The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-26
HOLD Wife IN
DEATH OF old
Crab HUBBY
Married Mate, 81, for His
Money, 27-Year-0 Old
Widow Says.
DENIES KILLING MAN
Youth, Age Don't Mix
Says Girl; Inquest Set
for Today.

BIZ United Press
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, April 26.-
Mrs. Gladys Beardslee an attrac-
tive, authenticated young woman
of 27, was under arrest as a ma
terial witness today in connection
with the death of Oliver Beardslee,
her 51-yearold husband.
A dramatic scene was promised
for this afternoon, when Mrs.
Beardslee, refusing to take advan-
tage OF Connecticut laws which pro-
vide that a woman may not be
forced to testify at an inquest into
her husbands death, submits to
questioning at the official inquiry
called to decide whether or not
Beardslee committed suicide
Mrs. Beardslee maintains that her
husband, whom she says she mar
ried only for his money, shot him.
self after a long period of drinking
and quarreling.
"He Was an Old Crab"
The wife was brought to Bridge
port at midnight from Strattord
and lodged in cell at Hillside
home. She had recovered from her
state of violent intoXication of the
preceding night and talked to nurses
about the case.
"They think 1 shot my husband,
she said. Il didn't do it, but they
are blaming me for it. They haven't
got a case against me.
HE was an old crab. I guess
should never have married him.
Youth and old age don't mix.
Anyway, I only married him for
his money"
Husband Was Eccentric
Beardslee was an anti-feminist
and an eccentric.
He was brought up in the shell
tered surroundings Of a money old
New England family. Kept from as
ISOLATION with girls, he developed a
woman hating complex.
When woman suffrage was adopt
ed in the United States he vowed he
never would vote again, and he
never did.
Three years ago, however, Boards
lee came into some money-$100,o00
left him by his parents.
I'm going to see life" he an
nounced.
Lavished Gifts on Girl
A short time later Beardslee was
seen frequently in the company Of
Gladys Foster of Hartford. He
lavished money and gifts upon her.
"She will show him life Strait
ford neighbors murmured.
They we're married short time
later. There were frequent quar-
rels, even in the early stages of their
life together.
Early in 1927 Mrs. Beardslee left
for Florida after Beardslee started
divorce proceedings. An agreement
was reached and the couple began
living together again.
Their Money DwindIed
The money was dwindling and the
Beardslees did not live so expensive
ly as they had previously. There
were frequent late night parties.
Sounds of Quarreling were heard.
A physician summoned to the
Beardslee home early Thursday
found Beardslee dying. There we're
evidences of long drinking, a strug-
gle and a pistol was found in the
wildly confused bed-clothing.
Before he died in Bridgeport hos
pital Beardslee was asked if he had
shot himself.
NO" he replied, according to Ser
geant Patrick Flanagan.
Did she shoot you?" Flanagan
asked.
Cite Dying Mans Words
eyes" was the answer, Flanagan
says.
There was some question IS to
whether Flanagan had witness to
the dying mans words.
The state asserts there was a wit
ness, and promised to produce him
at the inquest if it were necessary in
order to have a charge of murder
placed against Mrs. Beardslee.
Otherwise, the witness will be held
back for the trial, it was said