WAS IT MURDER?

The Decatur News of last week contained an article in regard to the death of Charles Beck, some four years ago, and stated that reports are current that an Iowa man has confessed to the murder and squealed on a partner through spite. The REPUBLICAN has interviewed: Jacob Beck, of this city, who is a brother of the dead man, as to the facts in the case, which are these:

The night that Charles Beck met his death he left a saloon in Decatur in company with two desperate characters to go to his home. Later he was found dead in a standing posture with his legs in the water and braced up against the bank. He was supposed to have collected $130 due him, but only $15 was found on his person and his watch was not taken. Many thought he fell over the bank, others that he was murdered as there were bruises on his head.

Mr. Beck says it is true that he called on a spiritual medium in Chicago during the World’s Fair, who told him that his brother had been murdered and the particulars would soon be known. Mr. B. is moving to get more information and thinks the dark mystery will be uncloaked.

#2-7 Jan., 1892 - The Pilot - Charles Beck

Charley Beck, the oldest brother of Jacob Beck, met his death in the treacherous Missouri last Monday evening. He had been to Onawa during the day and in crossing the river on the ice in the evening he broke through when near the Nebraska side and getting into the quicksand was unable to free himself. He was found dead Tuesday morning standing in the sand and water up to his arm pits. Mr. Beck was a man sixty four years of age and an old resident of this county. He had considerable property near Decatur. He was a very daring man, having been caught in the river several times before through his practice of crossing on the ice when it is unsafe.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given and the article said four years ago, we are using the approximate date of 16 Jan. 1892.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~