New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-16
WOMAN WAS STRANGLED
Desire Of Companion to Leave
Town Leads to Arrest.
POSED AS HER HUSBAND
Death Followed Violent Illness,
After Taking Headache" Pills
Given by Boston Doctor.

UNEXPLAINED circumstances ATTENDING
the death OF Bertha Timer, thirty-hve
Years old. OF Bayonne. n. j.. in a house
at No. 2Sl West 23d street, and the appar-
cnt desire of Harry Beechmen to leave
this city with as little ceremony as pos
sible are indirectly responsible for MS
detention In the Tombs.
The body of the woman, who posed as
his wife, was found on Tuesday nlsht
in the room they occupied, by the land
lady. Mrs. Balneri Minneghetti. In the
room was a small box containing white
pills, which the label said. were sleeping
potions Recalling that the night before
the woman had been III, after taxing
some of the pills, Mrs Minneghetu not-
fed the police.
Mr.. Minneghetu said that at the wom-
ans request he had called DR.. j. j. f.
Maher, OF No. 221 West 2Sd street. VINO
advised her removal TO the hospital. An
ambulance was called from the New YORK
Uospital. but when Dr. Winters, of that
institution. responded he was told by
Beechman that his wife was suffering
from asthma and there was no case for
him.
On Tuesday morning about 10 o'clock
when Beechman left the house, the land
lord asked him how his wife was feeling.
He replied that she was much improved
ana with a little rest she would recover.
yJe requested that she have cup or
coffee when she awoke. About noon MIS-
MInneghetti carried coffee and toast 10
her room. and upon entering found the
woman was dead.
coroners Physician Weston, who per-
formed an autopsy yesterday, sald the
woman died Of strangulauon he founo
hemorrhages In the tissues OF the throat
surrounding the windpipe and congesuon
OF the trachea and lungs. No external OF
surface marks were noticeable on the
woman's throat.
Beechman. who told the police he had
wife and two children in Easton. PENN
was arrested In telegraph office at NO.
II West 18th street. awaiting the return
of a messenger he had sent to the mouse
70 get his effects. In note he told MIS-
Minneghetti he was unable TO go to the
house himself
Detectives Beadle, Van Colt and Upton,
who followed the messenger. took Beecn-
man to the West 18th street police sta
ton. where he expressed surprise at the
death of the woman, whom he said he had
known for eight years. Many letters from
his wife in Easton and from the Timer
woman were found in his pockets. one
note. which he said he had written. SAID
Bertha died at 2 a. m. January IA. Her
last words were goodby, dearie, / am
going"
lie refused 10 explain what ii meant.
Later IN the day two brothers of the
dead woman, Frank and John, arrived
from Bayolne. They said they had re-
ceived a telegram Tuesday from their
sister which said: Come at once! i am
sick" Yesterday they received letter
from Beecham saying Bertha" was very
sick at No. 81 West 23d street. Upon
arriving there they learned of her death.
Reechman, who is about forty years
old. gave his address as No. IS Ferdinand
street, Boston. lie said the pills were
given to him by a doctor in Boston. DIR.
J. J. T. Maher said last night the woman
was suffering on Monday night from cpl
leptic commissions.
Beechman was committed 70 the Tombs
by Coroner Hellenstein to await the re-
suit OF an inquest.