New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-26
VIII Defend Action To-day

az. from eight-year-old Margaret to
Billy, two and half years old VIII
hear their mother defend her action.
They will hear her tell OF the years
of cruelty which, she says, led 20 ner
firing the shots that ended her hus-
bands life. She will tell how she has
been forced 70 seek police protection
against Beutinger in almost every
town where she has lived since she
married him, when she was seventeen
years old, and even on ocean liners as
she crossed the Pacific. She will tell
Of her husbands blogs and threats
against her life, and Of the fear wnicn
she says, impe led her 70 level her
revolver at him and shoot till II
wouldn't shoot any more
With her white gloved hands folded
calmly in her lap, and the curve OF her
cheek hidden by her white fox fur.
the twenty-seven-year-ol prisoner lis.
tened impassively TO the evidence OF
the prosecution. She was the only
woman in the courtroom who did not
shudder when the revolver and the ave
bullets which figured IN the TRAGEDY
were introduced into the testimony.
She did not change color or expression
when DR.. ". Herbert Simmons, deputy
county physician. and Or. George L.
Warren. county physician. gave the
details Of the autopsy, and spent much
time in describing the course ner
bullets had taken.
Only twice in the day the tired mask
Of mere polite interest with which Mrs.
Beutinger listened, dropped from her
pretty, expressionless face. AS she came
into the room in the custody OF Miss
Florence Bell of the Sherif's Office and
l ovIc ri n
Margaret asked in a shrill whisper,
"Why don't mamma sit here with US :"
and a fash of pain crossed Mrs. beu-
fingers face.
Then she turned quickly TO smile az
the children as they sat in the charge
Of her sister. Mrs. Jennie Heron. who
had come from the West Indies for the
trial. A little later, Billy, bored by the
slow course OF the law. began 70 cry,
and his mother turned again and pursed
her lips reproyingly as If she were say
ing, Naughty"
Mr. and Mrs. Eugen. Graf. the gar
dener and housekeeper of the Beutln-
ger establishment last Jalyi John
Simmons, the chauffeur, and Margaret
Burchart, the children's nurse. were
among the most important witnesses Of
the day.
The first three told substantially the
same story Of having been awakened at
5 o'clock on the morning Of July III by
a shot. followed by four others; OF hav-
ing rushed down 20 the second floor, 70
find Beutineer lying dead upon the floor
of the largest bedroom, while Mrs. Beu-
finger sat upon the edge Of her bed.
saving historically, well he won't
bother me any more"
Police officials on Stand.
Chief of Police John Harkey and
Lieutenant Walter Godfrey were the
other witnesses. The latter, probably
the strongest witness for the prosecu-
ton, insisted that Mrs. Beutinger IN
her statement to him at the time had
said nothing of her husbands having
threatened her.
The prosecution emphasized the fact
that the revolver had been procured by
Mrs. Beutinger's telephone message 10
New York two days before the CRIME
was committed. IL also said that when
she had gone back to Ave with her nus
band. after being divorced from him in
1915. she declared she had done 1t Tor
the house and the automobile.
Mr.. McCarter, the prisoners counsel,
explained she had gone back to Beut-
niger for her children's sake, and upon
the plea Of the Mother Superior OF the
convent in which she had placed them.
He quoted "A woman, dog and
chestnut tree. The more you beat them
the better they be-" in explaining Mrs.
Beutinger's long suffering IN the mat
ter.
In her statement concerning the
tragedy. introduced into the attorneys
plea yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Beut.
niger said that her husband had come
TO her room and attacked her. that she
had warned him she would protect her
self and that he had said, Go ahead;
I'll kill you" ,,l
HE raised his fist and said he would
strangle me. I raised up and began
firing the revolver, and kept firing I'LL
IL would not shoot any more" wa. the
vay she put it