The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-08
GOLDTHW
EXAMINING TRIAL. OF FRED PECK
CHARGED WITH ASSASSINATION
OF LEROY BECK.
Statement of the Alleged Murderer and Hi.
Explanation Of His Presence at the
Scene Of the Murder.
Special to the Statesman.

Special to the Statesman.
GoLDTHwATTE, Tex, Aug. 6.-The
examining trial of Fred Peck, for the
murder of Mr.. Leroy Beck, was begun
to-day. At the request of some of his
friends his statement is given in full,
as follows: On August l, 1889, / left
my home in Big Valley and started to
Big Valley post Office. think / left
about p. m. Iwent up to and stopped
at the residence of Mr.. Nelson, about
two miles from my home, the way /
had to go. / stayed there about an
hour and half. Then went on to
the post Office, three and half or four
miles; stayed there fifteen or twenty
minutes. Inquired for my mail. The
postmistress told me one of the Ezell
boys had gotten it. l got some of my
neighbors' mail and started home. 1t
was after II o'clock when l left the
postofiice. | went to Mrs. Ezell's to
get my mail and stopped there and
took dinner. Mrs. Ezell lives about
three miles from the post office. l got
a postal card for my father that had a
proposition relative to some grazing
land above there. 1t must have been
| or l 80 when l ate dinner at
Mrs Ezell's. stayed there an hour
or an hour and half and fed my pony
and read the newspapers. Then l
went upon Pecan creek to look at this
land. 1t is about mile or mile and
q half to this land. / rode over the
land, then looked for fathers sheep;
guess rode on the sheep ranch an
hour after | looked at the land. /
came back across the land and came
into the public road leading down
from the valley to Williams ranch
came into the road when the sun was
between an hour and half high
came into this road about 100 yards
north of the corner of Wood Miller's
field; rode short distance, when /
was overtaken by Mr.. Leroy
Beck, who was riding horse
back. He had his little girl
behind him. l was riding on the
right hand side of the road, he on my
left going towards Big Valley. had
ridden down the road nearly to Will
Ezell's field; saw Mr. Levi Ezell about
fifteen steps to the left of the road and
spoke to him; rode on across hollow
about $50 yards from the corner of
Will Ezelrs field; just after crossing
the hollow some one ran up behind
us there two or three ran up behind us
and shot Mr.. Beck off his horse my
pony turned when the shooting began
and ran away with me; / went into
the woods; l don't known which way
she went; l was scared so bad /
did not know anything; l kept
running where it was clear enough,
and when it was too bushy / went a
slow gait. The first place 1 recog-
nized when l came into the road was
Wash Mauldin's place. Then / COM
menced running again, ran down the
road, saw some parties in the road,
took to the woods again and stayed in
the woods until came into the road
near Steve Trowbridge's place, and
there turned and went up the road
to Mr.. Nelson's. / was afraid to tell
what | knew, and when told the news
/ feigned some surprise My reason
for going to Mr.. Nelson's was that /
had an engagement with young
lady there to take her to
party. When | heard the news /
went home, got fresh horse, ate some
supper, then went back from there to
the inquest; hitched my horse back
from the crowd and went up near
enough to hear what was said; heard
my name mentioned suspiciously; /
don't know who by, but was afraid to
show myself for fear would be killed,
as knew Mr.. Beck had many friends.
| got two boys, Keith Ezell and Char
ley Trowbridge, to go with me for
company and protection; ] went to
the residence Of Mr.. J. d. Willis that
night, told him Of Mr.. Beck's murder
and that my name had been men
toned. / asked his advice; my rea-
son for going to him was that knew
that he was my friend and
an officer. He advised me to stay
around there until he could go and
see if / had just cause to have any
fear. He returned that night and
wished to come to Goldthwaite next
day. / came with him. was not
under arrest nor in his custody at any
time. acted voluntarily. / was ar
rested August 3 by Sheriff Cunning
ham. Have been in Jail since then.
That's all have to say. / wish TO
further state that as near as l could
tell the parties who did the shooting
came from the left side of the road.
didn't recognize any Of them; couldn't
describe them nor their horses.
The examining trial will be con-
tinued tomorrow. There are several
other witnesses.