The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-04-22
Murdered Josiah Beacon.
How the Vulcanite Company's
Agent was Regarded Among Dem
&tists. Threats Against His Life.

BosT,N. Mass, April 15.-The news
was made known IN Boston two or three
DAYS ago. from San + anc SEQ, tha; H..
siah Beacon, B B'stOn man, was found
dead in that CITY. l. was not clear at FRS
whether the man came to his dea,h by tl.t
hand of an assassin or his own, but inves
,igaiion proves that he lost his lie b..
cause certain persons believed that as
agent oftb. G pod, ear Vu!canite Comp.
ny he pressed too heavily on tn IN. In
the past he active " sustained the inte,
csts of the vulcar tie patent, concerning
which there has b'en almost endless iiri.
gat;on, and Tough, the enemies ofthe com
pany at evrrv point with wonderful skill
taking an aggressiy' position whenever
there was pnin, OF law or precedent TO
sustain hirn In his work OF collec,in !,
ro, alties for th use OF hard rubber or
vulcani.e in making plates for false teeth
he b came ohioxi us TO the den,is.s 1f
the countr, by exaciing from thu m sums
OF money. which they were legally bound
to pay unler Judgment of court, hui
which they nevertheless often regarded
as unjust AMI ex.ortinnate in character.
This hitter feeling was intensified douh.-
less, by Bacon's, persistent and uncom-
promising spirit in carrying out the ends
OF the company which he represented.
Hundreds OF suits were brought within q
short space of time against those who re-
fused to psy the royalty.
M.,vgxENr AGAINST BACON.
Since the decision OF the Supreme
Court Of the Unite States affirming the
validity Of the Goodyear patent, strong
opposition has been manifested against
Mr. Bscun. This was shown very plain
" IN one den,ist's Office POI long agn. A
young man came in who had been treated
rather vigorously BY Bacon, and with
tears in his eyes stated that shat gentle
man had wronged him terribly, and
threatened that he would have that mans
life ifhe ever could manage TO gel. at him.
Tie despatch from San Francisco eta
ting that the noted agent had been mnr-
dered excited no surprise among dentists,
who claim that all this bad feeling might
have bcensavoided had the royalty been
placed q. what they might cons,,itr q more
equitable figure. About year since
Josiah B icon went to California to press
collections, AMI not long ago Mr.. Ca iuc,
another agent Of the company, went to
San Francisco, where he was told that II
B.con came out there again to institute
suits, as he hail threatened to do II Ger
tain parties did not pay up, he would be
shot. Oa Mr.. Caduc's return here he
told Sir. Bacon Of the threats; but the
latter, with other Officers Of the c0mps-
ny, gave the matter little or no attention.
Bacon left B ,ston on March is, intend
ing to 90 to San Francisco to collect
from large number OF debtors, inclu
ding some forty whom he thought he
would have to sue in order to get his
money. He stopped at Cincinnati and
Chicago on the way and arrived at San
Francisco apnut the lst Of the present
month. The company received various
dispatches indicating that Collections
we're very difficult. The tidin2s OF the
murder terribly his s,cked Mr.. BAcon's as
sociates, who recognized the value Of his
services to the corporation. and already
orders have been sent for the body 10 be
emhalmed and sent to Boston as soon as
possible. There Is no doubt here but
that be Was fou'ly murdered.