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Show iCOMPLICATB II THE ERBJFRAGEOY Sisfer-in-Law Repudiates Confession Con-fession of Killing Prominent Citizen of Philadelphia. ARPxEST OF AVI DOW IS ORDERED BY AUTHORITIES Investigation Shows Fatal Shots Were Fired Froin Revolver Belonging to Mrs. Erh. PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 7. As the result re-sult of an investigation today District Attorney McDado of Delaware county has (loomed it necessary to order tho arrest of Airs. Clayton T. Erh. whose husband was shot and killed last night at the Erb country homo near Glen Kiddle, Pa. This was done because it is said Airs. Kathorino Beiscl, Mrs. Erb's sisler, had repudiated nn alleged confession the police say she made lato last night in which she admitted having hav-ing killed her brother-in-law. Detectives Detec-tives reachod Iho house this afternoon and it is expected the widow will bo taken to jail as soon ns sho recovers her composuro sufliciontly to stand the trip. Jt is said Mrs. Beisel was in the house not longor than ten minutes before be-fore tho shooting occurred. Confession Eopudiated.' Shorlly beforo uoon today Mrs. Beisel collapsed and swooned. As soon as she was somewhat calmer District Attornoy McDado attomptod to secure a fuller statement of the shooting from her. It was then that she repudiated her confession, con-fession, and at this point tho district attorney ordorod tho arrest of Mrs. Erb. It was brought out in the investigation investi-gation that it was tho wifo's pistol which had been used. The weapon was found in Mrs. Erb's room. An autopsy was held on tho body of Captain Erb this morning. Later former Senator Durham expressed tho belief that tho murder was premeditated. premedi-tated. Ho expressod a determination to prosecuto tho slayer of his scrrctarv and friend to tho limit. Tho killing at his county homo near hero last night of Captain J. Clayton Erb, trusted licuicnaut and confidential man of Israel V. Durham, former leader lead-er of tho local Itepublicau organization, organiza-tion, caused a sensation in this cit3 Captain Erb, it is ullogud, was shut dead by his .sislor-in-law, Mrs. Kathorino' Beisel, during a quarrel over domestic affairs. Owing to tho lateness of tho hour whoa tho tragedy occurred and the remoteness of "IJed Gables," tho Erb country home, details of Iho shooting shoot-ing wcro slow in coming out. Had Trouble with Wife; Captain Erb and his wifo had had considerable domestic trouble, their differences dif-ferences becoming so serious that thoy finally readied tho Delawaro courts. Eaelu accused the other of unbecoming conduct, and it wan expected that divorce di-vorce proceedings would ultimately bo instituted by one or the othor. ".Notwithstanding ".Not-withstanding their troubles, they continued con-tinued to livo at "lied Gables.-'' Mrs. Boi:iel. who is in .jail, said today she shot Erb because slip believed he intended to kill her. Thinking it was J Coutiuucd on Pago T5lve- 4 COMPLICATIONS IN THE BRB TRAGEDY Continued from Pago One. only a question who struck first, sho declares, she aimed the revolver at her brother-in-law and fired. Six shots wero fired at Erb, four entering his body and two bullets striking a wall. After Erb fell "Mrs. Beisel wont to a telephone and called up a nhvsician at Village Green, who responded immedi- ( ately. "When he arrived he found Erb dead. The four bullets were removed by a coroner's physician today. Evidence of ,Hasto. Mrs. Beisel, as was her custom when visiting her sister, stayed at a nearby hotel. Tho woman's hat and pocket-book pocket-book were found at the liotol today, indicating, in-dicating, the polico say, that she had gone to her sister's home in a hurry. According to Mrs. Beisel she heard an exchange of angry words on the second sec-ond floor and on going up the stairs found Erb beating his wife. According to her story, as related to the officials on tlie case, Erb turned from his wifo nnd started to attack her, and fearing for her life site fired. A servant downstairs heard the shots and running to the second door found Erb's bodv lying in a heap. The servant aroused Eugene Poulson, a colored coachman, who some time ago was accused ac-cused by Mrs. Erb of being a sp- in her husband's employ. Poulson, who was recently indicted at the instance of Mrs. Erb for threatened threat-ened assault, was the first to spread the alarm when the shooting was discovered. dis-covered. According to his Etory he was sleeping sleep-ing in tho coachman's house nearby when Mrs. Beisel aroused him by crying cry-ing out: "Captain Erb lias been shot." Poulson ran breathless to a nearby village vil-lage and at midnight aroused the officials of-ficials and hurried back to the scene of the tragedy. Victim "Was Prominent. "Clay T. Erb," as he was familiarly known, had been a prominent figure in tho Republican political affairs of fhis city and state since the ascendency ascend-ency ot his friend, Israel W. Durham, beginning in 1S95 and culminating with the retirement of Durham in 1905 because be-cause of poor health. Captain Erb was about 52 years of age, and until his marriage two years ago had been regarded by his friends as a confirmed bachelor. His wife was a widow, Mrs. W. G. Kolhcrmel, and tho news of the marriage caused great surprise. sur-prise. Captain Erb had accumulated a comforlablo fortune through his connection con-nection with the state insurance department, depart-ment, and soon after his marriage he bought "Red Gables," a larfje, rambling ram-bling country house, with a farm of 120 aefes adjoining, and here he enjoyed the life of a country gentleman. Ilis happiness did not last long, however, as Mrs. Erb, who is an expert horsewoman, joined the fox hunting set of Delaware countv, and there were frequent bickerings bicker-ings bet.wen the pair, largely because of his wife's fondness for horses and dogs, culminating recently in court proceedings pro-ceedings and threats of divorce on both sides. |