The Washington times., 1922-10-23
Anderson WAS
A.SHE|k,PEGGY.
sAYSAT TRIAL
Defense Relies on Characters
Of Fiction to Justify Kill
ing Of Lover.
ny JACK CARBERRy.
UuIver,s, seryle.

Univsr,ai service. ~
s. KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Oct. %.
Two characters, of fiction will
hold the center of the stage IN
what promises to be one of the
most dramatic murder trials of
recent months here today.
For in the unfolding story Of
life and love which forms the
theme of the dramatic tragedy Of
Marie Peggy" Beai, she Is TO be
termed by her prosecutors, Thu
via, Maid of Mars" l
Brands Him ''Sheik."
And Peggy" In turn will attempt
to say that In killing g. F. Warren
Anderson, Philadelphia and Kansas
City ciubman, she slew the "Sheik".
Around a real life picture Of
these two mythical brain-ch ildren
of fiction, the trial OF Peggy"
Beai for the murder Of Anderson
her perfect lower"--will begin to-
day. Ey'..s
Peggy Beal killed Anderson in
a room occupied by the couple in a
downtown hotel June 3. Then she
turned the revolver on herself. For
three months she lay i'm hospital
here. On her recovery she was
arrested and has remained in the
county Jail since. n grand jury
Indictment against her.
Anderson and loved" the
dimunitive bobbed-hair defendant
said today as she outlined her plans
for the fight she will make for
freedom. 4,
"He was my perfect iover--'the
Sheik.' I did not know he was
married until had come to hin.
his wife. he said he was divorcing
her. :
Told Of His Loves.
And then he told me-told me
Of his fifty other loves. He wrote
their names for me: girls In Chicago.
New York, Boston, Philadelphia.
Indianapolis, st. Louis, Germantown,
Pa, Collingswood. n. J. and Day.
ton. Ohio. ..... 49,.
~ cannot help 1t; life Is but y
game Of hearts, my 'Sheik' told me.
~ asked him how many more
were to be added to that list OF his.
in which he placed my name last.
He said he did not know but
there would be many. And so !
killed him-killed to save those other
girls who were to enter his life from
fate such as mine"
Differ In Versions. ...
The State, through Cameron Orr,
county prosecutor, and Anthony
Nugent. his first assistant, who will
attempt to send Peggy Beal to the
penltentiary,. have different YER
sion OF the staying. &.
Peggy" Beal, Mr.. Nugent said,
'is q modern 'Thuvia, Maid Of Mars,
the fiction character Of Edgar Rice
Burroughs.
AT least, IL was the book of
'Thuvia's' love which led Peggy Beai
to slay." Nugent said.
= The prosecutor bases his claim on
evidence found In the room occupied
by the couple.
Beside Anderson's dead body was
a copy of Burroughs book. II was
opened on a page showing 'Thuvia'
bending over her dead lover, q dag,
ger In her hand.
Jealous Of Wife.
She was jealous of this man
who had a wife-a wife she knew
about. She was reading 'Thuvia
saw the pictures Of the woman
staying her lover. and in premedita
tion she killed." Nugent says he
will tell the jury.
. Peggy Beal's case has attracted
nationwide attention due to heI
unusual claim Of justification in
Staying to save other girls
hearts
She has received several letters
from girls from all parts Of the
country. Many are counterparts
Of her own story minus the tragic
climax.
Peggy Beal will be the only wit
ness for the defense" George
Birmingham said. "She win tell her
story-if the jury agrees the
'Sheik' should be slain. she will be
freed-if 'Sheik' love is right, theh
my client is willing to pay the
penalty"
The trial is expected to last bu,
three days.
The State has twenty Witnesses
many from out of State who are
expected here to testify to Ander
sons good character