Frank Beckwith Escapes the Gallows. ONLY SECOND DEGREE FOR KILLING HIS WIFE. After Listening for Five Days to the Recital of Frank Beck- with’s Awful Crime the Jury Takes Five Hours to Delib- erate and Then Decides Him Guilty of Murder in the Second Degree.—Beckwith Was on the Stand Half a Day and Seemed Very Little Moved While Reciting the Details liant Pleas of the Attorneys. of His Deed.—Bril- A Com- plete Resume of the Case. In the issue of last week the WATCHMAN published a very full account of the open- ing of the trial of Frank Beckwith for the murder of his wife. It was called in the quarter sessions court here Thursday morning, August 28th, and up to six o’clock that evening all of the day had been spent in securing a jury and examining nine witnesses. In order that all the evidence in the case might be kept intact the WATCHMAN publish- ed none of it last week, hut presents it in most complete form in this issue. The history of the case has already been published. Owing to the great number of witnesses called the trial dragged along until Tuesday ; the interest having flagged to a very considerable extent. the charge in a little over an hour. It took almost a day for the pleadings while the court made It was regarded as having been very impartial, but many thought there was much ground for hope in it for the prisoner, consequently there was not much surprise when the verdict was announced. The case was given to the jury at 4:15 Tuesday afternoon. At that time the Court announced that should a verdict be secured before midnight the bell would be rung and he would go to the court house and receive it. Just five hours later the great bell clang- ed out the announcement that the twelve good and lawful men had agreed on the pun- ishment that should be meted out to a murderer. There was a great rush for the court room. Many had been waiting about in that vicinity in the hope that they would reach an early agreement. Judge Love entered soon after and took his seat on the bench, then sheriff Brungart came in with the prisoner, followed closely by deputy Jackson. Beckwith looked ashen gray as he took a seat beside his counsel. Then the court crier announced the opening of court and a calm as of death fell over the audience. A moment later tip staves Haupt and MoCafferty led the jury into the box. Their solemn demeanor, so much in contrast with their appearance during the trial, seemed to presage a first degree verdict. A pin falling could have been heard as pro- thonotary Gardner said : ‘‘Gentlemen of the jury have you agreed upon a verdict.”” In almost sepulchral tones they replied, “We have’ and the fateful envelope was handed over. it to the Court. Scarcely a breath was drawn while the prothonotary broke the seal and handed Judge Love glanced at it for an instant, then handed it back to the prothonotary who read it to the jury and they confirmed it viva voce. During all of this time there wasn’t a sound audible, but the instant the prothonotary announced ‘‘You find this defendant guilty of murder in the second degree” there was a great sigh of relief. Immediately afterward Attorney S. D. Gettig, for the defense, made a motion for a new trial which the Court entertained but adjournment was ordered until 9:30 Wednes- day morning. A great number of people crowded about Beckwith to congratulate him. Just what such a demonstration was for we are at a loss to know unless it was to express their ap- proval of the murder he committed aud so narrowly escaped hanging for. The prisoner showed very little feeling, though he could not bave failed to realize that he had escaped with the life that mighs have paid the penalty of taking another. ‘Wednesday morning Court heard the motion for a new trial and gave counsel twen- ty days in which to show cause why it should be granted. THE OPENING OF THE CASE. Court convened Thursday afternoon promptly at 2 o'clock. District Attorney N. B. Spangler opened the case for the Commonwealth. In his opening speech the District Attorney averred that the Com. would show that there had been trouble between Beckwith and his wife at various times previous to the shooting on February 16th. That about three years ago .Beck- with purchased a revolver in Tyrone and at the time declared he wanted it to use on his wife; that later he, on one occasion, did fire several shots at her without effect; that only a few days prior to the shooting Beck- with declared he would kill his wife and daughter, and that the shooting was simply the climax of a pre-conceived and deliber- ate act. That just the day prior to the shooting Mrs. Beckwith had gone before a justice and swore aué a warrant for the ar- rest of her husband on the charge of having threatened her life. The District Attorney then briefly recounted the incidents of the day of the shooting,after which the hearing of testimony began. The first witness called hy the Common- wealth