Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 173, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1912 — KILLED IN ODD WAY [ARTICLE]

KILLED IN ODD WAY

Beauty Developer Electrocutes Vain Pittsburg Chef. Remarkable Fade of Man Who Sought to Resemble Women—All the Foiblee of Fair Sex Both ae to Dress and Toilette. Pittsburg, Pa. —Artificial methods utilised by him to improve his face and figure were responsible for the death of Charles Beab, French chef at the Union Depot restaurant of the Pennsylvania railroad, here, with an electric needle in his breast, the victim of a beauty craze having been electrocuted. The unusual death of the man is the of wide discussion here, and everybody, including the deputy coroners who investigated the death, is puzzled as to whether the man took this unusual method of ending his life to secure notoriety, or his going out was accidental. The man’s body, when examined, was found to be molded on the lines of a woman. He wore a long pair of white corsets, attached to and under the skirt of which were’ heavy pads. The chef wore long silk stockings, which were connected with the corsets with the regulation Hose supporters. At a social function recently Beab was one of the gayest, and did not return home until about one o’clock. He almost immediately began preparing to retire, and began hlB regular nightly , beauty development stunt.! After hie face had—been—massaged with cold cream Beab began using an electric needle for his bust development. „ He had attached the wire to an electrolier In the center of his room, and standing before a mirror began working the needle In his breast. He bad frequently used the needle before, and just what caused the accident may never be known. Occupants of other apartments heard a fall, and hastening to the room found Beab dead. A physician was summoned, and after examining the body stated that death was doe to

electrocution. Friends were shocked when they learned of the details and conditions surrounding the death. Although he was known as one of the most fastidious, they never suspected that be was such a slave to fashion’s decrees or beauty quest When the victim began his manipulations he had removed bis shirt and thin vest, such as women wear, and threw a Due Bilk shawl over his shoulders. The trousers which he wore were of some light striped material, woven for women’s wear. When the coroner was summoned and removed the body to the morgue pending an investigation a search was made of the apartments. In the bathroom attached to the apartment was found an extensive line of beauty lotions, while in the victim’s trunks and wardrobe were found numerous articles, supposed to be for the exclusive use of, women. There were also found many photographs of members of the fair sex.