The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-15
A FEARFUL TRAGEDY.
A Husband Kills His Young Wife
HIS Demoniac Yell The Sister Falls
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Baltimorean.l
A correspondent at Gainesville, Ga,
relates the following legitimate results
of strong drink. 1t is truly fearful
affair:
No murder that has occurred within
the last ten years has caused 50 much
excitement among the people of Georgia,
as that of Mrs. Ella Beck and her sister,
Miss Addie, the husband and brother-in-
law beirg the criminal. Nearly two
years ago, Miss Ella Bailey was one of
the most popular bellies of Forsyth coun-
ty, where her father was physician of
extensive practice and excellent reputa-
ton. Among the many admirers of
Miss Ella was Mr.. Eugene W. Beck, a
gentleman of good family, and having
bright prospects for the future. After
a tey weeks courtship they were mar
ried, the wedding being one of the most
brilliant in the county. The young
couple removed to Clayton, in Rabuh
county, which was to be their future
home. The bride never returned on a
visit to her patents, but from her letters
she seemed to be happy, and no indica-
tion was given that the young husband
was otherwise than what his friends be-
lieved him to be.
During the past summer the younger
sister, Miss Addie, who had grown to be
a beautiful woman, met and pledged
her hand to Mr.. J. A. Swafiord, and the
marriage was fixed for Sunday, Novem
ber ID. In answer to a letter apprising
Mrs. Beck of the approaching event,
Miss Addie received an urgent invitation
to spend the last week of her girlhoOd
with her, and to bring with her her
we ding robes, in order that the married
sister might view them. Accordingly,
on Monday, tina 18th of October, Miss
Addie Bailey, after fond farewell to
her betrothed, started on her journey
over the Blue Ridge spurs to reach her
sister, where she was received with open
nrms. A terrible revelation awaited her,
however. The wife of but two years
was woman bowed with grief, and the
cause was readily seen in the bloated
face of Eugene, whose passion for drink
had become overwhelming. He was
even then in the midst of one of his
protracted sprees, and was yerging on
deiirium lemeRs.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
dav the sisters remained in close COM
munion with each other, Mrs. Beck
warning the bride of the snares which
lurked behind the alter, aud the young
girl trying to console her married sister
with some promise of the future. On
Thursday Beck was so unmanageable
that ii became necessary to cOntine HIM
to his room, where, after while, he fell
into drunken stupor. As night closed
around the scene the women felt the
darkness more in keeping with their
thoughts, and spoke TO each other with
hushed voices, hoping not to disturb the
drunken sleeper. Suddenly wild shrek
was heard, and Beck frenZied with de-
lirium, burst into the room where the
women were, exclaiming: "There it Is,
see it now," fired wildly at his wife
/ with his six-chambered revolver, empty
ing five barrels into her body, each
wound being mortal. Grasping Miss
Addie by the shoulder, the maniac threw
her on the floor, and placing one knee
on her breast, blazed away. muttering
incoherently about snakes. Rushing to
/ the door, where the pistol shots had
already attracted crowd, he handed uE
his revolver to one of them with the
remark: Il have finished it. These
snakes will never get after me again.
The murderer still in delirium, wa;
brought here for safe keeping. The two
dead women were laid out for burial.
The scene when DIR. Bailey, doubly
bereft, entered the room, and saw the
dead bodies of his daughters, surpasse'
description. Miss Addie was laid ou
in her bridal robes, and seemed to bt
asleep. The long funeral professor
across the country was one OF weird In
terest. On Sunday morning. Noyembel
I'd, at the hour when as a bride MIS-
Addie was to have been married, sh'
was laid to rest beside her unfortunate
sister in the little cemetery at Chummln
The high standing of the parties, tn
interesting details and the circumstance
of the crime, all conspire to make /
sensational.