was Lisle Edmunson who testified as follows ; Mr. Spangler conducting the examination. Live in Sandy Ridge; am 75 years old ; know Frank Beckwith, the de- fendant; last time I saw Beckwith was ab my house in February, on a Sunday, I don’t know the date; the others present were Mrs. Beckwith, my wife and son; knew Mrs. Beckwith a long while ; her mother was my niece; Mrs. Beckwith came to my house on Saturday noon and stayed all night ; she did nob leave the house after coming there ; we got up Sunday morning about 6 o'clock; saw Beckwith coming there after we got up ; saw him shoot his wife in the neck it was then between 7 and 8 o'clock ; the shooting took place in the sitting room; I saw Frank before he got in the house and heard my wife tell him not to come in; Beckwith may have been in the house five minutes before the shooting ; he was talking to me and told me he was go- ing to kill his wife; he asked me where she was and I told him she was in the room— we were in the kitchen; Beckwith went in- to the room and almost immediately shot ; Mrs. Beckwith ran out of the house and Beckwith followed ; I heard a second shot but did not see it fired ; when Mrs. Beok- with saw her husband coming she said, ‘“‘My time has come.’’ After the shooting Beckwith walked down through my lot and away. Mis. Beckwith died almost im- mediately and lay were she had fallen prob- ably two hours. She was avery large wom- an. The weather was cold and rough with a good bit of snow. The bloody im- print of a hand was on the corner of the kitchen but T did not see it made. Cross Examination by Mr. Bower. Mrs. Beckwith came to my house Saturday about 12 o'clock. ' She did not get dinner there. My boy’s name is William Douglass Edmunson; be was at home that Saturday and was there that night ; he is about 27 years of age. : (Considerable time was spent at this juncture by Mr. Bower trying to get a minute description of the Edmunson house.) Went to bed Saturday night about 9 o'clock and got up about 6 Sunday morning ; I was sitting near the stove in the kitchen when I saw Beckwith coming. ‘When Mrs. Beckwith said, ‘‘This was her last hour” she weut to the window ; (a motion by defendant’s counsel to have stricken out the declaration of Mrs. Beck- with that her last honr had come was over- ruled by the Court.) When Beckwith came in the house I remember him saying, ‘Mollie, you’ve broken my heart;’’ shedid not answer. When Beckwith came in Douglass was behind the stove, near the sitting room door. Before Beckwith came in I heard my wife telling him not to come in and make a fuss. There was no scuffle between Beckwith and Douglass, aside from Beckwith pushing Douglass away from the sifting room door. After shoot- ing his wife in the house Beckwith pointed his pistol at me. When he fired the second shot Beckwith went up the road towards Sandy Ridge. Re-direct. Douglass went to the Ridge to raise the alarm of the shooting. Mary Edmunson called. Am the wile of Lisle Edmunson, 67 years of age ; slightly acquainted with Frank Beckwith; knew his wife, who had been at our house several times; the last time when she was killed, I think on 16th of Feb. ; she came there on Saturday; did not have dinner, but did eat supper and stayed all night. Beckwith came there between 7 and 8 o'clock ; when I saw him I went out on the porch ; I told him not to come in; hut he rushed past me and went in. He asked his wife why she hadn’t gone home and she said she couldn’ because her shoes were too had and the snow too deep. That is all I heard him say until he pulled out his revolver and shot; she ran out and he followed, then I heard a second shot, but did not see it fired. My son was the first person to come there after the shooting, I think. Cross examination. Our sitting room is next to Sandy Ridge. When I went out on the porch Beckwith was coming through the gate onto the porch. After the shoot- ing in the house Mrs. Beckwith stumbled out the house and Beckwith followed. Af- ter the second shot Beckwith went out to the road and walked toward Sandy Ridge. Re-direct. When Mis. Beckwith came there she bad on a blue calico wrapper; don’t know what her shoes were like. Boro overseer Faust has her clothes now. William Douglass Edmunson called. Live at Sandy Ridge; am the adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. Lisle Edmunson ; was at home Feh., 16th. Mrs. Beckwith came there Saturday and remained all night. Beckwith came there Sunday; came into the kitchen, pushed me aside and went in- to the sitting room, and soon after shot his wife. She ran ont and he followed, shoot- ing a second time. I bad no quarrel with Beckwith atall. After the shooting I went to Sandy Ridge and saw Elias Edmunson and William Garland and told them of the shooting. I went right after Beckwith left; he did not go very fast. Cross examination. Have known Beck- with several years, from working at the firebrick