JONES, Elizabeth - murdered 1869
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 17 June 1869 p 4
From the Covington Journal, Extra of last Monday morning we clip the following particulars of a cold-blood murder, committed in that place on last Saturday afternoon. Our usually quiet little city was the theatre of a most terrible tragedy Saturday evening last resulting in the almost instant death of Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, aged 73 years and the mortal wounding of Miss Clarissa Beckelheimer, both by pistol shots from the hand of one Frederick Remster. The unfortunate victims of this terrible tragedy were of the highest respectability and standing. Mrs. Jones was the mother of John R. Jones, founder of the People’s Friend and representative from this county to the State Legislature and of Wm. Jones, Esq formerly Mayor of the city of Vincennes. Miss Beckelheimer is the only daughter of Levi Beckelheimer, a worthy and esteemed citizen of this this place. The facts pertaining to the tragedy are in substance as follows: Remster, who was married to an estimable young lady of this neighborhood, only three weeks ago and was occupying a part of the house owned by Mrs. Jones (Mrs. Jones occupying the other part of the house) came home about 6 o’clock Saturday evening apparently laboring under some mental excitement. It does not appear that there was any quarreling. But Remster remarked in the presence of his wife and Mrs. Jones that they would all be killed that night or or that there would be bloodshed at which Mrs. Jones becoming alarmed remarked that she would go to her daughter’s who lived nearby and stepped out of the door. Remster followed, caughter her and putting his pistol to her head, fired, killing her almost instantly. The act was witnessed by four or five ladies in the neighborhood, among whom was Miss Lillie Knight, granddaughter of Mrs. Jones who raised the alarm and all ran to the assistance of Mrs. Jones. Remster, who had gone back into the house as is supposed for the purpose of killing his wife, hearing the cries of the ladies, started toward them in a threating manner. They all ran for life, he pursing them and all succeeded in escaping except Miss Beckelheimer who fled across the street, through her own door yard and back towards her father’s shop, situated on the next street and when withing 20’ of where her father was standing Remster caught her and putting the pistol to her head fired, causing a mortal wound. Before Mr. B could realize the terrible truth, the murderer fled on in a northerly direction, attempting an entrance in the house of Mr. Donaldson; failing in which he next met three gentlemen among them Mr. Fansler at whom the murdere snapped his pistol. Mr. Fansler immediately grabbed him and with the assistance of the other gentlemen tired him. Thus was the murderer captured and is now in jail heavily ironed. When the murderer started in pursuit of the ladies, his wife made her escape to the house of Mr. JH Spence on the adjoining lot. Remster claims to be insane but of this there is much doubt in the minds of our citizens. Upon no other ground can the mystery of the terrible crime be based else he must be a fiend incarnate. Mrs. Jones will be buried today. Miss B is rapidly sinking and cannot possibly recover. The friends of the victims of the monster have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in their great bereavement. Of the murderer we know but little except that he is of good family many of whom reside near here. He was a resident of this county but for the last 8 or 10 years has been wandering over the Western Territories and doubtless has been thrown much in the society of desperadoes. Since his return here, he has been associated as an auctioneer with Mr. Dodd of Lafayette. After a preliminary examination before Justice Rawles, yesterday afternoon he was committed for murder in the 1st degree. We learn this morning that the murder disclaims insanity and says that he killed the ones he desired to kill. We reframe from giving an opinion as to the motive that prompted the terrible deed and await the truth.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 23 Sept 1869 p 1
“Indiana News” – Remster on his way to prison he came somewhat sane. He talked sensibly and freely to the sheriff concerning his life in Montana but disclaimed all knowledge of the murder and said if he did it he was under the effects of drugged liquor. We see in several papers an item to the effect that Miss Beckelhymer shot by Remster at the time he killed Mrs. Jones, “has recovered but is hopelessly insane.” This is incorrect. Miss B has recovered from the prostration incident to the wound but is not insane. At times she suffers from the weight perhaps of the ball on her brain. It “shakes her up,” so to speak and renders her incapable of even moderate exercise!”
Source: CWJ 9 Sept 1869 p 4
We are informed by Prosecutor Pierce that Remster, the Covington murderer has been sentenced to the penitentiary for life. After retiring for an hour and a half, the jury returned a verdict of murder in the 1st degree which will imprison him for 99 years. He was ably defending during the trial and many witnesses gave strong testimony tending to show his insanity. The feeling of the people of Covington is intense and perhaps had not wiser counsels prevailed, he would have been hung before he reached the State Prison.
