The Washington times., 1920-04-27
BARESLOVE THAT
ENDED IN Staying
Widow Tells of Flight From Her
Home With Former
Convict.

NEW YORK. April 27.-Drsssed in
deep mourning. Mrs. Gertrude Heat
ley yesterday In calm and quiet tones
told the story OF her relations with
George Beckenbaugh.
Beckenbaugh Is accused OF shoot
ing her twice and killing her hus-
band, Thomas. because OF jealousy.
The shooting occurred February Z.
| ,Beekenbaugh, who accompanied Mr..
and Mrs. Heatley to Bellevue Hospital
after the shooting. was arrested fol-
| lowing Heatley's death on March D.
The Heatley's and Beckenbaugh
came from Scranton. Pa, last Decem-
ber. The Heatleys took up their resi-
dence together after being separated
for seven months. Beckenbaugh got
a room In the home OF Mrs. Heatley's
mother.
Served Term In Prisea-
| Beckenbaugh is a widower. His
| wife was Miss Margaret Davies, gos-
pei worker In Scranton. with whom
he became acquainted while serving
| term for burglary in Scranton
prison. Through Miss Davies efforts
| he was said to have been converted.
Miss Davies was the daughter OF
wealthy coal operator and by her will
| she bequeathed more than 100000,
! which has since been tied up In liti-
| cation.
| The Beckenbaughs and the Heat
leys were nighbors In Scranton. and
a warm friendship. according TO Mrs.
Heatley, sprang up between the
| families.
Assistant District Attorney George
Brothers Is prosecuting the case.
Beckenbaugh Is being defended by
Nathan b. chadsey and James e. Will
kinson.
Fell In Love with Him-
| Mrs. Heatley testified that after she
had known Beckenbaugh but a short
time he began to complain OF the
treatment his wife accorded him and
frequently called his mate an "old
hag." Mrs. Heatley testified.
| II fell in love with Beckenbaugh
in 1918 and frequently saw him
after that. although my relations
with him up until September last
were perfectly proper. Ny husband
Is forty-one and l am but thirty
four. At intervals my husband left
me and failed to support me or our
/ son, Walter.
"On September Is Of last year
| Beckenbaugh took me to Chicago.
where we lived for five weeks with
my brother. Beckenbaugh at that
| time introduced me as his wife.
Previous to that time my husband
did not know of my affection for
Beckenbaugh.
Loaned Hin $500.
| During the time that I was friend
| ly with Beckenbaugh ! loaned him
$500 When ! saw how his own peo-
pie treated him in Chicago, my love
| for him grew cold. / wrote to my
husband and asked him to send me
| money for clothes for myself and
our boy. Beckenbaugh said that If
L ever went back to my husband he
1 would kill me in my tracks
"I came East and became recon-
| ciled to my husband. Last December
| l made full confession to Mr.. Heat
, ley. We came to New York and re-
established our home. Beckenbaugh
followed, and took room at the
home of my mother. He frequently
begged money from my mother with
which to buy cigarettes"
Under cross-examination by MI
Oh hadsey, the young widow was forced
to identify many letters written to
| Beckenbaugh last February, while
| as she had testified, she was no lon
ger on friendly terms with him. She
| admitted that on one occasion her
husband found her and Beckenbaugh
in her mothers apartment. but said
that her mother was present at the
time. She said Beckenbaugh, in fear
| of her husband, "ducked under a
bed" Her husband followed him, and
after some words Beckenbaugh left
| All the letters were addressed my
Dear Buddy and were signed Kid
do" which Mrs. Heatley explained
were the terms of affection by which
she and Bcckenbaugh gidressed each
other. Several of them besides kid
do" were signed Your Loving Wife"
and bore long lines OF crosses--indi-
eating kisses. Mrs Heatley Aid the
crosses and Your Loving Wife were
not written by her.
She denied that she and her hus-
band had conspired to get a portion
of Beckenbaughs inheritance from
his wife She also denied that her
husband ever offered to relinquish all
I'claims on her to Beckenbaugh for
81, 900.