The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-11
Defense Seeks to Eliminate
Mrs. Arnett's Testimony.
She Was Housekeeper ct Glen.
wood Time Of Tragedy.
she Can NOT Be FOUND
State Would Use Her Written
Deposition.
False Teeth Murder Case At.
tracts Crowds to Court.

False Teeth Murder Case At.
tracts Crowds to Court.
The defense in the case Of Rev. VIII
bur +. Beers. on trial for killing his
wife by pressing her false teeth down
her throat. is trying to eliminate the
testimony Of Mrs. Louise Arnett, one
or the principal witnesses for the state.
Since Mrs. Arnett, former housekeeper
at Hotel Glenwood where the alleged
murder was committed. has married
and moved away. the court stenogra-
pher transcribed her testimony and
prepared to read 1t. Ono attempt Of
County Attorney Atchison,s to prove
that 1t was impossible to secure Mrs.
Arnett failed. The testimony Of Mrs..
c. M. Wray. 415 Van Buren, street.
who had received a card from Nrs.
Arnett, was stricken out. UndersherifR
Hugh Larimer swore he had attempt
ed to serve a subpoena upon Mrs. Ar
nett but was unable to flnd her.
The swearing in Of the jury took
place this morning at 10 O'Clock. A
special venire was drawn Monday af-
ternoon. One OF the men who will as
sfst in determining whether Beers II
guilty or innocent IL H. A. Spielman.
secretary and treasurer of the Emahi-
zer-Spielman Furniture company. and
one Of the best known business men
in the city. Another is George p. Nc
Entire. Of the firm of McEntire Broth
ers. The jury il composed Of the fol-
lowing men: T. r. Reed, E. r. Petit,
Samuel Weber, Herbert Joslin. Julian
Mckinney, John Chiddi. d. w. Taylor,
n. 8. Quail, George p. McEntire, H. A.
Spielman, j. M. Shirley and G. H. F1em-
ing.
The court room. practically empty
Yesterday. was crowded today. On one
side OF the attorneys table sat w. -.
Atchison and his assistant. John
Swltzer. who are handling the case for
the state. Opposite are Otis Hungate,
=. Scnenck and their client. the Rev.
Mr. Beers. The man who il charged
with uxorcide is listening eagerly to
the testimony, breathinR heavily. and
not missing q word that IL said, He
is q middle aged man of a pleasant
p Dearins. with e courteous manner
County Attorney Atchison summed
up the story for the jury; told of the
Beers marriage in Lexington, Neh: OF
their removal to Tinin. Ohio, where Mr.
Beers preached and Mrs. Beers filed
cruelty; Of their reconciliation and
coming to Wakarusa; of Mr.. Beers
filling the pulpit in Methodist church:
of second disagreement, and Mrs.
Beers enlistment as a nurse In a
Catholic hospital in Topeka: Of their
Glenwood hotel. Fourth and Kansas
avenues. where the tragedy occurred.
The couple entered the hotel and
asked for room. Wallace Mcdowell,
bell boy. secured the keys and led
them to No. 81, third floor Turn ON
the steam ha9fo aofd No.
boy obeyed. Fifteen minutes later Nc
Dowell heard scream and hastened
upstairs to investigate. He heard 4
choking sound from behind the closed
door of No. 81. He ran downstairs to
report, and was summoned by call
from Mr.. Beers.
Get doctor and a policeman at
once cried the clergyman to the as
| tonished boy.
DR.. F. J. Ernest arrived with off,
GERS. Mrs. Beers lay on the bed
dead. Her husband. blood on his face
and clothing, was pacing the floor.
Here the privacy of the case ended.
It became public property. 1t was
discussed throughout the state Of
Kansas. A criminal warrant, charging
the minister with the wiiful murder
of his wife. was served upon him. He
waived his preliminary hearing and
| supplied $4,000 bond furnished by his
congregations at Wakarusa and Linn
SIcch. Inc Cd8e commenced IN the
district court March IL, 1919, and re-
suited. eleven days later. in a hung
jury.
THE theory Of the state IL. gentle
men," concluded Mr.. Atchison. that
Mr.. Beers is a man Of high tempeg
and killed his wife in an angry pas
sion. No one knows exactly what
happened in Room 81 except Mr..
Beers and his wife, who 10 dead
The first witness for the state was
was nervously chewing gum which the
court requested him to remove.
How long had you been downstaira
when you heard the scream 20 asked
Mr.. Switzer for the stAtA
Fifteen minutes"
''Went to the third floor. Heard {
| choking sound in room ST.
Then what happened?"
Went downstairs Mr.. Beers call
'Quick-get a doctor and q police
Did you see Mrs. Beers'"
Mr. Hungate took the witness and
questioned him closely as to the time
of the Beers arrival In the hotel. said
to be O'Clock In the afternoon, and
the time the doctor was called. said
to be half an hour later.
a the eo1De aass Hssn you ass
Judge Whftcomb when the cross ex.
animation was over.
Mcdowell thought the shades wera
down.
j DIR. Ernest and Officer Maze for thu
state will be examined this AFTERNOON
The prosecution IL expecting to secure
the reading Of the testimony Of Mr.
4 Arnett.
i Thc Day in ConGFeA
Il washfngton. Nov 11-9enafe mo-