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.