The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-29

onochlnB COuuVct VI catner be-
side the Corpse Of His SOMA
Witness Faints While Upon
the Witness Stand.
The Commission to investigate the alleged lunacy
OF George F. Won Beck, Of Rondout an account OF
which appeared in the HERALD Of Sunday, convened
At the Court House In Kingston ON Monday, at ten
O'Clock A. NJ. The commission consists OF three
judges and fifteen jurors Of the most intelligent cit
zens OF the village, Messrs 7. Il. Westbrook and
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr., appearing for the petit
TONER and Messrs. Lawt0n and Stebbins, OF ROnd-
out, Tor Won Beck. There were several ladies' pre-
sent, but mostly in attendance as witnesses. The
first witness called was
MRS. JOSEPHINE CLIFFORD,
OF New York city. one OF the petitioners and the
daughter OF Won Beck by his second marriage, a
lady apparently about thirty years Of age and very
prepossessing in appearance. She was neatly and
modesty attired In deep mourning, and when her
name was called came timidly forward to the wit.
ness stand and underwent the fierce examination OF
counsel for upwards OF i've hours when she tainted
and was carried from the room. She testified as
follOws:-
am the daughter Of George F. Won Beck; reside
with my husband Croker Clifford at $50 West Fifty
nth street, New York city; was married the "a OF
February, 1868; my mother is dead: she died the I'd
Of June, 1870; my mothers maiden name was Jane
Demng; have one brother living; his name Is
George F. Won Beck, jr.; my brother Morris wuntz
Won Beck died the 14th day OF January 1870 he was
married; leaves a widow, Henrietta Du Bois and
one son, Irving Won Beck three years age; before
| my marriage lived at Rondout with father and
| mother.
Q. While living with your father and mother did the
family live happily together9 objected to and oh.
| lection overruledD A. We lived happily and nicely
| together and he was always kind; my father was
taken Ill In February, 1866 with paralysis; this was
the second attack ana was avery one; he was
| confined to his bed four or five weeks; he was very
| low. and totally unconscious; was with HIM week
| ana he did not know me, but kept calling for me-
| previous to this sickness his demeanor towards me
was very anectionafe and kind, and was his favor
lite child; after his illness his conduct towards me
| was changed; his demeanor towards my mother was
uncomfortable; have been present when my mother
would ask him for money; he would rave, become
very violent, curse and swear ana refuse to give It,
saying she was the curse TO the family and would
call her bad names; after hiSsicKness lie would not
take his meals with the family, but would have them
| served in his library alone; his library was in the
| adjoining house; he lived in the hotel part; there
was long hal connecting the hotel aud the house
where he rest OF the family lived; he occupied two
rooms one as library and the other a. bedroo n :
at the ume of my brother Morris death went with
mother 10 his to inform him OF the sad news; he
became very VIOLENT jumped up and down, STAMPING
his eet would strike his cane on the table and on
1ne noor; ne wonia scrsam haoo az tle TOP OF his
Jane (hls wle) why witness had not been TAKEN why
had not George been taken, why lad not God taken
him. why was he lett to suffers he wished we were
| all In he'll.
SHOCKING SCENE AT THE FUNERAL OF MORRIS.
| remember at the funeral Of my brother Morris
his conduct was shocking; he was brought In and
walked up to the head of the coain looked down
the next moment commenced to rave, tear his hair,
| scream, shreked most hdeousy; cursed God;
@ Coo ad not e TAKEN MANI why h Was ne ef
not God take Jane why had he not taken GeOrge
why had he taken his good boy he wished the devil
would come and take them all away he was so
violent 1t was necessary TO take him from the room.
HE REFUSES TO GIVE HIS GOOD BOY" TEN CENTS
| TO BUY LOAF OF BREAD.
| remember being present occasion when
nv brother Morris came in and asked father for ten
| fused 1t to him and told him to clear out and
70 go to work for 1t; and again raved as
a se funeral Of @y b 5nat the Sy ne5
his room To bid him goodby before return ng to New
YORK; my mother and my brother's wife, Henrietta,
| went In " tn me; sald Father, az. going to New
| YORK TO night ana have come to say goodDy and to
ask you II you would Ike us to go In mourning for
wear black or white,n and he then swoe fearluly al
me, and wished was deau AMI in he told him
| 1t was the first time had been cursed and sworn at
and Il would be the last times he then turned upon
| my mother. abusing her shamefuly, and took her
out OF the room, saying would not see my mother 20
cruelty treated: my mothers health this time was
| very poor indeed; l have seen him throw glasses
wnle at the table; have known him to yen and curse
viii lie at the table for half hour, loud That ne
could he heard long distance; these spells were OF
very frequent occurrence; his personal habits since
| h Illness have been very untidy indeed. ana he is
very irnmodesc in the presence of femaies has been
| so my presence; he has no sense OF shame; he
would expose his person IN my presence and in the
presence VI other ladies'; have myself assisted ia
| covering up his nakedness; his room filthy
IN the extreme, aud he would not permit 1t to be
| nts ann1. h1un for I..fr ar
| time; they seemed to give him a great deal OF
trouble; he would spend most OF his time in fixing
| them: | was present at one time when he dressed
N military IN. form, put sword TO his SIDE and
stood at the door to keep ont ntruders; on one
cson sncceeaed ia ge1ng MN 10 .aKe bIeas
he ate heartily and seemed 10 enjoy his meal; while
at breakfast observed a very offensive smell--so
| much so That we were all Obliged 10 leave the table;
| his person became lthy while at table.
| this time considerable excitement wa caused in
the court ROOM the reception of telegram from
| Rondout, informing tie petitioners counsel that
measures were being taken to run Won Beck out Of
| the jurisdiction OF TIL court, ana an order was
asked or by the petitioners to produce Won Beck be-
fore the commission, which order was denied.
EXAMINATION OF WITNESS RESUMED.
| Father mas spoken 20 me several times about buy
! ing me house In New York; he said he wanted 10
buy me three story English basement house the
| the house TO cost about $4,000; he wanted to pay
cash for II. to give 1t to me clear and has asked me
buy 1t for me; found several houses at different
times Of the kind he wanted, and would then go
up to R0ndout to see MIN about buying IT. he would
| say thar he had no money; he said II would get
mother to sign Off certain lots in South Rondout he
could raise the money and would buy me the house,
this refused to do; lie never bought me the house,
he left my mother one Sunday morning after my
brother Morris death and went to live with his FIRST
| wife at Mrs. Steavens; my mother died about x
weeks after my ather left her; my father before his
illness has often told me he never liked Mrs. Steavens
and she should never have any OF his property; Mrs.
Steavens is my fathers oldest daughter by his nrst
| marriage.
| CROSS-EXAMINATfON.
| removed to New YORK CITY five years ago; resided
In New York at the time father was taken Sick
stayed from home longer than three months at one
| time never remained home longer than two weeks
| never less than two days; understood he had con-
| veyed house and lot TO my two children; do not
| know 1t to be so; have never seen The deeds; my
mother and sister-ln-law Henrietta present at
the time OF the conyera alton in regard TO dressing in
mourning; he SAID, Damn yon, You can dress in black
OF wh.te;' asked him on that occasion If lie would
Furnish me with black dress towards IL; he has
| conveyed to me a house and lot at South ROndout;
| also farm in Fulton county; he never was very par
ticular about his dress; by nodesy In presence OF
| females mean mat his pants would be unbuttoned
| and his person exposed he was troubled many years
l.taI