The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-06
DOUBLE MURDER IN RABUN, GA.
A Drunken Husband Kills His sVifc and
!. ~ BtsteF,in.Taw.
Atlanta Contribution.

| Atlanta Contribution.
CLAYTON, Ga, October %. Last night
was enacted tragedy that will be long
remembered in this place. Mr. l.. w.
Beck, while under the influence Of wbis.
Ky, shot his wife through the brain and
his sister-in law, Miss Addie Bailie,
through the chest, the ball entering be.
tween the 9th and 9th ribs, behind on the
skin to the right Of the sternun in front,
mer and fatally wounding the latter No
cause is assigned except drunkenness, as
they all appeared to be living amicably.
Miss Bailies home is in Cumming, Ga,
and she was here on visit to her sister.
DR.. Bailie, their father, lives at Cum.
ming. Dir. Eugene Beck surrendered to
the sheriff, and was put in Jail. The
killing occurred about 81 o'clock. DR..
Frank Smith has taken charge of Miss
Bailie, and was working with all his
medical skill to save the unfortunate
young lady.
Captain Couch, of the Atlanta police
department, was in Clayton, Rabun coun.
ty, the day after Eugene Beck murdered
his wife and gave his sister in-law a
mortal wound.
Clayton is small town, and, although
situated in the mountains, once famous
as rendezvous for illicit distilleries, it's
citizens have always been noted for their
love of law, order and peace. : he town
is All old one, but never since the first
house went up, has it had sensation 80
great as the killing of Tuesday night,
and never again in all probability will
the good people he called upon to witness
such an awful tragedy. The special
telegram printed 10 yesterdays Constitu-
ton gave but q meager account of the
double murder, but Captain Couch adds
enough to it TO make the story complete
Beck, the man who has ;mbued his
hands in the blood Of those nearest and
dearest to him is man we'll known in
llabun county, while his wife was the
daughter OF successful physician and
prominent citizen of Forsyth county.
Both families are widely related and their
social position was the best in the land.
Beck was reared by devoted mother and
kind father and in his youth was given
every advantage. He was a bright boy
and was reputed to be the handsomest
young man in northeast Georgia. All of
his relatives were quite wealthy, and
when he reached bis majority bright
future was before him. lie opened his
career promisingly by marrying into q
family whose social and financial stand.
ing was equal to his own.
His vile, then bis bride, was young
lady of beauty, refinement aud intelli-
gence. .Om everywhere they secured
congrat, ions upon their happy choice
OF lie partners and their welded life
opened in brightness which is sad
contrast to its dark and terrible ending.
Endowed with a good mind and possessed
| OF plenty, Beck soon made himself q
prominent citizen. His business relations
with the world were pleasant, while his
home was all that could be desired.
But when yet young man he began
drinking, and as time went by that habit
| grew upon him until he became little
better than drunkard. His business of
course suffered, but never did he forget
the peerless treasure he had in his wife
until Wednesday morning.
| now THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.
Beck's home was located near the limit
Of the town, but In the county jail he had
rocm-a kind of business Office. For
some weeks previous to the killing Beck
had been on spree. He drank hard
and reckiessiy, and his wife, VINO mad
tried time and time again to reform him,
was, 80 saddened by the spree that she
sent for her sister, Miss Hadie Bailie, to
come to her. The sister went and their
meeting was touching one. Beck re.
ceived his siSter.inlsw pleasantly but
her presence had no effect on him.
Tuesday he drank harder than ever, and
late that night sought his home. He
found his wife 10 bed, and without a
word Of warning, drew his pistol and
shos her through tho head. Killing her
INSTANTLY. The ball entered the head in
the back near the neck and passing en-.
tirely Though, came out on the forehead.
When the fatal shot was fred Mrs. Beck
was In the act of rising to greet her hus.
band, but she was unconscious of her
approaching doom, and 90 quick was her
death that she probably never knew that
her husband was her murderer Miss
Bailie was attracted by the shot, but ns
she started through the door leading into
the room where her sister was diving, the
husband directed the pistol toward her
and fired. As be drew the trigger the
young lady wheeled 10 retreat, but she
was too late, and the ball plouglied its
way through her chest, entering on the
left side behind, between the seventh and
eighth ribs and passing to the front. No
one was near to prevent the deed, and
when the second shot was fred Beck
quietly walked from his house to his
room in the Jail where he locked himself
In. The sad news flew fast and before
the body of tho murdered wife was cold
search was being made for Beck. He
was found in his room in Jail, but refused
to open the door, and when the door was
finally forced those who entered saw him
standing in the middle Of the floor with
inc muzZle OF n cooked pistol against his
right temple. The tablcau was a fright.
ful one, but just as bis finger began to
press the trigger some one sprang forward
aud knocked tho pistol from tho murder.
er and would.be suicides band. He was
then secured and placed In Jail, The
widest excitement followed the killing.
A messenger was seHt to Cumming,
Forsyth county, 10 bear the sad iptelii.
gence to DR.. Battle, the father OF Beck's
two victims, and then while the wounded
lady was being cared for gentle hands
prepared the dead sister for burial. The
murdered vile was most estimable lady,
While Miss Bailie is as beautiful and
accomplished % her sister was when
che married Beck. Miss Bailie 10 only
about nineteen years of age. She will
probably die. The pe5pie Of Clay ton
account for the tragedy only in Beck's
spree. He does not eeem to realize bis
awful crime aud when questioned about
the shooting says he thought he was
shooting dogs. ..5'I 4, 81
NEWS FROM CLAYTON. s.s. :.