works at Retort. I was at home all the afternoon Mrs, Beckwith was there. The first I saw of Beckwith was when he came into the house. He pushed me aside from the door and went into the sitting room, I heard Beckwith saying, ‘‘Mollie, you have broken my heart,’ and she said, ‘No, Frank, you've broken mine.” George Faust called. Live near Sandy Ridge;know W. D. Edmunson; he gave me a cartridge bullet and I gave it to the con- stable. Cross-ex—I did not see Edmunson pick the bullet up. Dr. J. L, Seibert called. Live in Belle- fonte. I performed autopsy on February 17th, on body of Mrs. Beckwith, I found two wounds on left side of neck. I probed the wounds, and in my opinion they were made by a bullet. .The first wound was only one-half inch deep; the second wound was deep, the large vessels of the next hav- ing been severed, causing hemorrhages. This wound undoubtedly caused death. Cross-Ex. The course of the bullet was downward and inward,and from the course I would take it that the shot had been fired from a little back of the side. Isaiah Woodle called. Live at Sandy Ridge. Was constable in February. I ar- rested Beckwith at his home in Taylor SownsliD. ‘(Witness exhibits the revolver given him by Beckwith, also the bullet given him by Faust. Both revolver and bullet were 32 calibre.) Beckwith told me where the revolver was and I got it oat of the pocket of his coat hanging on the wall. Cross-Ex--T had a warrant for the arrest of Beckwith; got it Sunday forenoon from Justice J. W. Collins. Started after him right away. William Collins went with me over the mountain. I went by way of the Tyrone pike to the foot of ‘the mount- ain; got to Beckwith’s house near noon. Beckwith made no attempt to resist arrest. Mrs. Daniel Spitler called. Live at Sandy Ridge; know the Edmunson’s, knew Mary Beckwith, helped to ‘prepare a body for burial on February 16th; was assisted by Mrs. Sarah Raymond. Nothing on Cross-ex. To. Mrs. John Resides called. Live at Sandy Ridge. I help to lay out and dress the body of Mrs. Beckwith. The body was dressed in black, saw her shoes but did not take particular notice. Nothing on 0ross-ex. George Faust re-called. I received all the clothing worn by Mrs. Beckwith when she was killed. (Witness produces shoes which were offered in evidence.) No Cross-ex. Blanche Beckwith called. Live in Tay- lor township; am 19 years old; am daugh- ter of Frank and Mary Beckwith; live at home. There are six in the family. Dur- ing the winter father worked at Retort, coming home sometimes once a week, saw my mother alive last on February 7th. (The witness then detailed a quarrel which occurred between her father and mother on January 25th, when Beckwith threat- ened both mother and daughter.) The ‘himself, Frank Beckwith. oo TT uext day father went away and did not re- turn until the 10th of February. Mother | went away on February 7th and I went on February 8th, so that neither of us were at home when he returned. When moth-. er went away she bad along only the clothes she wore. Father bought his re- volver about two years ago. About two years ago during a quarre! father broke in- to the house and fired two shots at mother. Cross-examination by Mr. Gray; showed that for two years or more back there was continual strife and quarreling in the Beckwith family. Court adjourned at 5:45 until 8:30 Friday morning. FRIDAY MORNING. Court convened promptly at 8:30 o’clock, and the trial of the Beckwith oase was re- sumed by the taking of testimony for the Commonwealth. ; Emeline Sharer called. Live at Retort; know Frank Beckwith and knew Mrs. Beckwith; she was at my house February 13th to 15th; Beckwith came there Satur- day morning, February 15th; at that time be told his wife that he wanted her to be home by 12 o’clock that night; she said she had no money to go when he said he ‘didn’t care a d—n, she must come, even if she had to crawl there. Mrs. Beckwith was my niece. Cross-examination—Mis. Beckwith left my house soon after Frank talked to her. Thomas Hardy called. Live at Sandy Ridge; know the Sharer’s and Beckwith’s; was at Sharer’s when Frank Beckwith came there on February 15th; I was in the room at the time; my brother and George Bruss were with me; it was in the fore- noon; I heard Beckwith ask his wife what she was doing there, and tell her that she must be home by midnight, if she had to crawl there; I didn’t see Beckwith but he talked as if he was angry; Mrs. Beckwith lefts Sharer’s soon after Frank did. Cross-ex—Mrs. cousin of mine. J. W. Collins called. Live at Sandy Ridge; am a justice of the peace. (At this time counsel for defense petitioned the court to have the Commonwealth’s counsel make an offer in writing of what they intended to prove by the witness, and it was so ordered. Both the offer and ob- jections having been put in writing the court sustained the objections and overruled the offer, the witness not being allowed to