Norwich bulletin., 1913-02-07
Insists Negro
 Assaulted Her
MRS. BEACH RESOLVES HUSBAND
 FROM BLAME.
SLAsIED HER THROAT
Was Too Terrified to Scream lmmedi- ately-Beach Denies His Guilt-sev- -eraI Character Witnesses Testify.

Aiken. s. C., Feb. 6.-Frederick O. Beach of New York today took the stand and swore that he did not com init an assault upon his wife. Mrs. Beach also testified that her husband did not assault her. Tomorrow the jury of Aiken county farmers before which Beach is being tried on a charge of assault is expected to decide wfeth- CT he did.
 All the evidence in the case was in when court adjourned this evening. Three hours tomorrow have been al- lowed for arguments.
 Mysterious Witness Appears. After the defense had rested late today the state offered several wit nesses in rebuttal to contradict DOT tions of the testimony of MT. and Mrs. Beach. and during this proceeding the identity of the man behind the book case" was revealed. He was Haddon Johnson. a young newspaperman of Aiken, who is alleged to have over- heard conversation in the mayor $ office between Beach and his wife about the assault Johnson was not permitted to give an explanatory an swer to the prosecutors question as to whether Beach had not asked his wife to lay the offense upon the broth CT of a negro servant. and he declined to make any answer whatever.
 Mrs. seaot1's Story.
 The prosecutor cEoss examined both
 
 and called their attention constantly to statements they are alleged to have made previously, differing in some de- tail to their testimony today. They would not admit that any part of their narrative today was incorrect.
 Mrs. Beach said she was assaulted by gingerbread eolored'' negro. who approached her on pretense Of hav- ing a message for a negro servant. She declared the negro slashed her throat and hit her on the side of the head with a stick: that she. was too frightened to scream at the first at tack, and that when she did scream her husband came promptly to her assistance as the assailant fled.
 Denied Alleged Conversation. she entertained. any idea that the negro's motive was robbery.
 Beach did not remember any con- versation with his wife in the mayor office, neither did Mrs. Beach. Both Indignantly denied that there was any suggestion of fastening the crime on any known person
 Although her voice trembled Mrs. Beach delivered her narrative calmly, deliberately, and with an amazing memory for details of all that hap pened except during those few mo- ments when she was struggling with her assailant.
 Mrs. Beach Defiant at Times.
 "The life was terrified out of me- she said. 'I could not utter a sound, then suddenly found my voice and I yelled and screamed historically
 Her manner was almost defiant at times. I'm sure I don't know" was her favorite answer at such times and she would repeat the phrase over and over, whenever the prosecutor would press for an answer.
 Beach Deliberate in Testifying.
 Beach seemed to grasp the import of some of the questions put to him slowly and would hesitate until the matter had had time to revo1ve fully in his mind. When the prosecutor would remind him that certain points in his testimony were at variance with the stories he had told at the time of the assault he would insist that the way he told it today was the way it happened and that he never had related it differel~.y.
 Many Character Witnesses.
 A large part of the afternoon session was taken up by the defense with the introduction of character witnesses Men of high and low degree, men who had known Beach in New ' York and in Aiken for years-he has spent IT winters here-testified as to his rep utation for being quiet and orderly.
 There was every indication tonight that the trial would end tomorrow.