The Girls Of Murder City Part 17

161 The "boarding-school girl" look: Dunlop, 153-56.

161 The Post alluded to a metaphor by Alexander Pope: "Beulah on Stand Fails to Keep Out Her Confession," CEP, May 23, 1924.

162 What any decent defense attorney in Chicago wanted: "Choose Morons on Jury, Advice of Playwright," New York Telegram, Apr. 19, 1927.

162 So far they'd never lost a case: McConnell, 62.

162 They'd had such success that they were about to: ISA: O'Brien, 35-36.

162 He had a propensity for going on: Case B-121999 (O'Brien, William and Zoe, 1925), Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

162 A journalist labeled the always well-dressed Stewart: McConnell, 62.

162 "There is an atmosphere around every law office": Stewart, Stewart on Trial Strategy, 576-78.

163 They were each making at least $20,000: CDT, July 11, 1925.

163 Stewart liked to say that: William Scott Stewart, Stewart on Trial Strategy, 7.

163 "When your client claims to be": Ibid., 439.

163 "In Chicago," Stewart pointed out: Ibid., 283.

163 He would represent thirteen female murder: ISA: O'Brien, 34.

163 He planned to argue that Beulah was a "virtuous working girl": "Judge Admits All of Beulah's Killing Stories," CDT, May 24, 1924; Pauly, 142.

164 "Too d.a.m.ned many women gettin' away with murder": CDT, May 23, 1924.

164 The men accepted by the defense, Maurine wrote: Ibid.

164 The jury selection moved along slowly: CDJ, May 22, 1924.

164 She "leaned wearily on one white hand": CDT, May 23, 1924.

164 "Would the fact that the defendant and the deceased": CDT, May 23, 1924; CDJ, May 22, 1924.

165 Three days earlier, federal agents had raided: Higdon, 29.

165 In a follow-up raid, this one at the Stock Yards Inn: "Rifles Close Beer Parlor," CDJ, May 24, 1924.

165 Worse yet, as jury selection for Beulah's trial: Higdon, 44.

165 The Tribune immediately offered $5,000: Higdon, 50.

165 They would prove, the prosecutors told the newly impaneled jury: CDT, May 23, 1924.

166 That the defense "favored bachelors": "Beulah, the Beautiful Killer!" CDT, Dec. 30, 1951.

166 "We are not relying on the beauty of this woman": CEP, May 23, 1924.

166 Right off, Beulah was called to the stand: "Judge Puts Proof Up to Defense," CEA, May 23, 1924.

166 Before the trial could get under way, Judge Lindsay: CEP, May 23, 1924.

166 Patricia Dougherty, writing as Princess Pat: CEA, May 23, 1924.

166 "We're not trying a case of adultery": CDT, May 24, 1924.

167 Responding to a question from Stewart, Beulah said: CEA, May 23, 1924.

167 "Who was the first person to arrive": CEP, May 23, 1924.

1 67-68 "The luck," the Evening Post w rote, "seemed to be goi ng": CEP, May 23, 1924.

168 "Her statements are entirely too vague": CDT, May 24, 1924.

168 "I believe the statements are competent and admissible": CEA, May 23, 1924.

168 Woods's conversation with Beulah in her kitchen: "Beulah, on Stand, Tells Wine Killing," CDJ, May 24, 1924; Stewart, Stewart on Trial Strategy, 92.

168 Stewart viewed it as a victory: Stewart, Stewart on Trial Strategy, 92.

168 He also believed that if he and O'Brien played it right: Ibid.

169 "It is true that a jazz record was being played": CEA, May 23, 1924.

169 "Kalstedt forced his way into her apartment": CEA, May 23, 1924.

169 Maurine noted that "Tears slowly came to Beulah's": CDT, May 24, 1924.

169 "At three in the afternoon," O'Brien continued: CEA, May 23, 1924.

169 "She foolishly took a drink": CDT, May 24, 1924.

170 "Fascinated, the jury followed him down the path": CDT, May 24, 1924.

170 "He put on a jazz record and made advances": CEA, May 23, 1924.

171 "Both reached for the gun," he said: Ibid.

171 "However, she tried to get it": CDT, May 24, 1924.

171 "He was in the St. Cloud reformatory": CDT, May 24, 1924.

172 Betty Bergman, Beulah's boss, took the stand: Ibid.

172 He read Beulah's words from his notes: CEP, May 23, 1924.

172 He insisted that Woods had never promised: CEP, May 23, 1924.

173 "In news articles, you are not allowed to write editorials": "Pistol Fire Lights Up 'Chicago'; or, Telling It to the Maurine," NYW, Jan. 16, 1927.

173 "'Beautiful' Beulah Annan's chance for freedom": CDT, May 24, 1924.

Chapter 14: Anne, You Have Killed Me.

