Beck - Perry - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Perry Beck, a Prosperous Young Farmer of Near New Ross Meets a Horrible Death. Special lo the Journal. NEW Ross, Feb. 23.—The whole community was inexpressibly shocked last night when word reached the town that Perry Beck, one of the most prosperous and well known young farmers in this community had committed suicide at his home, three miles northeast, at three o'clock in the afternoon. The terrible deed was evidently planned with great coolness and deliberation and left no doubt but that Beck intended to end his existence instantly. The family of the suicide were away from home at the time he took his life and their absence resulted in the fearful mutilation of the body. Beck retiring to a room and closing the house tied a short stick to the trigger of a shot gun loaded with a leaden ball. Placing the muzzle against his heart and bearing upon the gun he pressed upon the stick with his foot discharging the piece and blowing a hole entirely through his body. A pasting neighbor heard the muffled report of the gun and thinking that something was wrong forced an entrance to the house and burst into the room of death where a most horrible and sickening spectacle was presented. As the door few open a cloud of smoke and the awful stench of burning flesh poured out well nigh overpowering the one entering. The wadding of the gun's load had ignited the clothing of the wretched suicide and they were burning off of him curling and cooking the flesh of his body in a most revolting manner. When the horror struck neighbor burst in the clothing had all burned from tho body excepting the legs of the pantaloons and they were burning the flesh beneath them crackling and sputtering in the flames. Water was quickly secured and thrown upon the charred and blackened stump which lay upon the floor and the total cremation of the body thus prevented. The startled neighborhood was soon upon the ground and the awful mass of burned flesh was cared for as well as possible. The deceased was 27 years old and leaves a wife and two children. The only cause which can be ascribed for the rash deed is mental aberration. He had been in only fair health and his friends noticed that he was subject to attacks of melancholy. His affairs were very prosperous and his domestic relations were exceptionally pleasant. The family of the unfortunate man have the sympathy of the entire community. - thanks to Kim H

A Sickening Suicide

Perry Beck, a Prosperous Young Farmer of Near New Ross, Meets a Horrible Death

New Ross, Feb. 23—The whole community was inexpressibly shocked last night when word reached the town that Perry Beck, one of the most prosperous and well known young farmers in this community had committed suicide at his home, three miles northeast, at three o’clock in the afternoon. The terrible deed was evidently planned with great coolness and deliberation and left no doubt but that Beck intended to end his existence instantly. The family of the suicide were away from home at the time he took his life and their absence resulted in the fearful mutilation of the body. Beck retiring to a room and closing the house tied a short stick to the trigger of a shot gun loaded with a leaden ball. Placing the muzzle against his heart and bearing upon the gun he pressed upon the stick with his foot discharging the piece and blowing a hole entirely through his body. A passing neighbor heard the muffled report of the gun and thinking that something was wrong forced an entrance to the house and burst into the room of death where a most horrible and sickening spectacle was presented. As the door flew open a cloud of smoke and the awful stench of burning flesh poured out well nigh overpowering the one entering. The wadding of the gun’s load had ignited the clothing of the wretched suicide and they were burning off of him curling and cooking the flesh of his body in a most revolting manner. When the horror struck neighbor burst in the clothing had all burned from the body excepting the legs of the pantaloons and they were burning the flesh beneath them crackling and sputtering in the flames. Water was quickly secured and thrown upon the charred and blackened stump which lay upon the floor and the total cremation of the body thus prevented.

The startled neighbor was soon upon the ground and the awful mass of burned flesh was cared for as well as possible. The deceased was 27 years old and leaves a wife and two children. The only cause which can be ascribed for the rash deed is mental aberration. He had been in only fair health and his friends noticed that he was subject to attacks of melancholy. His affairs were very prosperous and his domestic relations were exceptionally pleasant. The family of the unfortunate man has the sympathy of the entire community.