Source: Terre Haute Express 16 June 1869 p 2
Our dispatches report an awful tragedy that occurred at Covington last Saturday. Fred Remster, an auctioneer, shot and killed an aged lady named Jones, mortally wounded a young lady named Beckleheim and fired at sundry other persons. He was captured and lodged in jail. –kbz
Source: Lafayette Weekly Courier Tuesday June 15, 1869 p 3
Special (Covington Ind June 13, 1869) from Lafayette Courier (June 15, 1869 p3)
Covington, Ind June 13, 1869 – Editor Lafayette Courier: I hasten to send you an account of a terrible tragedy which was enacted in this place about 7 o’clock last evening. A man named Frederick Remster, lately an auctioneer or auctioneer’s clerk in Lafayette has recently located himself in Covington married a daughter of a respectable farmer in this neighborhood and went into housekeeping in part of a house owned and occupied by Mrs. Jones a widow lady (mother of Colonel Richard Jones, the first publisher of the People’s Friend) and of Mr. Robert Jones near West Lebanon in Warren County. During the short time Remster has resided in Covington he is not known to have been engaged in any regular business but has been seen hanging about the saloons and is said to have lost from 3-500 dollars in gambling. Last evening about the hour above mentioned having been absent “down town” most of the day, he returned home. Mrs. Jones was sitting near the door of her house, engaged in sewing. He addressed her saying, “There will be a murder in this house before morning.” She replied by saying, “if that’s the case, I will go over to my daughter’s” (she had a daughter living near by) and rose from her chair to leave the house. He also rose from his chair, drew a revolver and fired at her, the ball entering her mouth and coming out under the ear. A young lady of 17 the daughter of a neighbor named Beckelheimer who had been conversing with Mrs. Jones before the arrival of Remster was standing at the gate only 15 or 20 feet from the house door when she saw Mrs. Jones fall started to run; Remster followed her, overtook her and shot her through the head. The murderer then fled, but in passing the house of Mr. John Fansler who happened to be standing at his own gate, raised his revolver and levelled it at him. It unfortunately did not go off and Mr. Fansler (a very large and powerful man) with great presence of mine, rushed at him, knocked him down and with the assistance of those who were by this time in pursuit secured and conveyed him to jail. Mrs. Jones died in about an hour. Miss Bechelheimer who was shot in the back of the head nearly in the same spot in which the assassin Booth shot President Lincoln is still living but senseless and there are no hopes of her recovery. Of course our people are terribly excited and loud threats of summary justice were made last night upon the streets but the Sheriff very properly placed a guard around the jail and the night has passed without any demonstration. Various rumors are afloat as to the animus of the murderer. Some think he was drunk; others that he is a maniac. The probability seems to me to be that it was done in a fever caused by liquor added to the chagrin produced by his losses in gambling saloons. We have reliable evidence that he was intoxicated in the afternoon and one of the persons who assisted in his capture asserts that the odor of liquor was strong on his breath. The best evidence that he was under the influence of liquor is the fact that the saloon keepers and their friends and supporters are loud in their denial of that allegation. Be that as it may, it is a notable fact that within about 20 years nearly half as many murders have been committed in or near Covington and that in that number not one case occurred in whisky was not implicated one side or the other. I have just heard another version of the affair which is, that an altercation had previously taken place between Remster and his wife (a wife of only 20 days) caused from her dissatisfaction at his profligate course during which he made use of some coarse and improper language for which the widow Jones rebuked him. This looks reasonable inasmuch as it furnishes so far as related to Mrs. Jones a motive for the murder. A political writer in the Covington People’s Friend, WDK says that a man who will not pay his honest debts is a scoundrel and no better than a thief and a robber and then proceeds to advocate the repudiation of the national debt. The inference to be drawn from such language is unavoidable, though perhaps not perceived by the astute writer. We congratulate the Democracy upon having such an accession of talent – “Echo”
Source: Rensselaer Union, Jasper County IN 9 Sept 1869
Remster, the Covington murderer has been convicted of murder in the second degree. The trial of Frank Remster for the killing of Mrs. Elizabeth Jones of Covington in June last closed on Friday. After retiring for an hour and a half the jury returned a verdict of murder in the first degree (sic) which will imprison him for 99 years. He was ably defended during the trial and many witnesses gave strong testimony tending to show his insanity. We learn from a citizen of Covington that the feeling against Remster is intense and our informant gives it as his opinion that Remster will be hung before he reached the State prison. We trust that for the sake of law and order (not Remster) that wiser counsels will prevail and that the law will be executed. While the people of Covington feel that he has forfeited his life we do not believe that they will assume the responsibility of hanging him by mob law. – Lafayette Weekly Courier
Source: Ligonier National Banner 30 June 1869 p 3
A terrible tragedy occurred at Covington in this state on the evening of June 12th. Fred Remster shot and killed Mrs. Jones, a respectable widow lady aged about 75 years. He then shot and mortally wounded Miss Beckelheim aged 17. He then attempted to shoot John F. Ansler but the cap on his pistol snapped when Mrs. Ansler seized him with a powerful grip and held him until assistance reached him. Remster had been drinking and gambling to such an extent that he was thoroughly crazed.
Source: Terre Haute Weekly Express 16 June 1869
Our dispatches report an awful tragedy that occurred at Covington last Saturday. Fred Remster, an auctioneer, shot and killed an aged lady names Jones, mortally wounded a young lady named Beckelheim and fired at sundry other persons. He was captured and lodged in jail.
Source: Indianapolis Daily State Sentinel 28 June 1869 p 2
The Attica Ledger says: “From Covington comes the gratifying and surprise intelligence that there is now some slight hope of the recovery of Miss Beckleheimer shot by the villain Remster. The ball passed in back of the ear and has not yet been found. The young lady complains of pain and soreness on the side of her head opposite where the ball entered and her sight is seriously impaired. It is thought that probably the ball is lodged at the point where Miss B now suffers. The idea of this young lady living with a bullet in her brain seems preposterous but she is living and slightly improving.