The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-05-11
The Romance of CrIme---Truala
Stranger than Fiction


There arscircunistances connected with thelats
murder of Bedtsot, in Ohio, whose supposed muir
derer, Parks; was recently arrested, in this city,
that mark 1t as one of the most extraorainarJ afs
fairs recorded in the history of crime. There is
more about it that evinees long contemplated,
aoroitiy planned robbery, and calm, unfaltering
ae'ernation to commit murder merely for gain,
tnan can be found in almost any volume of "Re-
n'arkable Criminal Trias'' that has been publish
ed. -
Less than year ago Beatson the murdered
man, Park his supposed murderer. and u narsoS
named Gee, come over togerther in the s,ma shin
from Europe. Beatson, and Parks had cotnnaya.
lively little money, while Gee was known to hava
had several hundred dollars. With this he came to
Era country, and deposited portion oftsix hundr-
sd doilafs-in the Buffalo Savings Bank. The pacs
OF Its deposit became in some matnef known to
Beatson, who resolved if possible to obtain posses.
sion OF it; but how to accomplish that object was d
matter not SO easily determined. A plan howev-
er was devised and its execution at once entered
upon. Ascertaining that there was in the city d
young Engshman, who also came over in the same
ship with Gee, Beateon found him out and ill.,
troduced himself as Gees brother; and succeeded
SO admirable in convincing his new acquaintance
that such was the fact, that he went with Beatson
to the Bank and introduced him as such to Mr..
Howard, the Secretary. Beatson then produced
letter, previously prepared, of corse by himself
purporting to be written to him by VIM. Gee.
stating that he, (W. G.) had just purchased farm
near Buffalo, had paid three hundred dollars ON it,
and needed six hundred d1llars more in cold, that
he was unable to come in person TO Buffalo and
draw it from the bank, c0Dssqueuce- Of bav;na
oeen 1DJureu by a Kick from horse. and had
therefore eeputed his brother to get for him.
onoer TINS state OF thngs-being properly intro
Iaaced-Wm. Zee being unable to draw check
the story seeming altogether probable, and circuin
stances notsuggesting any suspicion, the Secretary
concluded to pay the hundred dollars and drew i
check for that amount on Oliver Lee Is Co.'S Bank.
Before delivering the check, however. tbe Sec.
retary wrote receipt for the money, which the
supposed "brcther' was requested to sign. This
beatson declined doing alleging reason that hs
could not write. He did, however, make his
mark. hich was witnessed by the person who
introduced him. Putting the check in his pocket
ne proceeded to Oliver Lee & Co.'S Bank; presents
ed it to Mr.. Mereer the teller saying he desired
to have goli. MIR. Mercer replied that he could
not pay gold the check, except at the usual pra
MUM. or unless Mr.. How0rd should renuest II.
The ooIindvidvuai said he would, take it hack
and have Mr.. Fl. do SO. Back he won't TO the
Savings Bank. Mr.. Howard assented to his re-
quest, aud inserted in the check pay in gold.'i
and with this Beatson returned to the o. Lee Bank
obtained the gold, and took his departure. The
next that was, heard of him was, that he had been
murdered, and that Perks was arrested for the
crime.
Another curious incident in this singular history
is that there was found in Beateon's pocket, after
his murder,a paper stating that the gold belonged
to Vim. Gee; but not more extraordinary than
what follows!
After Parks was arrest This paper came into the
hands of the District Attorney of Summit county,
Ohio, where Parks is now undergoing examination
trial. That officer Immediately wrote to VIM.
Gee, making inquiries in reference to Beaison as
to the truth of what was stated in the memoran-
dunn; but just before ths letter was received, Gee
was killed By the accidental discharge Of a gun
When the letter arrived it opened By the land
lord of the tavern where Gee had been staying,
who at ence hastened TO the city to ascertaia the
facts:
Strange indeed is the web of htiman life: OF
these three persons who few short months before
were fellow passengers on the voyage to this coun-
try, one robs Bank of 5000; he in turn is muir
dered by a companion. and the third, whose mon
ey was tie cause of it all. is hurried to another
world by ths accidental discharge of gun. The
supposed murderer is on trial for the Offence;
and the evIde. ce against him said to be very
clears
Murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculos o,gan."
-Ba6aLo Courier.