testify.) George Bruss called. Brass lives in Ty- rone and on February 15th he was at Jesse Sharer’s, at Retort, and his evidence was simply corroborative of the testimony of Mrs. Sharer and Thomas Hardy. Frank Edmunds called. Live at Ramey; know Beckwith; met him at Retort; saw him early in the morning or February 16th; came there about 3 o’clock and stayed until near six; Beckwith asked if I had seen his wife and I told him not; he then asked if we knew where the Walk’s lived; he said he had given his wife money to take her home and that she hadn’t come, and that he had put the children to bed and walked out; he then said that ‘‘this thing would be settled in the morning.” Beckwith then began to cry. Cross-examination-When Beckwith came there Al. Baney was with me. When Beckwith began to cry I told him “I wouldn’t ery about it, but get someone to keep house for me and if she came back I'd let her go again.’” Beckwith seem wor- ried about something. George Beckwith called. George is the 14-year-old son of the defendant, who testi- fied that it was about 12 o’clock Saturday night when his father came up stairs, wakened them up, bade them good-bye and told them that their home would be broken up. On cross-examination George said his father had been at home most of the week; that Saturday evening he had gone to Hannah, coming home about 8 o’clock with a loaf of bread and some other things. Father went away about midnight and the next time I saw him was Sunday morning when hs came home; soon after the men came and brought him down here. (Mr. Bower then asked the boy ‘‘where his mother was all this time ?”’ and the question was too much for the little chap, who broke down and gave way to a vio- lent fit of weeping. Sighs of sympathy were heard from all over the court room, the prisoner himself crying, the first and only evidence of emotion thus far shown. The boy was then allowed to retire.) William Steimer called. Live at Hannah Furnace; knew the Beckwith’s. Mrs. Beck- with was my sister; she came to my house on Friday, February 7th, she was there until after dinner when she took the train for Sandy Ridge. No cross-examination. Mrs. Wm. Steimer called. Knew Mary Beckwith. She was at our house February 7th and remained all night, going to Sandy Ridge on the afternoon train. No cross- examination. With the offering of the revolver and bullet in evidence the Commonwealth clos- ed their evidence in chief. IN BECKWITH’S INTEREST. It was just 10:28 when C. M. Bower be- gan his opening address to the jury on the part of the defense. © Mr. Bower talked at some length detailing the various elements that constitutes the several degrees of mur- der. In speaking of the line of defense Mr. Bower said they would show that Beck- with was not responsible for his actions as that time, a condition brought about be- cause of the conduct of his wife and daugh- ter. Mr. Bower spoke for one hour and three minutes. ! Court adjourned at 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. Court convened Friday. afternoon at 1:30 and the defense began at once to offer testi- mony. : The first witness called was the prisoner Am 45 years old; wife’s age 42; we had six children; the oldest was nofi at home the last year; Sam- Beckwith was a uel 17, Simnes 21, Blanche 19, George 14, | Cora 12, Earl 9; Samuel is somewhat of an idiot, violent at times. I live in Taylor Twp., nearest neighbors, John McMonigal and Samuel Cowher; Mrs. Orwig lives near by; got my revolver about two years ago in Tyrone at Cox’s; bought it to shoot a man that was lying around my house. (At this ‘point counsel for the Common- wealth objected to the last answer and | there was quite a tilt between the opposing lawyers. Finally the Commonwealth’s at- torneys demanded that an offer be made in writing which was done. Both offer and objections being presented the Court over- ruled the objections and decided to hear the testimony.) William Williams was the man laying around my house ; he was simply a country loafer and would stay there three and four weeks at a time. Re- garding shooting off of a revolver two years ago witness said—My wife and I quarrelled about William Williams and a letter re- ceived from Mert Hardy ; she made a dive at me and I pulled my revolver and follow- ed her into the house and shot at her twice, but did not hit her ; did not even shoot at her, but over her head; there was trouble every time I came home, always about peo- ple laying around the house; they were the Kneff family and Sara Robinson; they kept coming there a month or more after the shooling affair ;also saw Frank Cassidy there bandy : ce of Mrs. Albright; these people wonld always leave when they saw me coming home. The visits of such people con- ‘tinued: up until the shooting of my wife. The last trouble we had was on Jan. 19th when my daughter Blanche gave birth toa until the -child was born. At the time there