |
ing the docket for the Beach case. |
Hugh Long, a member of the State |
Legislature, charged with murder, was |
brought into court, arraigned and |
pleaded not guilty. His lawyers n1ov- |
ed and were sustained for a continu- |
ance. Beach and his wife looked on |
interestedly.
The Beach case was called shortly |
after 10 o'clock and exactly % minutes |
later a. jury was secured. Seven far
mers, two cotton mill operatives, two |
nercf1a nts and one mill hand will hold |
the fate of the New York clubnan.