Crabtree - Meyer Family Tree » John L. BECK (1871-1897)

Personal data John L. BECK 

• He was born on February 28, 1871 in Kansas, Verenigde Staten.Source 1
• He died on February 16, 1897 in Murdered by Frank Castile who claimed self-defense/Cleveland, Klickitat, Washington, Verenigde Staten, he was 25 years old.Sources 1, 2, 3
• A child of Paul BECK and Rosanah P. WALTERS

Household of John L. BECK

Notes about John L. BECK

Excerpt from a historical newsletter from Klickitat County. Information provided by Ada Ruth Whitmore, Historian.

John L Beck, son of Paul Beck was born in Kansas and came West to Bickleton with his family. His life ended at 25 years, 11 months, 19 days when he was murdered at a dance in Cleveland (WA). He was the father of one daughter, Hattie R. Beck. Tragedy came again to his family when the little girl died of pneumonia at age of 4 years and 9 months..
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Tombstone: "Murdered"

Father: PAUL BECK
b: SEP 1825 in ILLINOIS

Mother: ROSANNAH P. WALTERS
b: MAR 1829 in KENTUCKY
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Birth Date Calculation results:

From Death Date:
Tuesday, February 16, 1897

Subtracted 25 years, 11 months, 19 days

Resulting Birth Date:
Tuesday, February 28, 1871
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Tacoma Daily News, Tacoma, Washington, February 17, 1897

KILLED ON ACCOUNT OF A GIRL.

Goldendale, Wash., Feb. 17 -- Frank Castile, a stockman, stabbed John Beck in the abdomen, at Cleveland, yesterday, killing him almost instantly. The men were attending a masquerade ball and became involved in an altercation over a young lady. Castile claims that he killed Beck in self defense. He came here and surrendered to the sheriff.
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Morning Olympian, Olympia, Washington, February 18, 1897

MURDERED AT A BALL.

Frank Castile, a Klickitat Stockman, Stabs John Beck Fatally.

Goldendale, Wash., Feb. 17. -- Frank Castile, a stockman, stabbed John Beck in the abdomen at Cleveland early this morning, killing him instantly. The men were attending a masquerade ball and became involved in an altercation over a young lady. Castle [sic] claimed that he killed Beck in self-defense. He came here this afternoon and surrendered himself to the sheriff.
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Morning Olympian, Olympia, Washington, February 20, 1897

BECK WAS A BAD MAN.

Castile's Friends Say That the Stabbing Was Justifiable.

Goldendale, Wash., Feb. 20. -- Frank Castile, who gave himself up to the sheriff Tuesday afternoon for stabbing and killing John Beck at a Cleveland dance, is now in jail here awaiting trial. Castile declines to talk of his case, except to say he acted in self-defense. He has a wife and seven children living in Cleveland. The Castile family are Oregon pioneers, coming to the state as early as 1852. His father was the Rev. Lewis Castile, a Christian minister, and was in charge of the Bethel church, up in Polk county in the early days. Castile says he was never arrested or called to answer in court for any charge before in his life.

The court records of Klickitat show Beck to have been no stranger in criminal affairs. At one time he escaped from a California jail, and it is said he gained his liberty in company with some of the famous Dalton Gang.

Frank Castile was the floor manager of the dance and in that capacity endeavored to maintain order. Beck assaulted Castile and Castile could not defend himself readily from the fact of his being a cripple in his right arm and hand. He used his left hand and the only weapon at hand, a common three-bladed pocket knife. Castile now gives evidence of the punishment he received from Beck. His left eye is swolen [sic], while he carries black and blue marks about his forehead. Beck is said to have been a stout, rugged man, and boasted that he was good in muscle.

Much interest has been taken so far by Castile's friends in getting the real facts, and thus far they freely say that the stabbing of Beck was justifiable.
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Morning Olympian, Olympia, Washington, February 25, 1897

CASTILE HELD

Goldendale, Wash., Feb. 25. -- The preliminary examination of Frank Castile was held yeaterday [sic] before Squire J. R. Putman. Castile was held in 10,000 bonds for the killing of John Beck at a hall in Cleveland. Castile waived examination. The court required that some of the principal witnesses in the case be held uner $300 bonds each to appear.
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The Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, June 2, 1897

SET FREE BY THE JURY

FRANK CASTILE AQUITTED OF CHARGE OF MURDER.

He Was Accused of Killing John Beck at a Mask Ball in Klickitat County.

THE DALLES, Or., June 1. -- Frank Castile, accused of murdering John Beck at a mask ball at Cleveland, in Klickitat county, Wash., was aquitted last night, after a trial lasting five days. Self-defense was the plea. The jury was only out an hour. The case cost Klickitat county more than $1000.

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Timeline John L. BECK

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