This chapter was chiefly drawn from the following four articles: "Beulah, on Stand, Tells Wine Killing," CDJ, May 24, 1924; "Tried to Kill Me, Says Beulah Annan on Stand," CEA, May 24, 1924; " 'Shot to Save My Own Life,' Says Beulah on Stand," CEP, May 24, 1924; "Jury Finds Beulah Annan Is 'Not Guilty,'" CDT, May 25, 1924. These reports include extensive excerpts from Beulah Annan's trial testimony, with the American printing virtually all of it. The transcriptions closely mirror each other, though the wording of the same questions and answers occasionally differs to a minor degree from one newspaper to the next. I have synthesized this published testimony as seamlessly as possible. Unless otherwise indicated, Beulah Annan's trial testimony and details related to the testimony come from these sources. The official court records for the trial were destroyed years ago.

175 "Her name was Hula Lou": " 'Glad,' Says Jazz Slayer," CEA, Apr. 4, 1924.

175 Outside, on the sidewalk: " 'Glad,' Says Jazz Slayer," CEA, Apr. 4, 1924; "Dances over Body of Man She Kills," Davenport (IA) Democrat and Leader, Apr. 6, 1924; "Woman in Salome Dance After Killing," CDN, Apr. 4, 1924.

176 "The case of Beulah Annan is one of the most remarkable": "Spurns Husband Who Saved Her from Gallows," Washington Post, July 13, 1924.

177 "All you have to do is to tell the truth": Stewart, Stewart on Trial Strategy, 170.

178 Maurine, well on her way to becoming a court expert: "Maurine Watkins Stirred by 'Old Fashioned Girl's' Sin and Sashweight Story," New York Telegram, Apr. 30, 1927.

178 The Daily News noted that Beulah: The Daily News story is quoted in "The Truth Behind 'Chicago' Glitz Was Fleeting for the Real Women of 'Murderess Row,' Chicago Sun-Times, Mar. 23, 2003.

183 There had never been a "more dramatic story": Ibid.

Chapter 15: Beautiful-but Not Dumb!.

191 In his closing argument, a.s.sistant State's Attorney William McLaughlin: "Jury Finds Beulah Annan Is 'Not Guilty' ", CDT, May 25, 1924; Pauly, 148.

191 "No woman living would have stayed in that apartment": "Beulah, on Stand, Tells Wine Killing," CDJ, May 24, 1924.

191 "You have seen that face, gentlemen": CDT, May 25, 1924; "Tried to Kill Me, Says Beulah Annan on Stand" (jump-page headline), CEA, May 24, 1924.

191 Beulah, nervous now that her part in the drama: CDT, May 25, 1924.

191 He told the jury that if they believed she lied: CEA, May 24, 1924.

192 "The verdict is in your hands": CDT, May 25, 1924 192 He laid into McLaughlin for using: CDJ, May 24, 1924.

192 "Every defense counsel knows the value": "Playwright Says Parents of 2 Murder Defendants Have No Monopoly on Sobs," New York Telegram, Apr. 25, 1927.

192 "She had played the Victrola while the man": CDT, May 25, 1924.

193 "Will this woman be convicted, or will her looks": "Beauty in the Courts," Decatur (IL) Review, May 25, 1924.

194 An observer watched as Beulah "wrung her hands": "Beulah Annan Credits Babe with Melting Jury's Heart," Atlanta Const.i.tution, May 26, 1924.

194 "Oh, I can't thank you!": CDT, May 25, 1924.

194 She kissed a juror: "Spurns Husband Who Saved Her from Gallows," Washington Post, July 13, 1924.

195 She grasped the jury foreman's hand: "Beulah, the Beautiful Killer!" CDT, Dec. 30, 1951.

195 "Beulah Annan, whose pursuit of wine": Pauly, 143-44; CDT, May 25, 1924.

196 "Men on a jury generously make allowance": " 'Chair Too Good for Them,' Says 'Gentle s.e.x' Which Is Ready to Save State's Time," New York Telegram, Apr. 20, 1927.

196 "Mrs. Beulah Annan, Chicago's prettiest slayer": "Beulah Annan Fades Away to Seclusion," CDT, May 26, 1924.

197 "It was the baby-not me," she told: Atlanta Const.i.tution, May 26, 1924.

197 She told another reporter that "I know now better": " 'Too Slow' for the Wife He Fought for in the Gallows' Shadow," Fres...o...b..e, Aug. 8, 1926.

198 Beulah and Al must have had a terrible fight: Washington Post, July 13, 1924.

198 "He doesn't want me to have a good time": Washington Post, July 13, 1924.

198 "I want lights, music and good times": Ibid.

198 News of Beulah's acquittal received: CDT, May 25, 1924; Pauly, xix.

199 When introduced to another reveler: Higdon, 63.

Chapter 16: The Tides of h.e.l.l.

200 The mood also was completely different: "Lilacs Mock Home, Tomb of Sorrow," CEA, May 23, 1924.

200 For much of the morning, as family friends: CEA, May 23, 1924.

200 As she did in her report on Wanda: "Simple Funeral Service Is Held for Franks Boy," CDT, May 26, 1924.

201 "Only relatives, a few close friends, and": CDT, May 26, 1924.