was a quarrel and I said that as soon as Blanche was able to go she should leave the house, but I never said my wife would have to go. Was at Sandy Ridge the next week working, returning home Saturday the 25th; then we had more trouble and I again said that Blanche would have to leave; on the 26th I again went to. Retort to work and was away two weeks ; I lived in a shanty and ‘did my own cooking ; my shanty is in sight of the Sharer home; have worked at Sandy Ridge the past two years, traveling back and forth on foot; have often walked it after night. It was on February 10th when I next returned home ; found only my four youngest children there, vith no one in charge of them ; I did not know my wife was away from home. I remain- ed at home all week and took care of the children, doing the cooking myself; on in- quiry I found my wife had gone to Sandy Ridge; went to Sandy Ridge on - the 15th ; started at 7 in the morning, reaching Re- bad, the snow over two feet deep; when I got to Retort I went to my shanty, then to the office, then started out to look for my wife; after going several places I found her at Jesse Sharer’s; I heard her talk and walked right in; my wife was in the kitch- en and I saw three men in the room; I told my wife to go home; I gave her 75 cts. to go home with: I did not hear her say any- thing about her bad shoves ; I told her not to be in there over fifteen minutes; I told her there were sleds out there she could go home on; I left there and went back to the office; when I came out saw my wife walk up the railroad with some other woman ; when I got my pay I started home, getting there about 6 o’clock ; I ate supper and then went to Hannah to meet my wife; when the train came it did not stop; I was in John Beckwith’s store, hought sugar, rice and paper; stopped at Mrs. Orwig’s and got a loaf of bread; when I got home I sat by the stove until 12 o’clock worrying ; then I ate a lunch and started to hunt my wife; before I went Ibid my children good- bye, told them to be good and stay there until I got back; got to Sandy Ridge about 4 o’clock ; met Jacob Casher first; I inquir- ed where John Walk lived, went there and asked for my wife; she was not there so I went to Sharer’s then George Merrimans and finally back to the works. I left there be- tween 6 and 7 o'clock (Sunday morning) ; went down to Mr. Peightol' and got infor- mation there ; then went to Lisle Edmun- son’s ; met Mrs. Edmunson on the porch and she told me to get out; I said I wanted to see my woman and went in the house ; Douglass came toward me with a poker and the old man with drawn fists; I went in- side and spoke to my wife, who was stand- ing behind the stove; after I spoke to her a couple of time Douglass hit me twice with the poker; I then asked my wife why she didn’t come home and she said she was waiting for Lizzie to go along; I then told her she had broken my heart when she said ‘‘yoar heart wouldn’t be very d—n hard to break; from that time on I don’t know any thing that happened; I have no recollection of any shooting at all. In explanation of haying the revolver Beckwith said he al- ways carried his revolver on his way back and forth; at home he always put it away and at Sandy Ridge I kept it in my bunk After the trouble at Edmunson’s the first thing I remember is when I found myself in my shanty; I got together some things I bad there and then went heme, getting there at 10 o’clock; only the three boys were there; I stayed there until the officers came; I did not know my wife was dead until the officers came and told me ; the first knowledge I had of my wife being shot was on my way home when I kind of thought that I might have shot her ; I was asleep when the officers came. Mr. Woodel first told me my wife was shot; after he ar- rested me I told him where the revolver was—in my coat pocket hanging on a nail in the wall. (The sunit worn by prisoner was exhibited.) After arrested I was tak- en to Orwig’s for dinner and in the after- noon brought to Bellefonte jail; my father’s name was T. C. Beckwith and my grand- father’s Clement Beckwith. My mother’s name was Mary Meyers and my grand- mother’s name Selina Meyers. (The pris- oner was not allowed to testify as to the condition of his mind, etc.) Cross-examination hy Mr. Reeder. Pris- oner was shown the revolver and said it looked like the one he had; stated that the last time he used it was on February 16th at Sandy Ridge, at the Edmunson’s; after the shooting I went to my shanty,and from there home; don’t know just the time I went to the Edmunson’s; Mrs. Edmunson was the first person Isaw. Beckwith pos- itively denied having told Sheriff Brungart that ‘‘he couldn’t see how he missed his wife as he shot at her head both times.’