Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1908 — TWO SISTERS PUT ON TRIAL TODAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TWO SISTERS PUT ON TRIAL TODAY

('?« ---r ‘ ' 1 THEY PLEAD NfiT GUILTY Victim of Shooting at Country Home Was Prominent National Guardsman and Politician and Husband of One of the Defendants - Tragedy Followed Bitser Family Quarrels at Country Home of Slain Man. ", Media, Pa., Dec. 29.—1 n a crowded courtroom here today the unusual spectacle was presented of two sisters called upon to plead to the charge of compassing thedeithof the' hugb&nd ot the dne Add ‘ of the othc/7 Both of th'ewomeh'pleaded not guilty. "** ;■’** 'Owing' to the prominence of the vic- 1 tlm'lri'the Ckse, Captain J. Clayton i t tv* ■ Vrt ’.wiitrt 4 if, n >-tn I

Erb, who was a well known politician, national guardsifiari add lieutenant to Israel W. Durham, thd’ Republican leader, interest throughout Pennsylvania is focusefi on the trial. One of the defendants fn the chse is Mrs. .Florence Erb. and the other is her sister, Mrs. Catherine Beisel. ThOy bire each charged with Voluntary aiiji involuntary manslaughter, the charges growing out of the death by shooting on bet. 6 of Captain Slrb at his country .home, Red Gables, at Village Green, Delaware county. Media is the county seat of Delaware county. It is charged by the prosecution that Captain .Erb was shot by Mra. Beisel after a bitter family quarrel at Red Gable* following A long series of domestic dissensions. Captain Erb had forbidden his sister-in-law to visit the house, but she was admitted by Mrs. Erb. Returning to his home unexpectedly, Captain Erb found his sister-in-law there and ordered her frotn the house. A quarrel and the shooting followed. The charge against Mrs. Erb is that bf being an accessory" to the shobfting. k Mrs. Beisel’s plea is self defense, and Mrs. Erb denies any complicity In the shooting.

MRS. J. CLAYTON ERB.