? ( During the most part of a searching exam- ination the prisoner adhered to his story as told in his evidence in chief. Re-Direct. In addition to the pair of shoes my wife had on she had better ones at home; I earned from $32 to $43 per month at Retort; dealt in the store there and spent from $18 to $25 per month to support my family; spent all my wages for provis- ions for my family ;'I made the purchases and know the goods were delivered. Re-cross-examination. Worked about 8 and 9 months a year; spent from $18 to 25 for provisions and drew from $5 to $25 in -cash after I drew my wages February 15th I did not go back to see my wife; did not ask her to go home with me. : Re-Direct—at homg I raised potatoes, vegetables, etc., as well as hogs. Samuel Cowher called. Live at Hannah saw Mrs, Beckwith February 7th at Vail station; she was dressed in black with a coat and wrap on her head. i Miles Hoover called. Live at Sandy Ridge; knew Mrs. Beckwith; saw Mrs. Beckwith at Keller’s,Sandy Ridge,on Feb- ruary 9th. On cross-examination witness said the Keller’s kept a boarding house. George Walk called. Live at Sandy Ridge; knew Mrs. Beckwith. (Once again the Commonwealth asked that the defense put in writing an offer of what they intend ed to pave by this and other witnesses. The offer and objections having been sub- mitted the court decreed to consider then in an amended form over night and at 5:45 court ad journed until Saturday morning at 8 o'clock. 7 SATURDAY’S SESSION. Court convened promptly at 8 o’clock. After having considered the office of the defense for the admission of the evidence by George Walk and others, with the Com- monwealth’s objections, the court over-rul- ed the objections and decided to admit the evidence. George Walk re-called. Live at Sandy Ridge; am married; Frank Cassidy also lives at Sandy Ridge; he is also married; the week preceding shooting Frank Cas- child; the fact 'had been concealed from me" tort before 11 o’clock ; the road was very’ sidy and Greeley Reese, my sister and Mrs. the house; I also objected to the | Beckwith were at my house Monday night: when I went to bed a4 9 o'clock Mrs. Beck- with, Susanna Walk, Cassidy and Reese re- mained down stairs; Mrs.. Beckwith was at my house from February 8th to 13th; Mrs. Beckwith left at my house a black dress, wrap and pair of shoes. 3 Cross-examination. The shoes were not very light ones; after the shooting Simens Beckwith got them. Sunday night Mrs. Beckwith and my sister slept in the bed and I sat up all night, with my wife sleep- ing in my lap. Greeley Reese called. Live in Worth Twp; knew Mrs. Beckwith; on February 10th was at George Walk’s, Sandy ‘Ridge; know Frank Cassidy, who lives near Retort (Again the lawyers got into a tilt over the carrying of a letter from Mrs. Beckwith to Cassidy, and so warm did the squabble be- come that they almost passed the lie back and forth. The court finally quelled the disturbance and the examination proceed- ed. I went to Walk’s with Cassidy; those present were the Walk’s, Mrs. Beckwith and Susanna Walk; the Walk’s went to bed about 10 o'clock when either Mrs. Beck- with or Cassidy put out the light; we did not leave there until near morning. Cross-examination. I do not know if there was anything wrong done or not. Mrs. Mary Cupp called. Live at Gra- ham, Clearfield county; was married in April; lived at Beightol’s in February; saw Mrs. Beckwith and Frank Cassidy together on the evening of February 12th at Retort; we all went to my father’s house; after a little while Cassidy and Mrs. Beckwith went up stairs and shortly afterwards I heard the bed screeching; in about ten min utes they came down and Cassidy went out the back door and left. Cross-examination. We had simply tak- en a walk down that way and being cold had gone in there to warm. Cassidy did not go in right away,but walked down the railroad and whistled when Mrs. Beckwith went out; soon after they both came into the kitchen; they talked about five min- utes before they went upstairs; after com- ing down Mrs. Beckwith never mentioned it to me; shortly afterwards Mrs. Beckwith and I went to Emanuel Beightol’s, where I was living and she stayed all night. I have two brothers and one sister. Sarah Raymond called. Live at Sandy Ridge; knew Mrs. Beckwith; I saw a sec- ond pair of shoes, which I got at Walk’s and took down to the Edmunson house and put on the body of Mrs. Beckwith. No cross-examination. George Walk recalled. Mrs. Beckwith, on) February 10th gave me a note to deliver to Frank Cassidy, which I did, and Cassidy spent that same night with Mrs. Beckwith at my place. On cross-examination wit- ness said when Mrs. Beckwith gave me the note she asked me to give it to Frank Cas- sidy and tell him to give it to Frank Beck- with. Albin Baney called. Live in Clearfield, but in February lived at Retort; know Frank Beckwith;saw him frequently at Re tort; saw him morning of February 16th;it was not yet 3 o’clock; Beckwith stopped and talked to me; be asked me where Walk lived ; saw a strange look on the man; ask- ed him if there was anyone sick, and he said ‘‘No, but there might he before I get- through.”’ I saw Beckwith again about 5 o’clock when he asked me if I knew of his wife being at Sharer’s; and said that some one was lying to him; Beckwith then told me much of his family trouble, that his wife had left, ete. Beckwith told me that he had had no sleep for two nights and seemed very much worried. I told him not to worry about it, but let the woman go and if she came back kick her out; he said he could not do that that the trouble would have to be settled before he slept; that he had been in h—1] the past twenty years and now such d—n w—g must be stopped. On cross-examination witness adhered entirely to the story of evidence in chief, John Walk called. Live at Sandy Ridge; was at George Walk’s Feb. 15th and 16th. Beckwith came there early Sunday morn- ing and called; know Beckwith very well; Beckwith came to the house and sat down and drew along breath; he talked to us but I don’t remember what was said ; Beckwith came there at 4:20 ; there was something different in Beckwith’s talk from what it usually was, but I didn’t notice any dil- ference in his face except his ‘long breaths.” Beckwith was in the house about 10 minutes. Beckwith talked abous his store bill at Retort and about his hogs he had killed at home. George Walk recalled. Beckwith came to my house the morning of the shooting and asked me if ‘‘his woman’’ was there; we asked him in and he began talking by saying that ‘‘it was a queer thing what a woman would do.”” Hisoconversation went from one thing to another so that we could ( Concluded on page 4.) Ocean Liners to go Slower. Reported Plan of Ship Combine to Reduce Speed. A news agency report declares that Liv- erpool has been chosen as the chief port in England of the Atlantic ship combine. The headquarters will be in the offices of the White Star Line with Mr. Wilding of the Leyland Line as general manager. There will be a concentration of the present sep- arate offices and the various staffs. It is well known that after a certain speed in ocean liners every additional knot involv es enormous coal consumption and shakes the steamer so severely that the necessity of frequent repairs is increased. For this reason,according to the dispatch referred to,the Morgan syndicate has decid ed to reduce the speed of the fast transat- lantic passenger boats to a more moderate anl more uniform rate of speed. It is ex- pected that this will result in a saving of nearly 50 per cent. as compared with the present figures, | The German lines, it is re- ported, bave agreed to this. ; It is believed that the arrangements by which the Cunard line will receive an in- creased subsidy from the Government on condition that it remains altogether British have been completed. A Great Quilt. Mrs. John Jacobs, of Shirleysburg, has just completed one of the most tedious as well as prettiest quilts ever put up. Mrs. Jacobs, who is now past 65 years of age, pieced and quilted it all by hand. It con- tains over 7,000 patches, all different and beautiful colors. Af the time she made this wonderful quilt she did her own work being landlady of the Central hotel. It will be on exhibition at the Huntingdon county fair, where will be disposed of. Diverse Appetites, “I wonder why donkeys eat thistles ?”’ said the man who is always finding some- thing peculiar in life. “Oh,”’ answered the person who likes plain food, ‘‘there is no accounting for taste. If a donkey were to give the matter a thought I suppose he would wonder why human beings eat olives.’’ Washington Star. A Daring Swimmer. Carlisle D, Graham Went Through the Lower Rapids at Niagara Falls. : Carlisle D. Grabam swam the whirlpool, ‘below Niagara Falls, through she lower rap- ids to Lewistown, Sunday afternoon. Gra- bam made a better swim then he did on the 9th of September, 1901, when Maude Willard attempted to navigate the upper rapids in Graham’s barrels and wae suoffo- cated. Graham wore a life preserver about his waist and a neck float. He entered the water at 3.17. The swift run- ning current whirled the swimmer to the centre of the stream and for nearly half an hour Grabam battled with the waves. As far as the Devil's Hole it appeared com- paratively easy for Graham and then he plunged into the rough water, which many times hid him from sight. Only once,how- ever, was be in danger. A current tossed him toward the shore dangerously near a big boulder that showed threateningly above thesurface. By desperate swimming he just avoided the rock and was carried down stream. Below the Devil’s Hole, where the river narrows, Graham had an- other hard battle. For a time he was com- pletely hidden from view and the hundreds of spectators on the bridge and along the banks grew greatly excited. He soon ap- peared in the smoother water where the river widens and the crowd cheered him heartily. He declined to enter a boat and swam to shore just below the new trolley bridge. Aftera rubbing down Graham said he felt no bad effects from his hazardous swim. From Coal Mine to University. Boy Who Endured Hardships in Pennsylvania Finds Sympathetic Friends in Chicago. Derelict and orphaned, his mind dark- ened by his terrible experiences, a boy of 15 drifted into the University of Chicago and, following his dying mother’s instructions with pathetic fidelity, demanded an education. He told a tale of bardship in the Pennsylvania coal mines, of grinding poverty, strikes and sudden death and the dreaded power of the ‘‘boss.?” With $20 in his pocket he started out in childlike faith to obey his mother’s last words—‘‘I want you to get away from here, Johnny; take this money, travel around the world, and then go to a university and be educated.” When he presented himself at the uni- versity and told what his mother had said, his sad story reached sympathetic ears. W. E. Whaley, assistant dean of the South- side Academy, connected with .the uni- versity, took charge of him, found him a home, and has undertaken the task of educating him. Mme. Beauvais, who has been conducting a French boarding club for university students, has adopted him, and asserts that he is readily learning French. Ever since the boy can remember he has been picking coal in mines in the neigh- borhood of Pittsburg. Five years ago his father, a miner, died and he and his mother were left to fight the battle alone. She took in washing for the miners but two months ago she gave up the hard struggle and died. Many New Bridges. State to Replace Structures Destroyed by Spring Floods. Twenty-one bridges at a cost from $5,- 000 to $115,000 each, are about to be built by the state to replace bridges in various parts of Pennsylvania destroyed by the freshets last spring. The plans and speci- fications for the proposed bridges have been prepared by six engineers appointed by the board on public buildings and grounds, composed of Governor Stone, Auditor Gen-- eral Hardenbergh and State Treasurer Har- ris, and will be considered at a special meeting of that body in the governor’s pri- vate office. The largest of these bridges will he erect- ed across the Susquebanna river at Tunk- hannook, at an estimate cost by the view- ers of $115,000. The plans have been pre- pared by Oscar E. Thomson, of Phenix- ville. ; All of these bridges will be built under the Focht act of 1895, which provides that where a bridge is destroyed it shall be re- built at the expense of the state and not by the county, as before the passage of the bill. - Many bridges were carried away by the spring freshet and in nearly every in- stance the board of public? buildings and grounds has arranged for the erection of new structures, the total eost of which will ex- ceed $500,000. For each bridge to he erected five view- ers were appointed by the Dauphin county set on the petition of the ‘attorney gen- eral. These viewers were allowed $10 per day and expenses and averaged about $35 apiece for theirservices. Bridges are to be ereot- ed in Sullivan, Bradford, Lycoming and several other counties. Blinded Agent With Pepper. Daring Masked Man Escapes With Money for Mill Pay Roll. : Throwing red pepper into the eyes of the young station agent at Goff’s Falls, N. H., on Wednesday, a masked: robber obtained an express package containing $2,710 con- signed to the Devonshire mills, and disap- peared in the woods near by. The money was sent on the early train from Boston by the National bank of the Republic, and was intended to meet the pay roll of one hundred and sixty employes at the Devonshire mills. The package ar- rived by American Express on ‘the train which arrived at Goff’s Falls, four miles south of Manchester, at 8:25 o’clock. As the station agent, who also is express agent, deposited the package in the office a stranger dashed in, and, throwing a big handful of pepper into the agent's face, grabbed the package and ran across the road. The ageut was helpless with pain and completely blinded. No trace of the robber could be found, fave his disguise, which he dropped as he Cost of Guard under Arms. The following estimate of keeping the militia in the coal regions is given: Cost to the state of maintaining two regiments in field twenty-two days, $67,632.62; pay per day of General Gobin and staff, $150.10; pay of officers and men, infantry $2,377.64; pay of officers and men, cavalry, $214.67; rations of men and forage for horses, $322.- 80; total cost per day, $3,074.21, railroad transportation of troops, $3,000.00, cost to the operators of maintaining 5 500 coal and iron police $740,000.00; damage to mines and machinery, $650,000. The Famous Bucktaiis, Of the 1198 Bucktails who descended the Susquehanna on rafts at the breaking out of the civil war, but 294 are living now, and these are scattered over twenty-one States.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers